The Holt County sentinel. (Oregon, Mo.) 1883-1980, 1915-08-20

reputed size Of xerxes army are pain.
fully silent In the face Of the present
European struggle where armies are
reckoned by the millions. Atijah, Re
hoboam's successor. easily defeated
Jeroboam lch. l3:1320) because he
relied upon the Lord" and Asa his
son reigned In his stead"
!. Righteousness eshorted, wv. ~,
Returning from his wonderful victory
over Zerah the Ethiopian, Asa In met
by the spirit.anointed prophet. Azarisb
". -. This man was taken posses.
sion Of by the spirit OF God IN Pet.
1921; Mum. 24:2; judges q; 10: II Tim.
316). Thus Il was that he com mands
even the king. Hear We me" ". ~.
His first words were encouraging
ones. Jehovah IL with YOU" and the
proof OF his word was the victory Asa
had Just won. ,ch. 32:s: Rom, sal:
Dcut. ?0:D. That victory was q dem.
onstration, II involved an obligation
and had lesson for the king as well.
VIZ. that II he and his people would
seek Jehovah they would had him. but
" they forsook him he will forsake
you The words recorded In verse
three were fearful indictment t"with.
out the true God" Eph. 2:i2J and
they are a suggestive picture Of this
age that IL 30 sadly In need Of n
teaching priest" and Is so constantly
acting as though without law" CT
else Is law unto itself. But God
was merciful Fps. 103:s; 117:2D, and
In that time Of testing was working
his good will. Thus II came that in
their great trouble" ". ~ they sought
Jehovah and he was found Of them
Neglecting him there was no peace"
and great yexations" also lisa. u: 22D.
Our Lord has prophesied even greater
calamities In the last days Of israel's
apostasy Matt. 24:6, - and the pres.
ent upheaval In Europe can be large.
ly traced to apostasy and to the treat
ment Of Gods people Israel.
u. Righteousness Executed, w. Sis
90 The kinp's Part, w. g. Q. Asa
had shown himself worthy OF this spe
cial revelation from God. IN, his con.
duct u<:2. 3. 81. ,bI his words OF
command and exhortation ut;p;
,cD his care for and service In be-
half OF others u+:60D; I'D his reliance
upon and zeal Of God ui:lD. Verse
eight is suggestive Of the way he re.
ceived this revelation; IA he took
courage word OF commentator
VIII revive any weary heart. lbJ lie
put away the denominations" most
thoroughly, which his greatgrandfath,
er Solomon had brought into Israel,
and In accordance with the word Of
God tDeut, 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. lc) But
asa was constructive as well as de-
structi'e for he built again the altar
OF Jehovah'
2. The Peoples Part, w. to.15. (a)
They obeyed and gathered together
At Jerusalem. at the proper time and
the place. ,bl They offered sacrifice
unto the Lord" Heretofore their Of
ierings had been to their selhshness
or to strange gods. Their gift was q
costly one and the Lord's treasury Is
always standard whereby TO meas
ure the work OF grace In the hearts
OF his people. (c) They made another
covenant to seek the Lord" tPs.
1858. 4; Amos SO. 81. Those who
seek him md him FPS. 1870. To seek
him 10 pleasing to him. but Il must be
- tne'rs, with oil their soul" We
nno zoo In Christ lJohn l%;S; ] John
o'zo). Whosoever sought him not
were punisneo, even 30 viii those be
VINO now turn from him John 1873,
.; Matt. 36). (d) They gave public
tesumony OF their determination ".
~ Loud protestations are not A.