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I. THE HAPPINESS OF THE JEWISH CHURCH AT THAT TIME. "The Lord is with you." God's presence as applied to all righteous people implies —

1. An owning and acknowledging them to be His own peculiar people. God's love to His peculiar people includes in it all relations: that of a —

(1)  Father (2 Corinthians 6:18);

(2)  husband (Hosea 2:19);

(3)  friend (John 15:15; James 2:23).

2. His assisting them and prospering all the works that they put their hands to (1 Chronicles 11:9).

3. His protection and defence of them against all their enemies (Genesis 15:1; Zechariah 2:5; Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 46:7; Numbers 23; Romans 8:31).Inferences:

1. Let us notice what are the greatest mischiefs and who are the chief authors of all the evils which can possibly befall a kingdom, even they that would rob us of our God.

2. From hence we may learn the surest way to have our tranquillity and peace secured to us.

3. If we sincerely serve God, we may comfortably and securely rest upon Him to defend and protect us against all dangers (Proverbs 18:10; Matthew 10:29; Numbers 14:9). Luther tells a famous story of a Bishop of Magdeburg, against whom the Duke of Saxony was preparing to wage war; the bishop, having notice of it, betakes himself presently to his prayers and the reforming of his Church; and when one told him what mighty preparations were making against him, he replied, "I will take care of my Church, and then God will fight for and take care of me"; which, when the duke heard of, he disbanded his forces and acknowledged himself too weak to deal with that man who had engaged God on his side (Psalm 3:6).

II. THE CONDITION UPON WHICH THE HAPPINESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE IS TO BE ENJOYED, while we are with Him. To be with God is to be a holy people. Clemens Alexandrinus speaks of a temple upon which was written, "No unholy thing must come near this place"; and this is God's inscription (Hebrews 1:13). Conclusion: 'Tis reported of the Prince of Orange at the Battle of Newport, that he said to his soldiers, when they had the sea on one side and the Spaniards on the other, "You must either eat up the Spaniards or drink up the sea"; so we must either conquer our lusts or drink down the devouring fire of God's wrath. Let us apply ourselves to the service of God sincerely, and then the "Lord will be with us."

(E. Lake, D. D.)

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KJV: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.

WEB: and he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.