The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-01-11
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les.
son for Teachers and Pupils
By CHAS. K. MEYERS

Jan. Is. Asa's Good Reign in Judah.
3. Chron. Is, lis.
Our attention is called this week to
the Kingdom of Judah, of which Je-
rusalem was the capital and center of
influence. 1t was over this kingdom
composed of the tribes of Judah and
Benjamin. that Rehoboam ruled as
king as the son OF Solomon and his
rightful successor. He was succeeded
on his death by Abljah and he by Asa,
whose reign we this week specially
consider. While both RehOboam and
Abijah had nominally been followers
of the true God, yet they had let GER
tain forms of idolatry creep in, and
even the mother of Asa had an idol
in a grove, which her son in due time
had destroyed, together with removing
her from her royal position.
1t was thus in days like this that
Asa became king. The record sayss
that he did right In the sight of the
Lord and used his influence to put
away all worship except that OF the
true God. In the early part of his
kingship his country was invaded by
an Ethiopian, named Zerah, who came
with an army Vastly greater than any
Asa became king. The record says
uaton Asa made the following appeal
to God for aid: Lord, it is nothing to
thee to help us, whether with many or
with them that have no power, help
us, o Lord, our God, for we rest on
thee" In this spirit, of course, he put
to flight his enemies.
1t was soon after this encounter
with the Ethiopian that the incidents
of our lesson take place. A prophet
meets Asa and tells him that God is
IF you seek God, He will be found
of you, but if We forsake Him, He will
forsake you" Later it is said that
when the people sought God He was
found by them. All Of which impress
es the oft-repeated lesson that in Just
so far as we incline our hearts to God
He comes to dwell with us and is our
helper
The golden text reads: "Be We
strong, therefore. and let not your
hands be weak, for your work shall be
rewarded" This declaration of the
prophet Of old calls to mind that re
markable encouraging statement Of
the great Apostle Paul in | Cor. 1888
and which is most familiar to every
grown up christian: "Be We steadfast
unmovable, always Astounding in the
work of the Lord, for as much as y(
know that your labOrs are not in vail
i'll the Lord" This verse has give1
comfort and courage to ten thousand:
of christians and will continue to do 81
to the end of time on earth. Result:
do not always show at the time ant
discouragements come very thick, bu
ldllu Ill NOu, anu u uoC IildI liz VIII
make all things right, make an ancho
which holds and cheers to continued
faithful efforts.
Under Asa there was evidently ;
time of great revival of love to God
SO enthusiastic did the people become
that they made a rule to put to dealt
any who would not worship the true
Cod the one who had brought thei
Iorefathers out of Egyptian bondage
and cared for them in the wilderness
This turning to God gave the people
much joy. They sought Him with al
their heart, and He was found of them
We have often heard it said tina
lone with God is majority" and it il
a true saying. 1t is the faith of thu
christian people in God which wi!
overcome the world. This being sc
let christian people ever stand 70
right things, and in due time right
eousness shall prevail. This will no
come about in a day, but in due tim
if we faint not.