The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-08

INT REDUCTION According to Arch
bihcp Usher. good King Asa, about whom
we studied last week, reigned over judah
more than forty years tb5-9l4 Il. G, His
effort to restore the worship of Jehovah
produced a most salutary influence upon
the land. and he was greatly strength
ened by a. large detection of people from
the northern kingdom who came to him
that they might enjoy their ancestral
worship UI Chron. Xv, 29). At his death
his body was laid in a bed of spices in his
own scpulChre prepared in the city of
David. and precious odors were burned
for him in great abundance III Chron.
xvi, 1D, as was the custom at the funerals
of worthy kings DER Xxxiv 81. Asa was
succeeded by his son, Jehoshaphat, the
fourth on the TIN one of Judah. who began
his reign under most flattering auspices,
receiving the treasure and good fortune
consequent upon the wisdom of his faith
er's administration. There is no Inherit
ance for ruler comparable to that de-
rived from piOus ancestry.
DEFENSES.-The prosperity of Judah
excited the Jealousy of Israel the sister
kingdom. The wicked Ahab and his
heather spouse had been made to feel
and fear the power of Asa. which they
were impotent to resist. 1t was there
fore necessary for Jehoshaphat to
strengthen himself against his neighbor
who might hope in the change of govern
ment to secure some advantage. 1mme-
diately therefore he addressed himself to
| the task of increasing the defenses Of his
kingdom oversees l and y. In all the
| fenced or fortified cities he placed garr-
sons. This probably means, not that the
cities were before wholly without SOL
| diers-a condition of things not to be al
| lowed i'm those troublous times-Dut that
| the forces were increased ard provlsioned,
| and the men supplied with all needed
| weapons Of warfare. These cities would
be places of refuge for the people of sur
rounding villages in case of war. He also
provided Elrrsons for the cities in
| Ephraim which Asa had taken from Ahah
| UT Chron. xiii, 19, which at the division
| belonged to Israel but by conquest were
row part Of the possessions of Judah.
| PlETY.-This preparation for war In
| time of peace indicated the worldly wis
dom of Jehoshaphat. lie believed in the
military power and made the most of it
But there was another. and, in most re.
| speCts, a more interesting aspect of his
| character. lie believed in God, and
walked in the ways of David oversees and
a.. the ideal king. who was also the pat
tern and inspiration of his father. Will
| all his heart he sought the LORD psalm
| CNlN, -, tndt Is, IN prayer ana IN persona
inquiry he endeavored to know God and
to come into intimate communion with
| Him. There was no division of affection
or purpose but his whole nature flowed
out in loving desire for Jehovah. And al
a consequence of this interior state. hi
outward life was regulated by tho will o
God-he walked in the commandments
thus complying with the requirement
laid upon kings CJosh. L. 81. All this h
did rejecting the bad example of Israel
king who served Baalim I Kings xvi. 31)
the god of the people who inhabited tn
land before the conquest
| REWARD.-DOcs pictv pay? Tha
question has been asked in all ages Ly al
classes of people. The disciples appea
at one time to have been somewha
troubled on the subject (Matt, xix, %. Al
terward they reached a satisfactory an
swer Il Tim. iv, s.. But in the Garlic