The Tupelo journal., 1915-08-20

ne Will draw ulsn 10 you. Jaihcs 7o.
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. 13:13-20) because he
relied upon the Lord" and ASA his
son reigned in his stead"
!. Righteousness Exhorted, Wv. II.
Returning from his wonderful victory
oyer Zerah the Ethiopian, Asa is met
by the s~pirit-anointed prophet, Azariah
". u. This man was taken posses
sion Of by the spirit of God QI Pet.
1:21; Mum. 24:2; Judges $40; ii Tim.
3:16). Thus it was that he commands
even the king, Hear We me" ". p.
His first words were encouraging
ones, Jehovah is with you" and the
proof of his wor vas the victory Asa
had just won, (ch. 1928; Rom. 1871;
Deut. 20:D. That victory was a dem
o%nstration, it involved an obligation
and had a lesson for the king as well,
viz, that if 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 a fearful indictment c"with-
out the true God" Eph. 2:12) and
they are a suggestive picture of this
age that is SO sadly in need of a
teaching priest" and is SO constantly
acting as though without law" or
else is a 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 in
their great trouble ". a they sought
Jehovah and he was found OF them.
Neglecting him there was mo peace"
and great vexations" also lisa. 48:22).
Our Lord has prophesied even greater
calamities in the last days of IsraePs
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.
II. Righteousness Executed, ". Bis.
Cd The Kings Part, w. 8, 9. Asa
ha6 shown himself worthy of this spe-
cia' revelation from God: (a) his con-
dut5%fI4:z, 8, %: tb) bis words OF
command and exhortation Q4:4);
(c) his care for and service in be-
half of others G4:60); (0) his reliance
upon and zeal of God Q4:11). 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,
and in accordance with the word OF
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. (c) But
Asa was constructive as well as de-
structive for he built again the altar
of Jehovah"
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
ito seek the Lord" Cps.
1868, 4; Amos 5:4, g.. 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 1876; l John
5:20). 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 p~rotestations are not al
ways permanent.
Conclusion. Though Asa had a
parental handicap Il Kings 1919
and lived in a corrupt court still he
yielded to the teaching of Gods word
and therefore wrought a great refor-
nation.
Recognizing the source of power in
his own life Asa taught the people
the word of God, to seek God and to
keep his commandments.
Asa's reformation was in reality q
religious revival and such is the only
kind that has any permanency.
In the time of testing Asa ID
went to God for help; t2) pleaded
the cause of God and the honor of his
name; CD went out to fight, trusting
in God.
Revival heights and experiences
bless us eyermOr a new light shines