(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 Jehovah his God: for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, (4) and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, 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 sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. (6) And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest. (7) For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered. (8) And Asa had an army that bare bucklers 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 valor.”
(9) “And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah. (10) Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. (11) And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides Thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on Thee, and in Thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee. (12) So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.”
Golden Text.—“Help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on Thee.” Verse 11.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Briefly connect the lesson of last week with the present lesson. See Note 1. (2) Who succeeded Abijah on the throne of Judah? What characterized the beginning of his reign? Verse 1. (3) What is said of Asa's conduct of the kingdom? Verse 2. (4) What specially marked his fidelity to the true God? Verse 3. Note 2. (5) What command did he give to his people? Verse 4. Note 3. (6) What further acts led to the good order and quietude of the kingdom? Verse 5. (7) What preparation did Asa make for the defense of his kingdom? What had enabled him to do this work? Verse 6. Note 4. (8) In what did these defensive works consist? Why had the Lord given such an opportunity to Judah at this particular time? Verse 7. Note 5. (9) How large an army did Asa have in Judah? And in Benjamin? What is said of this force? Verse 8. (10) How much of an army came out of Egypt against Asa? Verse 9. (11) Where did the contending armies meet for battle? Verse 10. (12) Of whom did Asa seek help? How did he express his implicit faith? What expression shows that he regarded the battle as the Lord's? Verse 11. Note 6. (13) How did the Lord answer Asa's petition and faith? Verse 12. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. As a connecting link between last week's lesson and this lesson, it is well to remember that the reigns of Rehoboam over Judah, and Jeroboam over Israel began contemporaneously, and Rehoboam reigned seventeen years. Like Israel, Judah also went into idolatry, and in the fifth year of Rehoboam's reign, the Lord permitted Shishak, king of Egypt, to come up and besiege Jerusalem. Because Rehoboam and his princes humbled themselves, the Lord did not permit their destruction, but granted them “some deliverance.” Nevertheless the kingdom was made tributary to Egypt, that the people might know the difference between the Lord's service and the service of the kingdoms around them. After Rehoboam's death, Abijah his son reigned three years. During his reign there was war between him and Jeroboam, king of Israel. In the great decisive battle, the army of Judah had four hundred thousand men and Jeroboam brought against them eight hundred thousand, and attacked them front and rear. When Abijah saw the situation, he called upon the Lord; the priests sounded their trumpets, and the people gave a shout. Then the Lord helped them, and they slew five hundred thousand of Jeroboam's chosen men. The story epitomized here is found in 2 Chronicles 12 and 13.
2. Asa is an illustration of the possibilities of a young man amid adverse surroundings. His grandfather and grandmother and father were all extreme idolaters. But he had the influence of the Levites, who, in the main, had remained faithful, and also of the prophets Azariah and Hanani, and he chose to follow in their counsel. His success rested on his first making a wise choice. This is always the key to success. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”
3. “Commanded Judah.” The force of Asa's command lay in his example. He led, or taught, them to seek the Lord, as Abraham commanded his children after him (Gen. 18:17-19), by setting them an example of faithful obedience to the commandments of God. Cold, arbitrary commands to do right can not effect a heart obedience, but only a yielding to the extent of the sensation of dread, which is not a spirit of obedience acceptable to God. The commandment comprehends a love of God with all the heart.
4. This preparation for defense was evidently in anticipation of war with Egypt, whose yoke it was designed to throw off. And God was giving rest and prosperity in order to encourage this purpose.
5. The Lord is always found of them that seek after Him (Ps. 9:10; Prov. 8:17; Jer. 3:25), and is a present help in time of trouble (Ps. 46:1).
6. Asa's confidence was in God as the only real help, notwithstanding his own extended preparation. He recognized that the cause was the Lord's, and therefore called upon Him to lead out in the battle. The Lord is always able to defend His cause and His people. It would be well with them if they would always remember this fact.
7. The result was just what was to be expected. The victory was so complete that Egypt did not again make war on Judah, or send an army into Palestine, for three hundred years, and then only when King Josiah, without cause, interfered in a war between Egypt and Assyria. The Lord is “mighty in battle;” there is none that can withstand Him. He is a mighty deliverer, from both physical and spiritual enemies.
