Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-03-30

GOLDEN TExT-Help US, Lord our
God; for we rest on Thee.-u Chron. i4:l1-
REFERENCE MATERIAL-u Chron.
H.1s-1s; lisa. A:10-ls.
PRIMARY TOP1C-A King Who Trusted
God
JUNIOR TOPIC-God Helping Asa.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
A Ruler Who Relied on God.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Source Of Personal and National
Power.
!. Asa's Reformation (vv. .1-5).
Asa was the grandson OF Rehoboam,
Both his grandfather and father
favored idolatry. but in spite Of this
record Of his ancestors. Asa had
will 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 hsndicap Of the idoiatry and Inn
mortality kostefed by the two former
kings, put he had to contend against
the influence u his mother who had
encouraged immoral worship Il Kings
10 :ly). In order to carry out his re-
formatory measures he had TO wrests
authority from her by deposins her.
An did that which was good and right
ID the eyes Of fhe Lord ". y.
]. Cleared the land Of idolafrous
smblems and images wv. 3, 81. ~
Strange affairs. These were the affairs
devoted to other gods. ~ High
places. These were places where un-
lawful sacrifices were offered. (8)
Broke down the images. These were
upright stones connected with idola-
trous worship. az Cut down the
groves. These were trees or poles
connected with tree worship. He had
all these relics Of idolatry destroyed
In Jerusalem and other cities through
out his kingdom.
g. Commanded Judah to seek the
Lord ". AZ. He knew that II the ref
ormation was to be effective 1t must
be by the positive seeking after and
worshiping Of God. accompanied by
obedience to His commandments. De-
structive work avails little unless fol-
lowed by constructive.
II. Asa's Defensive Preparations
wv. 6-S).
l. Built fortified cities ". g.. The
cities are not named, but the meaning,
doubtless, is that it was general sys-
TEN of defense which involved the
cities at strategic points.
2, He erected walls about the
cities ". ~. These were usually Of
stone. Upon the walls were observa-
tion towers from which the position
and movements of the enemy could be
seen, and from which defensive war
fare could be waged
3. Made 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.
4. Had an army Of sDearmen ~. 81.
/These spcarnen were also protected
with large shields. The army was
made up Of 10000 brave men. They
were prepared to wage an offensive
as well as a defensive war.
mi. Asa's Victory over zerah, the
Etaioplae wv 2 10
i. Asa SIT The battle Ia array (v.
109 He vent out e. meet the enemy.
sIe first made a disposition Of hts
means Of defense. This was wisdom
on lis part Intelligent faith moves
the possessor to do first that which
IS within lbs power
2 &aa plaYef wv II, 12) He
cried aIto the Lord BE sought The
squirrel 1 naiiama power IA tins
pra8er note fl) l.is conscious helpless
mess As Axe faced ne alan army
III ore AiflsG Biai re Wa clearly
a0 81 lfis ifs0gtaneg G4e irst
reaHfslia % ettaiHing help from Coo
S. cons i9us The Christina
'eeHaaeis rot BIZ -relNace, F bs
elf-stfust ana faifa ihGol CD Ap.
peals g Cod f9i aeip. He kHew thai
shoueH tlley were helpless h re he
mighty enanys With e9a' iaes
could win fite victory 0H Nift
God majority CD faith
ID Cod The word re qs 70
lean Hnon- 10 easf tho on weight
apon N The measure tiat We realize
our need of support VIII we lean
hard upon God 80 Advanced eoii-
rageouaiy He went forth ndins
apou God 10 fgft for him faith
does not wait unti4 II sees ss way
clear. but ,goes forth expecting God to
clear the way. 80 Hlung himself
upon Gods arms. 20 Lord, thou art
our Cod His cause was Gods cause.
If God has taken us for His people,
and if we have taken Him for our God,
no enemy can prevail against us. May
we experimentaaly say, "Thou art my
Cod and hear Him say, Il am thy
God =
3. The Egyptians smitten ". 12).
The enemy fed before Isreal and could
not recover themselves.