Sermon Bible 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 Chronicles 14:2 There is many a useful lesson to be learnt from the story of Asa's life. Consider:— I. Where his piety was born. In a most unlikely home. He was brought up in an ungodly family. The court was corrupt. Society was rotten. The moral atmosphere he breathed was enough to poison the finest child that was ever born. The same grace that preserved Asa pure and devout amid the corruptions of the royal court may keep you clean. II. How was Asa's piety evidenced? (1) By his fervent prayerfulness. (2) By his uncompromising opposition to everything that was sinful. III. Where did the piety of Asa fail? His prosperity proved—I shall not say his ruin, but his loss—his eternal loss. It may have added to the lustre of his earthly crown, but I fear it dimmed the splendour of his heavenly. J. Thain Davidson, Talks with Young Men, p. 219. 2 Chronicles 14:11I. Prayer in emergencies should be founded on a strong faith in God's independence of human resources and methods of judgment. Much is gained when we appreciate the ease with which God achieves marvellous issues in response to prayer. "A God doing wonders" is one of His significant titles—significant of the usage of His dominion. To Him there are no such things as emergencies. II. The example before us suggests a profound sense of the inadequacy of all other sources of relief but God. We need to feel that we are shut up to God, and to God only. III. Prayer in emergencies is a profound identification with God. "In Thy name we go against this multitude." In a selfish prayer we beat the winds. Nothing is sure in this world but the purposes of God. No interests are safe but His. No cause is secure but His. IV. One other phase of prayer in such emergencies is a hearty recognition of God's ownership of us. "O Lord, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee." By the right of creation and redemption we belong to God. Will God desert His own with such rights as these? A. Phelps, The Old Testament a Living Book, p. 33. References: 2 Chronicles 14:11.—G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons, p. 234; J. E. Vaux, Sermon Notes, 1st series, p. 20. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
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.
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 rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
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.
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
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 prevail against thee.
So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. William Robertson Nicoll's Sermon Bible Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
    |