Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-01
Sunday School Lesson

of Baal. Ashtoreth, Chemosh. Molech
and other religions. which had per-
sisted and continued TO exist In the
land after God had ordered his fol-
lowers should cease their idolatrous
and immoral practices and destroy
them. He not only tried to COM
pIetely eradicate these faiths, which
had been cherished by his parents, but
by his own individual initiative he
revived the worship of Jehovah in a
manner that attracted to judah
many citizens of Israel. whose 10y
atty to the God of their fathers
caused them to become loyal to Asa.
An era of peace is usually season
of prosperity. 1t was SO with Judah,
for her citizens. free from the prob
ton to peaceful pursuits, which soon
made the nation prosperous. He
formed. an alliance with Syria that
quickly changed the efforts Of Basha,
the king of Israel, who was planning
war against Judah, when he found
of the Syrian forces. While engaged
In the pursuit Of peace, Asa recog-
niZed that Egypt was a source Of
danger. SO he built Notifications,
which strengthened the power of
Judah.
The old maxim, 'In time of peace
prepare for war" did not prevent war.
Egypt considered herself the stronger
power, and in due time made war
upon Asa, who then turned to God
in prayer for help. Germany was the
most perfect fighting machine that
struck the blow when they believed
everything favored them. Humanely
speaking, they ought to have won
the war in the first six months of
the campaign, but they had planned
without consulting Jehovah. Men
hn given
God credit for the victory Of Amer
lea and her associates over Germany
and the central powers. Prayer has
played a great part in the battles OF
the world. History tells OF Washing 9.
the Continental Army was in great
peril. jackson. Howard. Gordon and
FNoch were men of prayers. Lincoln,
Mckinley and Wilson. who guided
the ship of state in our last three
great wars. were all, like the present
chief executive. praying men.
When the forces Of Judah were called
upon to meet the KushIte enemy at
Mareshah with an army that seemed
enormous in numbers before the recent
world war. Asa placed his trust In
ance and faith, which God answered by
giving TO his army one Of the most re-
markable victories in Jewish his
tory. He mastered the enemy com
pletely and all associated with them
in making war upon Judah, for he
tory to Jerusalem. 1t was on his
way back to the nations capital that
Asa met prophet who taught him
the lesson of spiritual reciprocity.
II we respond to God He Will re.
spond to us; If we trust Him He will
trust us: If we seek Him He will put
Himself in the way OF being found
of US. Power abides only condition
ally with men and nations.
Asa suffered from the limitation OF
his times. The prophet found some
thing in his reforms that was not up
to the level of Gods commands.
Asas reformatory work was not as
thorough as ii might have been, for.
according to I Kings, 1914. he had
not taken away the high places dis
obediently set apart to the worship
places of worship that had been ded-
icated to the worship of Jehovah Asa
evidently had allowed to remain in
his efforts to destroy all forms OF
idolatry. Jerusalem with its tenn
pie was the place for regular relig-
ious worship. because it was the
finish the task of reformation by
destroying places Of worship which
were not in accordance with the will
of Jehovah. God is never satisfied
with partial service, we HluSI pIOhc
our love by doing His will.
We have an unfinished task before
us here in our own land. Some think
as they read the stories of the crime
waves sweeping over the land that
we are in the last days, because we
are dwelling in time of peril. It is
not an hour for retreat or stacking
of Christian effort. The failure to
honor God and do His will resulted
in the conflict that filled the world
with sorrow. We cannot be indif.
ferent to the fact the religion OF
Jesus Is the only hope for the worid
at this moment. If we are true to
Christ we will see to 1t that the Cos
pei Is preached to every creature.
We must follow the example OF Asa,
who proved his loyalty to Jehovah
by precept and example. Like MIN:
we must seek the destruction OF
everything that is sinful and give to
men a knowledge of the Savior's love
and offer of eternal life that will NIL
their souls with new song. Christ
has promised to be with us II we
carry out His program. His pres
ence means power Tor servics;
Asa had to submit to Gods COM
mand. Many think they are doing
the Lords service when they are not
doing His work. Saul thought he
was until his eyes were opened upom,
the way to Damascus. We must can
America back to the word OF God and
insist that they obey the divine cong
mands, so that the world can be
brought back to normally. The In
dividual and nation that relies upon
God and does His win shall have
peace. prosperity and power. Let US
by our personal prayers seek tne
Lords aid and assistance. saying
with Asa, Help US, o Jehovah. our
Cod. for we rely upon Thee" and then
seek to unite in a covenant of devo-
W., not op1v for mr. Nation.