In the ups and downs of successive kings of Judah Asa very much looks like one of the good guys. He reforms things, gets an encouraging prophecy (see 2 Chronicles 15) and seems to get on with the job.
It seems only right doesn't it - as he progresses in age, gaining maturity and wisdom, surely he can command due respect from the people. Getting the nation's corporate faith back on track is good reason for everyone to honour his decisions and follow his leading.
He has done good, he is older and wiser => he must always be respected.
Yet in his later years, when he was getting on a bit, he seems to lose the plot. In obtaining the aid of the king of Aram he seems to forget that the Lord is his help.
One guy stands against him in this (see 16:7). How hard it must have been to criticise, or even be seen to be criticising. Everything, even everyone else around would probably have just gone with the age+past-track-record predicate.
But let's not be age-ist. Everyone of us is capable of getting it wrong, of veering from proper commitment to God's ways. Age and accrued wisdom do not insulate us from this possibility. An old person can mess up, a young person can be genuinely inspired by the Spirit.
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