The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-03-30

| GOLDEN TEXT-Help us, . Lord our
| God: for we rest on Thee.-lI Chron. 14:ll.
| REFERENCE MATERIAL-II Chron:
| l4:l3-l6 lisa. 4ll0-l3.
PRIMARY TOpIC-A King who Trusted
| God.
JUNIOR TOPlC-God Helping Asa.
| INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
| "A ruler Who Relied on God.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Source Of Personal and National
PowSr
I. Asa's Reformation wv. 1-5).
Asa wns the grandson OF Rehoboam.
Both his grandfather and father
favored idolatry, but In spite Of this
record Of his ancestors. Asa had a
| VIII OF his own, an. though young
when he came to the throne, inagurat-
ed campaign Of reform which
brought great good. He not only had
the handicap Of the idolatry and i'm.
mortality fOstered by the two former
kings. but he had to contend against
the influence of his mother who had
encouraged immoral worship N Kings
1919. In order to carry out his re.
| fOrmatory measures he had 20 wrest
authority from her by deposng her.
Asa did that which was good and right
| v. -.
| !. Cleared the land OF idolatrOus
emblcms and images wv. 3. 81. Q)
Strange affairs. These were the alturs
devoted to other gods. (2) High
places. These were places where un.
lawful sacrifices were offered (3)
Broke down the images. These were
upright stones connected with ldola.
trous worship. 90 Cut down the
| groves. These were trees or poles
connected with tree worship. He had
all these relics Of idolntry destroyed
In Jerusalem and other cities through
out his kingdom.
| 2. Commanded Jsaah to seek the
Lord ". ~. He knew that If the ref
| 3rmation was to be effective 1t must
be by the positive seeking after and
worshiping Of God accompanied by
obedience to His commandments. De-
structivc work avalls little unless fol-
lowed by constructive.
u. Asa's Defensive Preparations
wv. 6-S)
1. Built fortified cities ". 81. The
cities are not named, but the meaning,
doubtless Is that II was n general SyS-
tenn Of defense which involved the
| Si'iSS ~ SttultSiC pOlltS.
., He erected walls about the
cities (y. y. These were usually OF
stone. Upon the walls were obscrvn-
ton towers from which the position
and movements Of the enemy could he
seen, and from which defensive war
fare could be waged
g. Nude gates and barred them
". y. The reason he assigns for
these defensive preparations was that
they had sought the Lord God. Those
who really trust God will make every
effort to provide defense.
i. Had al army Of Sppnrmcn ". 81.
These Spearmen were also protected
| with large shields. The army was
made up Of 100000 brave men They
were prepared to wage an offensive
rs well rs a defensive war.
IiI. Asa's Victory over zerah, the
Ethiopian (vv o,l2).
|. ASA set the battle IN array ".
| 10Y He went out To meet the enemy
| lie first made Il disposition of his
means Of defense, This was wisdom
on his part. Intelligent faith moves
| The p"SS"SSnr to do first that which
| Is within his power.
>. .ASn's prayer (vv. II, l2). lie
| cried unto the Lord He sought the
| source Of national power. In this
| prayer note GD his conscious helpless.
| ness. AS he faced the Egyptian army
| two to one against him. he was clearly
| conscious of his impotrncv. The first
| requisite In ohsinng help from God
| Is conscious weakness. The Christian
| conNurrS not by sclf-rcrnncc, hut by
| sflf-dis,rust and h,ih In God (20 An-
| prnlS to God for help. He knew that
| though they were helpless before The
mighty enemy. with Gods help they
| could win the victory one man with
| God IS Il majority (3) RcpoSrS faith
| in God Tho word rest" means to
| lean upon--to cast the entire weight
| upon. In the measure that we realize
| our need nf support viii We lean
hard upon God. ~ Advanced co,i.
| rarroliSly. He went forth depending
| upon God to fi:'ht for him. Real faith
| does not watt until 1t secs It's way
clear, hnt goes forth expecting God to
clear III" way. (5) hung himself
upon Gods arms. 90 Lord. ihou Drt
our God" His cause was Gods cause.
IF God has taken us for His people.
ana il we have taken Him for our God,
no enemy can prevail against u.s. AIay
we cNprrimcntally say, "Thou art my
Cod" and hear Him say, IL am hv
Cod"
:" TN" Egyptians smittcn (v. 12).
The enemy fed before IsrraI and could
not recover themselves.
Love, Faith and Hope.
little love from day to day, and