The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-08-17

LESSON TEXT-I1 Chron 15:1-f5
GOLDEN TEXT-Draw nigh to God and
he will draw nigh to you. James AS.
Skeptics who formerly laughed at
the record of II Chron. 14:9 or at the
reputed size of Xerxes' army are pain
fully silent in the face of the present
European struggle where armies are
reckoned by the millions. Abijah, Re-
hoboam's successor, easily defeated
Jeroboam (ch. 13:1320) because he
relied upon the Lord" and ASA his
son reigned in his stead"
|. Righteousness Exhorted, wv. IL.
Returning from his wonderful victory
over Zerah the Ethiopian, Asa is met
by the spirit-anointed prophet, Azariah
". ID. This man was taken possess
sion of by the spirit of God Gil Pet.
1:21; Num- 24:2; Judges $40; II Tim.
3:16). Thus it was that he commands
even the king, Hear ye me" (v. p.
His first words were encouraging
ones, Jehovah is with you" and the
proof Of his word was the victory Asa
had just won, (ch. 1928; Rom. 1871;
Deut. Pod. That victory was a DEM
onstration, it involved an obligation
and had lesson for the king as we'll,
viz, that II he and his people would
seek Jehovah they would find him, but
If they forsook him he will forsake
you The words recorded in verse
three were fearful indictment (''with-
out the true Cod" Eph 2:12) and
q nj op
age that is SO sadly in need of a
teaching priest" and is so constantly
acting as though without law" or
else is law unto itself. But God
was merciful Cps. 1898; 117:2), and
in that time of testing was working
his good will. Thus it came that lin
their great trouble" ". a they sought
Jehovah and che was found of them"
Neglecting him there was mo peace"
and great yexations" also lisa. 1920.
Our Lord has prophesied even greater
calamities in the last days of Israel's
apostasy Matt. 24:6, y and the pres
ent upheaval in Europe can be large
ly traced to apostasy and to the treat
ment of Gods people Israel. God will
remember his covenant (Deut. 4:29-31;
Judges 10:10-16; Ps. 106:44; Hos.
14:1-3) even though Israel has forgot
ten him and has mo peace" anywhere
upon the earth. All of this came from
the hand Of God ". 6; Judges IA;
lisa. 1850 and was an exhortation
". y that Asa should remember and
that he should work as well. We, too,
are taught to "despise not prophecy
ing q Thess. 5:2O) and to work."
John 6:28; Phil. RIP; Matt. 21:2S;
IL Thess. 3:10). At the same time there
is for us sure reward ". z; Matt
1O:41, AZ; l Cor. 1888; Col 3:24;
Heb. 6:10; 10:35).
II. Righteousness Executed, wv. 8-15.
Cd The Kings Part, w. 8, 9. Asa
had shown himself worthy of this spe-
cial revelation from God: (a) his con-
duct GAP, 3, 81; CD his words Of
command and exhortation (14:4);
(c) his care for and service in be-
half of others Q4:6O; Cd his reliance
upon and zeal of God O4:1D. Verse
eight is suggestive of the way he re-
ceived this revelation; (a) he took
courage word of commentator
Will revive any weary heart (b) He
put away the denominations" most
thoroughly, which his great-grandfath-
er Solomon had brought into Israel,
God (Deut 7:5). There are many
strange affairs In our land today, forms
OF religion that stand not the test
of Gods word and which not alone
deceive the very elect but are sweep
ing into their vortex the sons and
daughters of the saints of God. Any
thing, no matter how esthetic or moral
ly elevating or professedly religious,
that measures not according to this
word, should be torn down Co But
Asa was constructive as well as de-
structive for he built again the altar
of Jehovah" IT'S sad to think that
so many homes and communities de-
mand such work in their midst to-
day.
z. The Peoples Part, w. 1915. (a)
They obeyed and gathered together
at Jerusalem, at the proper time and
the place. (b) They Offered sacrifice
unto the Lord" Heretofore their Of
ferings had been to their selfishness
or to strange gods. Their gift was a
costly one and the Lords treasury is
always a standard whereby to meas
ure the work of grace in the hearts
of his people. Co They made another
covenant "to seek the Lord" Cps.
1868, 4; Amos ga, o. Those who
seek him find him Cps. 14:2). To seek
him is pleasing to him, but it must be
as theirs, with all their SOUL We
find God in Christ John 14:6; / John
$500. Whosoever sought him not
were punished, even so will those be
who now turn from him John 1873,
8; Matt 25). Cd They gave public
testimony of their determination ".
14). Loud protestations are not al
ways permanent, still there must be
an open confession rom. 1919, 10;
Matt. 10:32). Their confession was
accompanied by music There is no
joy like that which comes with a new
faith, a new sense of Gods love, a
real revival (e) Lastly, the people
found rest or rather it was given
to them. In verse five there was mo
peace; now, after having earnestly
sought him " 15), "a rest was given
III 1, IL