The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-21
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LESSON .
Dyao. E.igELLERS. Acting Director OF
Tie Sunday School Course Of the Moody
Bible inStitutGJ ri
LEssoMFoRA AUGUST %
AsA's GOOD REIGN.

LESSON TEXT-n Chron. l5::1-16.
GOLDEN TExT-Drnw nigh to God and
gh6sN1l draw nigh TO you. James 4:s.
Skeptcs who formerly laughed at
thS record Of II Chron. 1879 or at the
feputed size OF Xerxes' army are pain
fnliy silent in the face OF the present
European struggle where armies are
feekoned by the millions. Abitah, Re
hoboam's successor. easily defeated
Jefoboam (ch. 13:13-2O because he
relied upon the Lord" and Asa his
son fetgned in his stead"
!. Righteousness Exhortsd, ~. II.
Retnrning from his wonderful victory
over Zerah the Ethiopian, Asa is met
By the s~pIritauointed prophet, Azariah
q. u. This man was taken posses
sion OF by the spirit Of God III Pet.
1:21; Mum. 24:2; Judges $40: II Tim.
3:i6). Thus It was that he commands
even the king, Hear We me" ". p.
His first words encouraging
eneS, Jehovah is with you" and the
proof Of his word was the victory Asa
had just won, (ch. 1878; Rom. 1881;
lieut.. Pod. That victory a q dem
~onstration, it involved an obligation
and had q lesson for the king as well,
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
ethreelwere q fearful indictment (''with-
out the true Cod" Eph. 2:12) and
they arc a suggestive picture Of this
age that is so sadly in need Of q
teaching priest" and is SO constantly
acting as though without law" or
else Is a law unto itself. But God
was merciful FPS. 1898; 117:2l, and
in that time Of testing. was working
his good viii. Thus it came that In
their great trouble" ". ~ they sought
Jehovah and "he was found of them"
Neglectfng him there was mo peace"
apd-Geat vexations" also lisa. 1929.
Our Lord has prophesied even greater
sealamities in the last days Of Israel's
apostasy tMatt. 24:6, y and the pres
ent upheaval in Europe can be large
Iystraced to apostasy and to the treat
ment OF Gods people Israel.
II. Righteousness Executed, w. Bis.
g(a1 The Kings Part, w. 8, 9. Asa
Shsdshown himself worthy OF this spe-
cialreyelation from God: taD his con
duct tI4:2. 3. 81; OBJ his words Of
command and exhortation Q4:4);
Eel his care for aud service in be-
halfof others (l4:G0l I'D his reliance
upon and zeal OF God Q4:l1). Verse
eight Is suggestive OF t3e way he re-
eeiyed this revelation; ta) he took
courage"-a word OF Communication
viii revive any weary heart tbD He
put away The denominations" most
thoroughly, which his great.grandfath.
or Solomon aad brought Into Israel,
and In accordance with the word OF
God Dent. 1861. 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
ling INTO their vortex the ons and
daughters OF the s@ints OF Cod. Any
thing, no matter how esthetic or moral
~ eleyattng Or h~rofessediy religious,
s1hat measures MT according 20 this
word, should BE- torn down. tc) But
Asa was constructive a. well as de-
atructlFe for he built again the altar
Of jehovah"
q The Peoples Tars, w. .1c-15. (a)
They obeyed Lnd gathered together
at Jerusalem at the proper time and
the place. IL They Offered sacrifice
unto the Lord" Heretofore their Of
ferings had bten 10 their seltishqess
on to- strange gods. Their gift was a
costly one and the Lords treasury is
saiRAs9 q standard whereby to meas
fnfet he work OF grace in the hearts
Of Ills people. tc) They made another
covenant ito seek the Lord" FPS.
1853, 4: Amos ga, g.. Those who
ssaskhim md him FPS. 14:2l. To,seek
him pleasing to him, but It must be
fas theirs, with NIL their soul" We
hnd Cod In Christ John 1876; l John
800 whatsoever sought him not
Wsre punished. even so will those be
Who now turn from him John 1873.
Matt. 25). (dy They gave public
testimony Of their determination ".
10. Loud protestations are not al.
ways spermaneat.
Conclusion. Though Asa had a
parental handicap Il Kings 1919
and lived. In a corrupt cour still he
yielded to the teaching OF Gods word
and therefore wrought a great refor.
nation.
Resognizing the source OF power in
his own life Asa taught the people
the word Of God, to seek God and to
keephis commandments.
Asas reformation was in reality q
religious revival and such is the only
kind that has any permanently.
In the time Of testing Asa ~
went to God for help; (2) pleaded