Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-29
Asa Relies on God.

Asn Relies on God.
Rchohoanl. the FIRST King OF Judah.
hau srasm Of industry, during which
southern kingdom. but when he re-
iaprcd into idolatry and polygamv.
He was soon forced To buy a truce
paid the treasures OF David and the
golden shields OF solomon. or Reho-
beams son and successor. the shame
sMi reG'rd is; he walked IN all the
the third kins OF Judah. in spite OF
ms vicious ancestry and unfaVorah lc
environment. proved himself noble.
heroic and pious. high and hopeful
note is struck in the dolorous record
when II is said Of him, lie did that
which was good. Instead OF being
affected by The tendencies OF his times.
he changed those tendencies. He burst
Ike cyclone upon the seats and
emh!ems OF !dolatry and lad them
low. lie commanded Israel TO seek
by CoihroninH his own mother and
burning the idol and grove she mad
established. He began this blessed
work Of reformation at his very ac-
cession. The goodness OF Asa was not
of The negative Kind. lie was no con
tcrplat!Nc reclusc, but a forceful and
aggressive man: and according 10
current standards. by which alone he
can be fairly judged. he was pre-
cminently correct. lie was not
content with the moral reformation
VI HlS hIH6uPI, NE lpbhtu wen To IT'S
military defenecs: building fortress
cities and mobilizinG an army of up
wards ~ half million of wcli-armed
ana ,ha, arsi,sa men men. .,,, 1t you'd seem
To have been better rewarded. But
hardly had his excellent reforms been
effected before the invincible army OF
"A great world power invaded his ter
ritory-Hernh. the magnificent" led
an army the sheer weight of whose
numbers seemed destined To obiitcrate
Judah; Asa was not ignorant Of the
fearful odds against him, but he did
not hesitate. lie led his army in per-
son. lie chose the field Of battle win
consummatc skill. The narrow valley
first done everything that military
genius could suggest. he then had re-
G%nrse to that on .rnety weapon of
In case of nationai per i" c %, mraE h,.
magined. 1t is brief. yet compre-
hensive. 1t is the drawing OF n draft
on omnipotcncc: The argument IL
that II IL an indifferent matter to Al
mightiness that Asa's army is out
numbered. two To one, by this heather
horde; That is nothing to Thee.
and answered. a phenomenal victory
is won. The largest army of when
record Is made in Scripture is IL
retrievably routed. one Of tho first
tho tiny Kingdom of Judah. and IL
is the only instance Of its kind named
IN the Bible. MOI for three centuries
did Egypt venture to send an army
into Palestine.
Under the study Lamp.
Asa was the Roosevelt OF his day.
believing in and practicing the
strenuous life. one small word has
large Significance when il is quantity
said. They fell to him In abundance
out OF Israel" lie drew men like a
magnet. Where he led the people
who are always waiting for leader
ship followed. Asa's name sir
niies Healer" lie was Well named,
foI he certainly healed his country OF
It's disease. although his methods
were heroic. He took away the affairs
of the strange gods, broke down the
images, and hcwcd down the votivo
pillars which stood around as thick as
forest trees. lie seems to have
met with little opposition. II Illus
trates the fact that vice is naturally
cowardly. a bold front need only To-
he presented to II and il sneaks away.
:. :, In time OF peace Asa prepared
for war. The current form or fortI-
hcation Is aptly described. "hc built
walls about tho cities and towers,