First Kings 15 moves through three kings and two kingdoms, but the chapter’s spine is the contrast between Abijam, who walked in his father’s sins, and Asa, whose heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat Abijam began to reign over Judah

He reigned three years in Jerusalem His mother’s name was Maacah He walked in all the sins of his father which he had done before him And his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God As the heart of David his father

Nevertheless for David’s sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem To set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem Because David did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes And didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him

Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life Abijam slept with his fathers and they buried him in David’s city Asa his son reigned in his place In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel

Asa began to reign over Judah He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem His mother’s name was Maacah Asa did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes as David his father did He put away the sodomites out of the land

And removed all the idols that his fathers had made He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen Because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah Asa cut down her image and burnt it at the brook Kidron

But the high places were not taken away Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the LORD all his days He brought into the LORD’s house the things that his father had dedicated And the things that he himself had dedicated silver gold and utensils

There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah That he might not allow anyone to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that was left in the treasures

He delivered it into the hand of his servants King Asa sent them to Ben Hadad king of Syria Let there be a treaty between me and you Like that between my father and your father

Listen

1 Kings 15 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press