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Fandom: Book of Kings (Old Testament)
Themes: Kings & queens, devotion, false gods, revenge, worship, family drama, historical, coming of age, good vs evil.
βAsa,β came the faint whisper tugging at his heart. βAsa.β
The young man sat on a cushion, holding a scroll.
An empty cup of tea lay beside him.
On his right was a lampβcandles lit the inside of the temple enough for him to see in the watches of the night.Β
Asa snuck out of his chambers to study the law.
It was his nightly ritual.
Whenever he got the chance, heβd meditate on God's word. It completely captivated himβhe was taken by the nature of God.Β
βLord?β
He was met with silence.Β
Then peace engulfed him like a glove.Β
Asa felt warm.Β
He knew it was none other than the presence of the Lord invading his chestβfilling the once void space.Β
He found it amazing.Β
God was who he wanted to please.Β
βYou are so greatβyouβve done marvelous things Lord God. I will surely follow you as my forefather David did. It is my desire.β His voice was soft and sincere. βI want to be a good king or no king at all.β
Asa thought of his father, Abijah, and all the evil things he did now. βAbba was devoted to youβhe even taught me about you as a boy then... he forsook you. I don't want to do the same Lord God.β
It filled him with indignation.Β
His grandmother, Maacah known as βqueen mother,β was just as wicked.
When Asa was a young boy, he sensed the evil they were doing, but he didnβt have a full understanding of it yet.
The idols made his skin crawlβtheir dead eyes, and golden bodies stared back at him. There was something unnatural about them, unnerving. The sacred stones, the altars and polesβthe man and woman he saw at the shrine once or twiceβwith strange garments or lack thereof.
Asa refused to worship their gods.Β
He wanted nothing to do with the gods of his father and grandmother.
βAsa,β Maacahβs voice was hard. She glared at him in disbelief; her left eye twitched, and her lips turned into a snarl. βWhat is the matter, child? It is not your first time at the altar. Show respect to your gods! As the future king, you need them on your side.β
The twelve-year-old eyed the golden calf sceptically, then the ox.
He shook his head in protest. βNo. I'll serve the true God. The one I heard about from Hanani the prophet.βΒ
Hanani was a man of God.
He was the one who later taught Asa the commands and decrees of the Lord, a spiritual father to the boy.Β
Maacah gasped. βYouβyou are a child you know nothing. These are the real godsβyou father, the king is following them, so should you.βΒ
Her gaze darkened with something Asa could not place.
He feared she might strike him.
He had seen her do so to others.
βDo not listen to that prophet; donβt go near him, understood? See how obedient your brothers are,β Maacah cradled his cheek, gripping tight.Β
Asa kept quiet.
His stomach swirled but he refused to move.
After that he sought God earnestly at first I secret then he grew bold, and zealous for the Lord.Β
He did not stay away from the seer, or the Levites or anyone who had knowledge of God.Β
Asa was steadfast in his pursuit of the true God; he wanted to follow Him.Β
Now at seventeen he was even more on fire for God.Β
He was taller than most of his brothers.
His thick black curls remained untamed despite his maidservants' attempts to smooth them. Asaβs brown skin grew darker under the Jerusalem sun from the frequent warm days.Β
βI cannot believe how blind my people are. Stubborn,β the young man huffed out as he tried to read from the scroll. βI want to guide them. Lord God with you by my side, I know I can.β
Asa blinked, sharp brown eyes burning from fatigue. βThere is no other God besides you. O Lord my God, I trust and rely on you. My God I am powerless without you. Help me to be the king you desire. Amen.βΒ
A yawn escaped his lips, and his head lulled back. βLord God, I might just take restββ
βYour Highness! My prince,β his servant's uneasy voice rang through the temple. He scrambled toward him in the dim light. βYour brother has taken notice of your absence. Shall we take leave?β
What can man do to me? he thought with a scoff.
He was not afriad, no man could prevail against God, and those who trust in him.
βNo.β Asa brushed it aside with a flick of his hand. βIt is only Nabal. Leave him be. I am not the one sinning.β
βIf I should sleep in the temple of my God, no one can stop me. When I am older, I will demolish every idol, altar, and that repulsive Asherah pole.β
He fixed his gaze on his servantβfirm, and absolute. βI will utterly destroy them.β
βDo what seems right to you, my king,β the slave immediately bowed down at his tone.
The fierce look in his masterβs usual soft eyes startled himβa burning flame resided within.Β
It was only the beginning.Β
Written last year December.
Inspired when I was reading the book of Kings:
β¨ 1 Kings 15:12-15 β¨
He banished the male and female shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made.
He even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made an obscene Asherah pole. He cut down her obscene pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley.
Although the pagan shrines were not removed, Asaβs heart remained completely faithful to the Lord throughout his life.
He brought into the Temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the various items that he and his father had dedicated.
Felt like posting this on on here. Really need to get back into writing biblical fics. It's such an enlightening experience! ππ»ββοΈ
