The Tupelo journal., 1904-07-15
THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL.
Lesson in the International Series
for July II, 19O4-"Asa's
Good Reign"
(Prepared by the Highway and By
way" Preacher.)

way" Preacher.)
copyright, 1904, by J. M. Edson.l
LESSON TEXT.
e Chron. I4:1-12; Memory Verses, 2-b)
1. So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they
buried him in the city of David; and Asa
his son reigned In his stead. In his days
the land was quiet ten years.
2. And Asa did that which was good ana
right in the eyes of the Lord his God;
3. For he took away the affairs OF the
strange gods, and the high places. ana
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.
5. Also he took away out OF all the cities
of Judah the high places and the images
and the kingdom was quiet before him..
6. And he built fenced cities in judah;
for the land had rest, and he had no war
in those years; because the LORD hao given
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 have
sought the Lord our God, We have sought
Him, and He hath given us rest on every
side. So they built and prospered.
8. And Asa had an army of men that
bare targets and spears, out of judah three
HuIuTeu tHOuSdHQ, ant Jul III
that bare shields and drew BOWS, two hun-
dred and fourscore thousands; all these
were mighty men of valor.
8. And there came out against them
Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a
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.
II And Asa criaI unto tho Lord his God.
and said, Lord, it is nothing with Thee to
help, whether with many, or with them
that have no power; help us, 0 Lord, our
God; for VIZ rest on Thee, and in Thy name
we go against this multitude. o Lord.
Thou art our God; let no man prevail
against Thee.
u. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians be-
fore Asa, and before Judah; and the Eth
opians fled.
THE LESSON includes 2 Chron. chap
tiers IA, Is and Is, and 1 Kings 1924.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Help US, o Lord our
God; for we rest on Thee Chron. H:11.
TIME.-Beginning of Asa's reign, $50 B.
C.. to 914 3. c. The battle with Zerah was
probably in Asa's fourteenth year.
PLACE.-Jerusalem, where Asa reigned.
The place where Zerah, the invader, was
defe&.ed was Is miles southwest of JeruSa-
iem.
PERSONS.-Asa. the king; Zerah, the
Ethiopian invader.
Events in Judah During Asa's Reign.
Prophet Azariah encourages the king
2 Chron. l5:l-7.
Asa puts away idolatry.-2 Chron. 1914.
Asa's unholy league with Syria.-2 Chron.
16:1-6.
Prophet Hanani's Rebuke and end of
Asa's reign.-2 Chron. 16:7-14.
Events in Israel During Asa's Reign.
Death of Jereboam and reign of his son,
Nadab Uwo years)-1 Kings 14:2O, and
1925, 26. Jereboam died in second year of
Asa's reign.
Baashas conspiracy and reign. and MUIR
der of all of Jereboam's house, Kings
1871 to 1876.
Death of Baasha and two years reign of
his son Elah.-1 Kings 1868.
Assassination of Elah and all Baasha's
house by Zimri in twenty-seventh year of
Asas reign and seven days reign of Zimri.
Il Kings 1915.
Omrf chosen king. He DESTROYS his rival Ia
Zimri and Tibni.-1 Kings 16:16-2S.
Death of Omri and beginning of Ahab's
reign IN thlrty-eighth year of Asa's reign.
comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Asa did good and right in the
yes of the Lord."-Here is the test of
all conduct. How does it appear to
God? Is it in harmony with His
Word? Will it meet His APPROVAL
Luke 1915.
Took away the affairs. ... broke
down the images and cut down the
groves. The evils of the reigns of
Solomon and Rehoboam (see 1 Kings,
Ills and 14:22-24) confronted Asa.
and nothing but the deepest convic-
ton and strongest will would have
ever dared attempt such reformation.
But a clean heart and right purpose
give heroic spirit and firm will.-Phil.
Alb; Eph. $40. Desperate diseases
require heroic remedies. The only
thing to do with sin, whether national
or individual, is to put 1t a
2 Cor. GIT.
Commanded Judah to seek the
Lord."-This is the way of all real
blessing and prosperity. There is
close and striking connection between
this verse and the statement in verse
8: $50 they built and prospered."
1ere is cause and effect.-Prov. 14:34;
'salms 1912. There are many prom.
Uses to the seeker after God.-Matt.
1913; Matt. 6:33; Heb. 11:6.
ITO do the law."-But there was
more to Asa's reform than froth and
fireworks. The test of its genuine
ness was in the doing. Seeking the
Lord issued in doing for the Lord.
So the test of our religion is in
the doing.-Matt. 7:21; John 14:15.
There came out against them
But the testing time came.-Heb. II:
6; Jas. 1:2-4.
ASA cried unto the Lord."-"Our ex-
tremity is Gods opportunity.'-2 Cor.
1873; Rom. 1871.
Elements in Asa's Prayer.-O
Confidence in God. at is nothing
with Thee" etc. (2) Appeal to God,
Help us, o God" (3) Submission to
God, 1--WE rest on Thee" Cd Identif1.
cation with God, I'm Thy name we
go against this multitude. let no
man prevail against Thee"
$50 the Lord smote."-When vic
tory came Asa did not claim the glory
and credit thereof.-Ps. 34:2.
The question W. should be, how
many men have we or our side, but
whether we have God as our ally.
Seed Thoughts.
There are affairs to-day that need
breaking down-altars erected to self
ishness, pleasure, ambition, ETC., and
upon which self is being sacrificed to all
that is good and true and eternal.
The Lord sought is the Lord found