22Then King Asa issued an order to all Judah—no one was exempt—and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using there. With them King Asa built up Geba in Benjamin, and also Mizpah.
Sometimes we have to make the best of a bad situation. King Asa has been under attack from Israel. Israel had been fortifying the town of Ramah. So King Asa uses the very strengths of his enemy to his advantage. Once Israel is pushed back to their own territory, King Asa dismantles Ramah and uses the materials to strengthen several of his cities. He recycles the timber and stones. He could have burned the city to prevent its strategic value from falling back into enemy hands, but instead he takes advantage of those strengths. The Lord will often use strengths developed during our wayward years for His glory. He must dismantle them and reconstruct them in a way that will bring Him glory. He must move them into His territory. Everything must be remade after His plan. He can use a person’s boldness for His glory, but they must first be submitted and remade. He can use musical ability, but it must be stripped of its pride.
The Arnold Journey 