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King Asa

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King Asa

10 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

2 Chronicles 13-16

Jeroboam did not repent after his son's death. He remained wicked as long as he lived. Rehoboam had died, and Abijah was king of Judah. He and Jeroboam fought against one another. Abijah was not a good man; but when he saw the army of Jeroboam coming, he behaved very bravely and very rightly. He stood upon a mountain and called to Jeroboam and to all Israel, and he told them of their great sins and idolatries in making and serving the golden calves. Abijah said, “The Lord is our captain. He will fight for us and help us to conquer you.” And who conquered? Judah conquered that day, because they trusted in God for safety. It was not Judah's own power that gave them the victory, but God fought for them and smote wicked Jeroboam and his army.

Jeroboam did not live long after this battle. The Lord struck him and he died. Abijah died before him. The quarrels of these two kings were ended then. Their bodies crumbled into dust in the grave, and their souls went to appear before God; but we cannot hope that, like good king David and king Solomon, they were taken to that happy world where only God's people go.

We now come to the history of a very good king. His name was Asa; he was the son of Abijah, and he became king of Judah. When Asa began to reign, he found his people very ignorant of God. They had learned to be idolators, to worship images and new gods, not their own God, the true God who made all things. But when Asa was king, he knew it was his duty to teach his people the right way. So he threw down all the idol altars and the images, and he commanded Judah to seek the Lord.

Did God bless Asa? Yes, and He gave rest and quietness to Judah. All went well, and Asa built many new cities, with walls and towers. He and his people became rich, strong, and happy. Why did this happen? Asa told the people, “It is because we have sought the Lord our God.”

Was there rest in Judah all the years that Asa reigned? No! All countries and people must have trouble sometimes, and also Asa had his troubles. Enemies came to fight against him with very large armies. They came with chariots and horses, and they made ready for battle. Was Asa frightened? Perhaps he was at first, but he knew where to find help. Did he place his trust in his soldiers, in his armor, and in his strong cities? No, Asa knew that all these things could not help him. There was no power in them. But the good king went to God and asked for His help. He prayed, and said, “O Lord, we trust in Thee to help us; we have no power in ourselves, but we know that Thou art able to help us and to fight our enemies for us. Then we shall have the victory. Thou art our God; in Thy Name we go to fight against this army of our enemies.” Then Asa and his people felt safe and happy. They knew that God would hear and answer their prayer. And so He did. God smote their enemies and gave Asa and his people the victory.

God is always ready to hear His people's prayers. They also have many troubles and many enemies. Sometimes they have pain and sorrow and sickness. Always they have to fight against sin and against Satan. What must they do when they are in trouble? They must do as Asa did. They must go to God for comfort, help, and strength.

Often it is very hard to fight against enemies. Our own wicked hearts, sinful tempers, and Satan's temptations give us trouble every day. We must ask God for help, and He hears the cry of the needy. He will fight for them as He fought for Asa. He will conquer evil, subdue iniquities, and give them the victory. Then they shall be “more than conquerors,” not by their own strength, wisdom, and goodness; but by Him who keeps them and fights for those who put their trust in Him alone.

God did give peace to Judah for many years. He sent a prophet to Asa to encourage him to go on and serve the Lord. This prophet brought a message from God. He said, “If you will still love and serve the Lord, then He promises to be with you and to bless you in all you do. But if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. Now be strong and put your trust in God, and all shall be well with you.”

Asa and his people listened to what the prophet said. They met at Jerusalem, and there they offered sacrifices and made a covenant with God. They promised to seek Him with all their hearts and souls. That was a joyful day in Jerusalem. The people shouted and sang praises to God. They prayed to God and asked for His help and blessing. Did God hear them? Yes. God was pleased to hear His people's prayers, praises, and promises. He sent His Holy Spirit among them and gave them His blessing. God made everything quiet and peaceful in the land.

Asa became an old man. He had had many happy and peaceful years, but trouble came again. The king of Israel and his army fought against him. Did Asa remember the kindness of God in past times? Did he go to Him again for safety? No, Asa forgot to do this. He did not trust in God, but he went to the king of Syria and asked help from him. The king of Syria was very willing to help Asa. He sent captains and soldiers to fight for him, and soon the Israelites were conquered.

Asa had displeased God, because he had trusted more in the king of Syria than in the Lord. Therefore a prophet was sent to Asa, to teil him how angry God was. Asa had sinned, and God must punish him. The prophet said, “You have done foolishly. You have trusted in the king of Syria and not in God. Now you shall have wars, battles, and fighting in your kingdom all the rest of your life.” This was sad news for Asa. He had been foolish and wicked. When we are in trouble, God alone can give us true help and comfort. How foolish and ungrateful we are when we forget this!

The rest of Asa's life was not happy as it had been before. When people forget and disobey God, they cannot be happy. Asa was not humbled when he heard God's message to him. He did not, like David, confess his sin directly and ask for forgiveness. No, Asa was very angry with the prophet who had told him what God had said. Also in this Asa did wrong. The prophet spoke as God commanded, and Asa should have attended humbly to the message he brought. He should have prayed for forgiveness and guidance to be enabled to do better in the future.

Asa, in his anger, put the faithful prophet in prison, where he could speak to him no more. But God's message was true. Asa suffered from wars all the rest of his life.

When Asa was an old man, God sent a new punishment upon him. God must always punish His people when they sin against Him, to make them repent and return to Him. Asa was troubled with a disease in his feet. It gave him much pain and suffering. He could not walk about as he had before. Did he humble himself before God? No, the Bible tells us that “in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.” He wished to be well, and he called all his wise doctors and asked them to take away his pain and to make him strong again. But Asa forgot who sent the disease, and who alone could take it away.

When Asa was an old man, God sent a new punishment upon him. God must always punish His people when they sin against Him, to make them repent and return to Him. Asa was troubled with a disease in his feet. It gave him much pain and suffering. He could not walk about as he had before. Did he humble himself before God? No, the Bible tells us that “in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.” He wished to be well, and he called all his wise doctors and asked them to take away his pain and to make him strong again. But Asa forgot who sent the disease, and who alone could take it away.

When we are sick, we should be patient in all our pain and submit humbly to God's will. It is not wrong to send to physicians when we are ill. We ought to be very thankful for kind and wise friends who will visit us in our sickness, try to comfort us, and help make us well. We ought to attend to what they say and thank them for their advice. But it is very wrong to trust more in physicians than in God. This was what Asa did. Physicians and medicine can do us no good without the blessing of God. He alone can take away our pain and make us well. When we are sick, let us lay all before Him. He is the good Physician and the best Friend we can have. He alone can cure our soul as well as our body. He can take away our sin, which is the worst of all diseases, for His dear Son's sake. We need not then be afraid of bodily pain and sickness.


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The story, Hunchback Joe by S. Bison, which was printed in our Banner of Truth some time ago, is now available in book form. It relates the life of a deformed lad and the tribulations of his life. The price is $3.50.

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Both of these may also be obtained from the Netherlands Reformed Book and Publishing Committee, 1233 Leffingwell, N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525.

Recommended gifts for graduates:

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible - $50.00

Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Bible - $50.00

Memoir and Remains ofR. M. M'Cheyne - $27.10

Nave's Topical Bible -$10.50

Strong's Concordance - $11.50

Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, by Z. Ursinus - $20.20

Old Testament History, by A. Edersheim - $15.00

Thompson Chain Reference Bible, Leather - $50.00 or Hard Cover - $32.00

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 juni 1999

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

King Asa

Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 juni 1999

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's