THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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APRIL 2, 1922 ASA RELIES ON GOD Golden Text: Help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee. 2 Chron. 14:11 LESSON TEXT 2 Chron. 14:1-12. (Read 2 Chron. 14:13-16: Isa. 41:10-13
(1) So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. (2) And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: (3) For he took away the alters of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images and cut down the groves. (4) And commanded Judah to seek the LORD the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. (5) Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. (6) And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest. (7) Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us Right- (2) Asa’s Vision for Judah, vs. 5-8. (3) Asa’s Victory Through vs. 9-12. Faith, Introduction: With the entrance of Asa we have a new era in the history of God’s people. His heritage was not promising. His great grandfather, his grandfather and his father had violated LESSON God’s law of marriage EXPOSITION b y multiplying t o T. C. Horton themselves wives. Asa came to t h e kingdom handicapped by unfaithful predecessors, but he lived to see seven different kings come and go in Israel while God preserved him as king of Judah, and our lessons give us the rea son. (1) ASA V I N D I C A T E S GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, vs. 1-4. It is comforting and inspiring, in the midst of the dark days and dark deeds Outline: (1) Asa Vindicates God’s eousness, vs. 1-4.
rest on every side. So they built and prospered. (8) And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah, three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand; all these were mighty men of valour. (9) And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto M-areshah. (10) Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle !n array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. (11) And Asa Cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with. thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man pre vail against thee. (12) So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. in connection with the story of Israel and Judah, to read the words: “He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord, his God.” Asa was not a perfect man. There never has been but one perfect Man since Adam fell, and that was the last Adam, God’s only-begotten Son. The Bible is God’s Word and for that reason we find the history of men faithfully recorded. Asa was a man of faith. He believed God’s Word and believed in God’s au thority. He commanded the people to obey God. He exercised the authority vested in him by Jehovah (Isa. 55:6, 7.) “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near; Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.” He took an out and out position such as every man and woman should take in God’s behalf. (Josh. 24:15) “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; * * * but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
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