PARTNERSHIP, SURETISHIP.
By Jos. Clarke
Asa, king of Judah, was approved of God in the early part of his reign. Hear the testimony: "And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God." 2 Chron. xiv, 2. This and chap. xv, give an account of Asa's good deeds, his triumphs and prosperity resulting from his piety and obedience; but Asa fell in his devotion to God, and being threatened with war, instead of going to God he applied to Benhadad and formed a partnership with him. Contemplate the sequel: "And at that time Hanani the seer, came to Asa, king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand: for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." 2 Chron. xvi, 7, 8. Asa's apostasy and painful disease follow. Be sure to read it, ye who are voluntarily leagued with unbelievers. Jehoshaphat, successor of Asa, was a good king in the main, but he possessed his father's weakness, which had nearly cost him his life (see 2 Chron. xviii), and called forth the following rebuke: "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer, went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrath upon thee from the Lord." 2 Chron. xix, 2. But Jehoshaphat returned to his integrity, see verses 3-11, and chap. xx, 1-34; but his besetment again overcame him. "And after this, did Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, join himself with Ahaziah, king of Israel, who did very wickedly: and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion Geber." "Then Eliezer, the son of Dodavah, of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish." 2 Chron. xx, 35-37. Those who come into the present truth, are frequently in company with unbelievers, previously to embracing the truth, and often it happens that some delay is unavoidable in dissolving such partnerships; but it will be clearly seen that to continue such connections voluntarily, or to enter into new engagements of this kind, is not only dangerous, but directly contrary to the word of God.
Jos. CLARKE.