and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, 'Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you while you are with him; if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you — Azariah's message (וַיֵּצֵא לִקְרַאת אָסָא וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ שִׁמְעוּנִי אָסָא וְכָל־יְהוּדָה וּבִנְיָמִן) articulated the conditional covenant: presence depends on seeking (יְהוָה עִמָּכֶם בִּהְיוֹתְכֶם עִמּוֹ וְאִם־תִּדְרְשׁוּהוּ יִמָּצֵא לָכֶם וְאִם־תַּעֲזְבוּהוּ יַעֲזֹב אֶתְכֶם). Faithfulness produces divine presence; apostasy produces divine withdrawal.

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