Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-11
/ lY11sfAntNII1e.fs |
NIEBROkCYN }
ll
.BIBLE.STUDIES
NATIONAL REFORM OF OLD.
n Chronicles is: 1-15-January IS.

BE strong, therefore, and let not
your hands be weak, for your work
shall be rewarded"
| This study shows us a young king
whose environments in youth had been
|unfavorable, in that his father was far
from being a good man, and his early
years were under the influence of a
grandmother who was an idol wor-
IShipper In the midst of this un-
Favorable setting Asa quickly de-
veloped a loyalty to God and soundness
OF judgment beneficial to his king
dom.
We have all had experience with
characters of this kind We have oc-
OCCASIONALLY seen children of evil par
Ientage who seemed to see the evil of
the parental course, and to be nauseat-
ed herewith, and by this led into right
paths. II has at times appeared as
Though Divine Providence occasional
lily interposed in prenatal influences
which made the child very different in
bent OF mind from either of its par
lents.
Asa did much to abolish idolatry in
Ibis kingdom. and to sway the minds of
| the people to reverence and obedience
| of Almighty God. In consequence, he
had peace for ten years, during which
ltime no encouraged his people and
lspurred himself on to activity in the
| Training Of an army, and in the com
| plotting OF fortified cities on the eX-
tremty Of his kingdom, for protection
| against attack of enemies.
| Following the ten years of peace
| ne Ethpnian and
an army OF million and three hum
bred chariotS of war, to attack the
kingdom of Judah. After the custom
OF the times they foraged on the coun-
try through which they passed, appro
| priating, devastating, etc.
| Renewed Conservation to God.
| This was the very occasion for which
Asa had made preparation during his
ten years of peace. He went forth
| with his army to beat the invader.
Nevertheless. his faith looked up to
| God for the victory, realizing that with
| him was the power to give or to with
| hold victory. In the battle which fol-
| lowed, Asa and his army We're success
ful.
| Returning from the victory with
| hearts grateful to God they were met
| on the way by a Prophet-AZariah-
who in the name of the Lord Coun-
seled the king and his people that
they had all done we'll and faithfully,
| and that, therefore, Gods blessing was
| with them. and that the continuance of
Divine blessing would depend upon
their faithfulness to God and to the re-
| quirments of his Law.
The Divine warning helped the King
| and his people to appreciate the situa-
| ton and to take a iirmer stand than
ever for righteousness. a second and
| more thorough reformation was thus
| inaugurated-no idolatry was thence
| forth permitted in the kingdom under
penalty of death and the Lords bless
| ing continued with the Kingdom
Judah.
The God of Battle.
Benevolent people. interested in
peace congresses, etc. sometimes in
quire how we should understand the
fact that the God of the Old Testament
| Scriptures was a God of Battle
sometimes commanding war and the
| utter destruction of many. The an
swer to this question can be appreciate
ed only when the situation is viewed
| from the proper standpoint. thus:
The whole world was lost in sin and
was under condemnation tn death as
| unworthy OF life, unworthy of Divine
| favor. Whether, therefore, God per-
mitted them to die by famine pesti-
lence, or by what We sometimes desig-
nate natural death mattered not-the
death sentence must sooner or later be
executed against them at any rate
all must go down To the tomb.
We thank God. however. that his
gracious plan has provided a redemp-
ton of Adam and all of his race from
| the tomb and from death. and full
opportunity eventually. by resurrec-
| ton. to come to a true knowledge of
God and righteousness. and. if obedent
thereto. To return ultimately to Divine
| favor and to more than was lost in
| Eden-al of this recovery accom-
plished through Calvary.
| The nation of Israel was no excep-
| ton to this reign of sin and death. but
IGod chose them as nation to make of
them types. shadows. illustrative of his
gracious purposes.
| All of Gods dealings with that nation
typed greater blessings for the future.
We are not to understand that either
then, or since, any other nation has
occupied this same relationship toward
God nor that he similarly rewards and