The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-01-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Ill.-FIrst Quarter, For
Jan. IS, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.


u chron. XIV, documentary Pre-
pared by Rev. .. M. stearna.
Although AbiJah, son Of Rehoboam,
reigned only three years and walked
in all the sins of his father q Kings
XIV, 1-3), yet there Is in III Chron. xiii
q remarkable record of a great victory
which the Lord gave him over the
army OF Jeroboam, which was Just
twice as great as his because ne relied
upon the Lord God Of his fathers. The
Lord has often seen ct to do mighty
things for very unworthy people for
His great names sake. Jer. xiv, z, In
very strong and effectuaI pleading.
Our lesson today introduces, us to
good King Asa, who reigned forty-one
years and did that which was good
and right in the eyes of the Lord his
God. He also defeated an army twice
as large as his own because he relied
on the Lord Cxiv, 8, 8; xvi, 81. His
prayer in chapter xiv, IL, has often
helped me: Lord, It 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 60"
Yet in the thirty-sixth year of his
reign he was led into making a league
with the king OF Syria, and, being re-
proved for it by the Lord through His
servant Hanani, he became so angry
that he put the prophet in prison. He
seems never to have got over this re-
proof Of the Lord, for when, three
years later, he became diseased In his
feet he did not seek the Lord in his
affection.
All the Lords dealings with His peo-
pie are intended to bring them nearer
to Himself, but to this day many be-
come so offended by what He does or
does not do that they turn away from
Him and lose all fellowship with Him,
Some OF my friends know something
Of the preciousness to nay soul of these
words of the Lord through His serv4
ant Hanani, 1.-THE eyes Of the Lord
run to and fro throughout the whole
earth to show Himself strong in the
behalf OF them whose hearts are per
feet toward Him. Chapter xvi, 81. We
need such word as this so much, for
the devil is always going to and fro I'm
the earth and walking up and down in
1T. As a roaring lion he walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour Job (.
z; ii, 2; Pet. v, 81.
Early in the reign OF Asa the Spirit,
OF God spoke to him through Azariah.
the son of Oded, in the words of verses
to z Of our lesson, referring to the
years past when the people had been
out Of fellowship with God, but when
ever they in their trouble sought Him
He was always found Of them. Much
of the message takes us back to the
days of the judges. BY the Lords
gracious dealings with His people in
the past Notwithstanding all their sin.
He encouraged Asa with the words,
"Be We strong, therefore, and let not
your hands be weak, for your work
shall be rewarded" Verse y. His Ell
hOrtation to us still and always is, "Be
strong In the Lord and in the power Of
His might (Eph vi, 10l. See also Iga.
Il, 1881; xiv, "a; Josh 1, g. IS; Hag-
II, 4, and note by contrast Uzziah, who
was marvelously helped till he was
strong, but then his heart was lifted
up to his own destruction Chapter
XVI, 10, ISL. The danger Is our own
or self confidence. for IL is
only when we are weak that we are
really strong OF Cor xii, D. 10). Isa.
XII, il, Is grand word for weak hands,
and, as to works, how full OF encour4
agement Is Cor. Nv, So! Rev. XIII
IL; Luke xiv, ii, are two of the best
on rewards.
The king, being greatly encouraged
by this message from the Lord, began
to purge the land Of idolatry, even de-.
stroying the idol Of his grandmother
Il Kings XIV, u, 49,, and to restore the
worship Of the true God. The people
fell to him in abundance out OF Israel
when they saw that the Lord his God
was with him Verse 81. They sacri-
feed unto the Lord and sought Him
with their whole desire and entered
into covenant to seek the Lord Cod
of their fathers with all their heart
and with all their soul verses 11-l5).
The first use of the title God "AI-
mighty" which means 1.-THE mighty
God who is all sufficient" Is in Gen.
xvii. /, where Abram lis encouraged to
walk before God and be sincere or up.
right or whole hearted. From the
book OF Job. in which this title is
Used more often than i'm all the rest
o. the Bible. we learn that to know
The Almighty there must be an abhorg
renee and remuneration of self Job kill
This turning to God in the days of
Asa was such reality that they de-
reed that whatsoever would not seek
the Lord God OF Israel should be nut
10 death, whether small or great.
whether man or woman (yerse 13).
II might be a Question whether this
compulsory turning to God would. aft
er all, prove to be a real turning or
The heart With us 1t Ii either life or
leath. He who does not truly receive
he Lord Jesus is dead In trespasses
md sins, lost soul, but the good news
s that Jesus came to seek ana save
he lost John i'll. is; John Y, II: Eph.
Il. ], 2; II Cor. Nv, 81. III the love OF
Him who gave up all Els glory and
bare our sins on Golgotha does NOT
win US to Him we must be dead In
Iced.