The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-15
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL.
Lesson in the international Series
for July II, 1eo4-"Asa's
Good Reign"
Prepared by the Highway and By
wayr Preacher.)


l. SoAbijah slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the city of David; and Asa
his son reigned in his stead. In his Gays
the land was quiet ten years.
2 And Asa did that which was gooo anu
right in the eyes of the Lord his God;
3. For he took away the affairs OF the
strange gods, and the high places, and
brake down the images. and cut down the
groves;
4. And commanded Judah to seek the
Lord God of their fathers. and to do the
law and the commandment.
8 Also he took away out of all the ciues
of Judah the high places and the images
and the kingdom was quiet before him
6. And he built fenced cities in Jucah'
for the land had rest. and he had no war
in those years; because the Lord had gwen
him rest.
7. Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us
build these cities. and make about them
walls. and towers. gates. and bars, while
the land Is yet before US; because We nave
sought the Lord our God. we have sought
Him, and He hath given US rest on every
side. So they built and prospered.
s. And Asa had an army Of men that
bare targets and spears, out OF judah three
hundred thousand: and out OF Benjamin,
that bare shields and drew bows. two hun
dred and fourscore thousands: all these
| were mighty men Of valor.
9. And there came out against them
Zerah the Ethiopian with an host OF
| thousand thousand. and three hundred
| chariots; and came unto Mareshah-
10. Then Asa went out against him. and
they set the battle in array in the valley Of
| Zephathah at Mareshah.
IL And Asa cried unto the Lord his God.
| and said. Lord, IL IS nothing with Thee TO
/ help. whether with many, or with them
| that have no power: help US, . Lord, our
| God; for We rest on Thee. and In Thy name
| We go against this multitude y Lord,
Thou art our God; let no man prevail
| against Thee.
L. So the Lord smote the Philippians be-
fore Asa. and before Judah; and the Eth
| opians fled.
THE LESSON Includes 2 Chron. chap
ters H. Is and l6. and Kings 15:s-A
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Help us, o Lord oui
God; for we rest on Thee Chron. H:u.
| TIME.-Beginning of Asa's reign, s55 B
c. to 9l4 b. c. The battle with Zerah wa,
probably in Asa's fourteenth year.
| PLACE.-Jerusalem,w where Asa reigned
The place where Zerah, the invader, was
defeated was Is miles southwest OF Jerusa
lem.
PERSoNS.-Asa, the king; Zerah. tn,
Ethiopian invader.
Events in Judah During Asa's Reign
Prophet Azariah encourages the king
2 Chron. 15:1-7.
Asa puts away idolatry.-2 Chron. 1914
Asa's unholy league with Syria--2 Chron
| 16:1-6
Prophet Hananrs Rebuke and end o
. Asa's reign.-2 Chron 1914
Events in Israel During Asa's Reign
Death Of Jereboam and reign of his sor
Nadab (two years)-l Kings l:20. an
l5:25. 26 Jereboam died in second year @
Asa's reign.
Baasha's conspiracy and reign, and mul
der OF all OF Jereboam's house, King
| 15:N to 1915.
Death OF Baasha and two years reign {
l his son Elah.-1 Kings 1868
q Assassination of Elah and all Baasha
house by Zimrf in twenty-seventh year
Asa's reign. and seven days reign Of Zimr
4 i Kings 16:s-15
Omri chosen king He DESTROYS his riya
Zimri and TibnI.-l Kings Is:l6-2s
$ Death OF omri and beginning of Ahab
reign in thirty-eighth year of Asa's reign.
Comparing Scripture with Scriptur
Asa did. good and right in Il
eyes of the Lord."-Here is the test
y all conduct. How does it appear
Il God? Is it in harmony with II
8 Word? Will it meet His approval (?
a Luke 1915.
Fl Took away the affairs. brol
r. down the images and cut down Il
!. groves. evils of the reigns
Solomon and Rehoboam (see 1 Kins
's Ills and 14:22-24) confronted As
e and nothing but the deepest cow
ton and strongest will would ha
ever dared attempt such reformatio
sr But a clean heart and right purpo
10 give heroic spirit and firm will.-Ph
Alb; Eph- 6:10. Desperate diseas
= require heroic remedies. The on
thing to do with sin, whether nation
or individual. is to put 1t away
2 Cor 6:17.
Commanded Judah to seek I
Lord."-This is the way of all r,
blessing and prosperity. There
close and striking connection betwe
this verse and the statement in vel
8: $50 they built and prospere
Here is cause and effect.-Prov. IA:
Psalms 1912. There are many Pre-
ises to the seeker after God.-Ms
1918; Matt 6:33: Heb. 11:6.
ITO do the law."-But there v
more TO Asa's reform than froth a
fireworks. The test Of its genui
ness was in the doing Seeking
Lord issued in doing for the Lo
So the test OF our religion is
the doing.-Matt. 7:21; John 14:15
There came out against them.
But the testing time came.-Heb.
6; Jas. 1:2-4.
ASA cried unto the Lord. d."-"Our
tremity is Gods opportunity."-2 {
1873; Rom. s:31.
Elements in Asa's Prayer
Confidence in God. "It is moth
with Thee" etc. (2) Appeal to G
Help us. o God" CD Submission
God. I'VE rest on Thee" (4) Iden
cation with God, ''In Thy name
go against this multitude. let
man prevail against Thee"
$50 the Lord smote when
tory came Asa did not claim the 81
and credit thereof.-Ps. 34:2.
The question never should be,
many men have we on our side,
whether we have God as our ally.
Seed Thoughts.
There are affairs to-day that I
breaking down-altars erected to
fshness. pleasure, ambition. etc,
upon which self is being sacrificed Il
\ that is good and true and eternal.
The Lord sought is the Lord 70,
4 for. as Paul said to the Athenians,
: is mot far from every one of US"
A strong, fearless leader always f
mighty men of valor" to rally ro
him.
Asa's cause was Gods cause,
1