The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-01-12

ISL
TIME-Asa began to reign B. c. 1853 COR
s19) near the close of Jeroboams reign In
the goth year Of the Kingdom OF Judah
PLACE-The kindom OF Judah, and
Jerusalem its capital with excursions In
to Ephraim. Asa's great victory over
the invading Ethiopians was gained at
Mareshah rs miles southwest of Jeru-
salem.
Asa was the grandson Of Rehoboam
His grandmother, the queen-mother at
the beginning of his reign. was Maa'
chah, an idolatress who had set up
an idol and its debased Worship In
Jerusalem. Apparently Asa was quite
young man when he came to the
throne, perhaps twenty years old
Asa lived in a corrupt court, under
the influences of an idolstrous grand
mother, surrounded by idolatry, nat
tered by courtiers. His father and
his grandfather were neither OF them
good characters for boy to look up
TO. There were also some good infu-
ences from godly men and the temple
worship the good priests and their
teaching of the Word OF God.
lie looked out upon his fathers
kingdom, and upon the northern king
dom, and saw what was going on; the
idolatlies and the evils that followed
I'm their train. and the heather ma
tons and the fruits of idolatry In
item. His heart burned within him,
and urged him on to reform.
There are two possible effects OF
! the presence of great and prevailing
evils. Some are overwhelmed by their
power and attractions, and become
part of their downward tide. Others
are repelled by them. hate them with
perfect hatred, and arouse all their
being to destroy them. We all know
| instances of this. One OF the best
| business men of my acquaintance
| lived when a boy amid the vilest sur
| roundings But he had open eyes.
lie saw the effect of laziness, and re-
solved not to be lazy. He saw the
effects of drinking and smoking, and
resolved not to drink or smoke. He
saw the degrading effects of profanity,
and he determined not to swear. And
so through the whole list SO Asa
did that which was right in the sight
of the Lord as did David his father
Asa Immediately began his reforms.
There was a period of ten years OF
rest from external attack. In these
years Asa himself did right 'and
obeyed God. His example stood out
before all his people. II is a great
thing 20 have rulers who are true ex-
amples of goodness. This is the
source of the greatest power any per
son can have over another.
He taught his people the word to
God, to seek God, to keep His com
mandments. Education, knowledge OF
right and wrong, are the guides Of the
impulses to seek God.
From Egypt In the southwest there
came up an immense host, one million
strong, with three hundred chariots,
and like all early Oriental armies,
living on the country consuming the
crops. burning the houses, capturing
families, and leaving devastation and
ruin behind them, like a fire on the
prairies, or the grasshoppers on a
|
twenty-five miles from Jerusalem. No
wonder the people were terrified. But
Asa used both faith and works. He
went out with his army, and like
Cromwell with his Ironsides, 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, o Lord our
God; for we rest on thee. and in thy
name we go against this multitude.
o Lord, thou art our God; let not man
prevail against thee II was Gods
cause as well as the peoples. and they
were strong In that trust. The Ethi-
opans were overthrown, and their
spoil fell into the hands OF the Judah
ties.
The people entered into a covenant
to seek the Lord This was like the
public profession of serving Jesus
Christ when joining the church Some
seem to think that they can be as
good and as useful without q profes-
sion as with the covenant relation
with others, and public vows to obey
Jesus Christ and our Father In heaven.
But this Is mistaken feeling A
public covenant gives one far
greater influence for good. II makes
known your valuation of the cause.
II makes each individual stronger
The principles In the work of King
Asa apply to our own times, but are
to be worked out In ways adapted to
modern life. The church is an army
on duty AN army for the Christian
conquest OF the world by loving faith
fulness." There are great evils to be
driven out of our country. The whole
lend Is waking up to realize the need
OF civic righteousness. There is al
ways need Of awakening new reform
ing zeal. For every step we gain gives
us views Of new needs. and new ideals.
Religious conservation to God and
His kingdom Is needed not only for
ourselves. but for our country. Pres
ident Garfield In his inaugural ad
dress says: ITO fail to give our young
men a sense and appreciation of the