Henceforth thou Shalt have Wars.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." 2 Chron. xvi, 9. These are the words of Hanani the seer, to Asa, king of Judah, who had made a league with Benhadad, king of Syria, and taken up arms against Baasha, king of Israel. It seems that Judah had a pique at Israel, ever after the ten tribes revolted, and there was constant war between them except in the reign of Asa, when the land was quiet ten years. Asa took advantage of this time of peace to wall and fence the cities of Judah, and prepare an army of fifty-eight thousand mighty men of valor, that he might be prepared for an attack from an enemy at any time, from any quarter. Zerah, the Ethiopian, was first that came out against him, with a host of a thousand thousand, and Asa was neither terrified nor daunted, but set the battle in array against him: then cried unto the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing for 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 out against this great multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee." 2 Chron. xiv, 11. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and his small army, and they fled, and Judah pursued them and took a great spoil. It is this circumstance that the prophet refers to, and reproves Asa for trusting in the king of Syria instead of the name of the Lord, when he had proved him to be a present help in time of need. And he tells him that by this act he had turned aside the purposes of the Lord; for the Lord had designed to give the king of Syria into his hands. It is true that Asa overcame Baasha, and drove him from building Rama, which he had commenced, to prevent other nations from joining Judah against him; but what was the result? It brought disease and death upon himself, and war and bloodshed upon his successors. How sad a history is this: that one so highly favored of God should come to this untimely end—should become angry with the prophet of the Lord, and put him in prison, oppress the people, and finally die without God. Do not such considerations for ever forbid the idea of "once in grace always in grace?" Most emphatically. It is a fearful thing to go blindly along in the world, without knowing whether God approves or disapproves of that in which we are about to engage; but still more dangerous is it to persist in doing a thing that God has forbidden. If we do this, we cannot expect the Lord to be our strength and deliverance. Although Asa had once been in high favor with God, no doubt he was conscious of having disobeyed him, and therefore felt that he had no right to his strength or direction at last. He well remembered that the word of the Lord had come to Rehoboam, saying positively that he should not go up to fight against his brethren, the children of Israel, and also that the Lord had taught his people all the way through, that they should make no agreement or league with the nations round about. He had undoubtedly disregarded these two precepts at least. The Bible every where abounds with promises to God's people; but we can only claim them upon conditions of obedience and uprightness, and our hearts must be perfect toward the Lord if we would lay hold of his strength to save us in the trying scenes before us, in which the Lord only can be the hope of his people. The prophet not only told Asa that he had done foolishly, but that from henceforth he should have wars. Would not this charge apply with equal force to this nation? They have for a long time considered themselves as a nation that did righteousness, and delighted in approaching to God, when, at the same time, they are without his special favor or protection, because their heart is not perfect toward him; and truly from henceforth they shall have wars. There will be no more abiding peace. Only a little while will it be hushed up by the third angel who cries, Hurt not the earth till the servants of our God are sealed. For all nations are to drink of the wrath of God, and Sheshach shall drink after them. E. J. W.