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581 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Chronicles, Chapter XV].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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</h3>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC14014.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC14016.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Asa and his army were now returning in triumph from the battle, laden
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with spoils and adorned with the trophies of victory, the pious prince,
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we may now suppose, studying what he should render to God for this
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great favour. He knew that the work of reformation, which he had begun
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in his kingdom, was not perfected; his enemies abroad were subdued, but
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there were more dangerous enemies at home that were yet
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unconquered--idols in Judah and Benjamin: his victory over the former
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emboldened him vigorously to renew his attack upon the latter. Now here
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we have,
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I. The message which God sent to him, by a prophet, to engage him to,
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and encourage him in, the prosecution of his reformation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. The life which this message put into that good cause, and their
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proceedings in pursuance of it. Idols removed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:8">ver. 8</A>.
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The spoil dedicated to God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:9-11">ver. 9-11</A>.
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A covenant made with God, and a law for the punishing of idolaters,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
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A reformation at court,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:16">ver. 16</A>.
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Dedicated things brought into the house of God,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:18">ver. 18</A>.
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All well, but that the high places were permitted,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:17">ver. 17</A>.
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And the effect of this was great peace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:19">ver. 19</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>God's Message to Asa.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 945.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
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2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me,
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Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> with you, while ye
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be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if
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ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
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3 Now for a long season Israel <I>hath been</I> without the true
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God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
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4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of
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Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
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5 And in those times <I>there was</I> no peace to him that went out,
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nor to him that came in, but great vexations <I>were</I> upon all the
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inhabitants of the countries.
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6 And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God
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did vex them with all adversity.
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7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for
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your work shall be rewarded.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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It was a great happiness to Israel that they had prophets among them;
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yet, while they were thus blessed, they were strangely addicted to
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idolatry, whereas, when the spirit of prophecy had ceased under the
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second temple, and the canon of the Old Temple was completed (which was
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constantly read in their synagogues), they were pure from idolatry; for
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the scriptures are of all other the <I>most sure word of prophecy,</I>
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and most effectual, and the church could not be so easily imposed upon
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by a counterfeit Bible as by a counterfeit prophet. Here was a prophet
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sent to Asa and his army, when they returned victorious from the war
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with the Ethiopians, not to compliment them and congratulate them on
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their success, but to quicken them to their duty; this is the proper
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business of God's ministers, even with princes and the greatest men.
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The <I>Spirit of God came</I> upon the prophet
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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both to instruct him what he should say and to enable him to say it
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with clearness and boldness.</P>
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<P>
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I. He told them plainly upon what terms they stood with God. Let them
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not think that, having obtained this victory, all was their own for
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ever; no, he must let them know they were upon their good behaviour.
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Let them do well, and it will be well with them, otherwise not.
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1. <I>The Lord is with you while you are with him.</I> This is both a
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word of comfort, that those who keep close to God shall always have his
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presence with them, and also a word of caution: "He is <I>with you,
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while you are with him,</I> but no longer; you have now a signal token
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of his favourable presence with you, but the continuance of it depends
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upon your perseverance in the way of your duty."
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2. "<I>If you seek him, he will be found of you.</I> Sincerely desire
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his favour, and aim at it, and you shall obtain it. Pray, and you shall
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prevail. He never said, nor ever will, <I>Seek you me in vain.</I>" See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+11:6">Heb. xi. 6</A>.
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But,
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3. "If you forsake him and his ordinances, he is not tied to you, but
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will certainly forsake you, and then you are undone, your present
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triumphs will be no security to you; woe to you when God departs."</P>
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<P>
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II. He set before them the dangerous consequence of forsaking God and
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his ordinances, and that there was no way of having grievances
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redressed, but by repenting, and returning unto God. When Israel
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forsook their duty they were over-run with a deluge of atheism,
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impiety, irreligion, and all irregularity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and were continually embarrassed with vexatious and destroying wars,
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foreign and domestic,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:5,6"><I>v.</I> 5, 6</A>.
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But when their troubles drove them to God they found it not in vain to
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seek him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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But the question is, What time does this refer to?
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1. Some think it looks as far back as the days of the Judges. <I>A long
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season</I> ago Israel was <I>without the true God,</I> for they
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worshipped false gods; it was a time of ignorance, for, though they had
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priests, they had no teaching priests, though they had elders, yet no
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law to any purpose,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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These were sad times, when they were frequently oppressed by one enemy
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or other and grievously harassed by Moabites, Midianites, Ammonites,
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and other nations. They were <I>vexed with all adversity</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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yet when, in their perplexity, they turned to God by repentance,
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prayer, and reformation, he raised up deliverers for them. Then was
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that maxim often verified, that God is with us while we are with him.
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Whatsoever things of this kind were written aforetime were written for
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our admonition.
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2. Others think it describes the state of the ten tribes (who were now
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properly called <I>Israel</I>) in the days of Asa. "<I>Now,</I> since
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Jeroboam set up the calves, though he pretended to honour the God that
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brought them out of Egypt, yet his idolatry has brought them to
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downright infidelity; they are <I>without the true God,</I>" and no
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marvel when they were without teaching priests. Jeroboam's priests
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were not teachers, and thus they came to be without law. It is next to
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impossible that any thing of religion should be kept up without a
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preaching ministry. In those times there was no peace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Their war with Judah gave them frequent alarms; so did the late
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insurrection of Baasha and other occasions not mentioned. They provoked
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God with all iniquity, and then he <I>vexed them with all
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adversity;</I> yet, <I>when they turned to God,</I> he was entreated
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for them. Let Judah take notice of this; let their neighbours' harms be
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their warnings. Give no countenance to graven images for you see what
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mischiefs they produce.
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3. Others think the whole passage may be read in the future tense, and
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that it looks forward: Hereafter <I>Israel will be without the true God
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and a teaching priest,</I> and they will be destroyed by one judgment
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after another till they <I>return to God</I> and <I>seek him.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+3:4">Hos. iii. 4</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. Upon this he grounded his exhortation to prosecute the work of
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reformation with vigour
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>Be strong, for your work shall be rewarded.</I> Note,
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1. God's work should be done with diligence and cheerfulness, but will
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not be done without resolution.
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2. This should quicken us to the work of religion, that we shall be
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sure not to lose by it ultimately. It will not go unrewarded. How
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should it, when the work is its own reward?</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch15_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Asa Reforms His Kingdom.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 940.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the
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prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out
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of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities
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which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, that <I>was</I> before the porch of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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9 And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers
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with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for
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they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his God <I>was</I> with him.
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10 So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the
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third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
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11 And they offered unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> the same time, of the spoil
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<I>which</I> they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand
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sheep.
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12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of
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their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
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13 That whosoever would not seek the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel should
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be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
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14 And they sware unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> with a loud voice, and with
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shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
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15 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with
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all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he
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was found of them: and the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> gave them rest round about.
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16 And also <I>concerning</I> Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he
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removed her from <I>being</I> queen, because she had made an idol in a
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grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped <I>it,</I> and burnt
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<I>it</I> at the brook Kidron.
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17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel:
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nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
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18 And he brought into the house of God the things that his
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father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver,
|
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and gold, and vessels.
|
||
|
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19 And there was no <I>more</I> war unto the five and thirtieth year
|
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|
|
of the reign of Asa.
|
||
|
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</FONT></P>
|
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<P>
|
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|
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We are here told what good effect the foregoing sermon had upon
|
||
|
|
Asa.</P>
|
||
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|
||
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<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. He grew more bold for God than he had been. His victory would
|
||
|
|
inspire him with some new degrees of resolution, but this message from
|
||
|
|
God with much more. Now he took courage. he saw how necessary a further
|
||
|
|
reformation was, and what assurance he had of God's presence with him
|
||
|
|
in it; and this made him daring, and helped him over the difficulties
|
||
|
|
which had before deterred him and driven him off from the undertaking.
|
||
|
|
Now he ventured to destroy all the abominable idols (and all idolatries
|
||
|
|
are abominable,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:3">1 Pet. iv. 3</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as far as ever his power went. Away with them all. He also <I>renewed
|
||
|
|
the altar of the Lord,</I> which, it seems, had gone out of repair,
|
||
|
|
though it was not above thirty-five years since Solomon's head was
|
||
|
|
laid, who erected it. So soon did these ceremonial institutions begin
|
||
|
|
to wax old, as things which, in the fulness of time, must <I>vanish
|
||
|
|
away,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:13">Heb. viii. 13</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. He extended his influence further than before,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He summoned a solemn assembly, and particularly brought the strangers
|
||
|
|
to it, who had come over to him from the ten tribes.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Their coming was a great encouragement to him; for the reason of
|
||
|
|
their coming was because <I>they saw that the Lord his God was with
|
||
|
|
him.</I> It is good to be with those that have God with them, to come
|
||
|
|
into relation to, and contract acquaintance and friendship with, those
|
||
|
|
that live in the fear and favour of God. <I>We will go with you, for we
|
||
|
|
have heard that God is with you,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+8:23">Zech. viii. 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The cognizance he took of them, and the invitation he gave them to
|
||
|
|
the general assembly, were a great encouragement to them. All strangers
|
||
|
|
are to be helped, but those that cast themselves upon God's good
|
||
|
|
providence, purely to keep a good conscience, are worthy of double
|
||
|
|
honour. Asa gave orders for the gathering of them together
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
yet it is said
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
that they <I>gathered themselves together,</I> made it their own act,
|
||
|
|
so forward were they to obey the king's orders. This meeting was held
|
||
|
|
in the third month, probably at the feast of Pentecost, which was in
|
||
|
|
that month.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. He and his people offered sacrifices to God, as his share of the
|
||
|
|
spoil they had got,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Their offering here was nothing to Solomon's
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+7:5"><I>ch.</I> vii. 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
which was owing to the diminution either of their zeal or of their
|
||
|
|
wealth, or of both. These sacrifices were intended by way of
|
||
|
|
thanksgiving for the favours they had received, and supplication for
|
||
|
|
further favours. Prayers and praises are now our spiritual sacrifices.
|
||
|
|
And, as he took care that the altar should have its gift, so he took
|
||
|
|
care that the temple should have its gold: <I>He brought into the house
|
||
|
|
of God all the dedicated things,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is honesty to render to God the things that are his. What has been
|
||
|
|
long designed for him, and long laid by for him, as it should seem
|
||
|
|
these dedicated things had been, should at length be laid out for him.
|
||
|
|
Will a man rob God, or make slow payment to him, who is always ready to
|
||
|
|
do us good?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. <I>They entered into covenant with God,</I> repenting that they had
|
||
|
|
violated their engagements to him and resolving to do better for the
|
||
|
|
future. It is proper for penitents, for converts, to renew their
|
||
|
|
covenants. It should seem, the motion came not from Asa, but from the
|
||
|
|
people themselves. Let every man be a volunteer that covenants with
|
||
|
|
God. <I>Thy people shall be willing,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. What was the matter of this covenant. Nothing but what they were
|
||
|
|
before obliged to; and, though no vow or promise of theirs could lay
|
||
|
|
any higher obligation upon them than they were already under from the
|
||
|
|
divine precept, yet it would help to increase their sense of the
|
||
|
|
obligation, to arm them against temptations, and would be a testimony
|
||
|
|
to the equity and goodness of the precept. And, by joining all together
|
||
|
|
in this covenant, they strengthened the hands one of another. Two
|
||
|
|
things they engaged themselves to:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That they would diligently seek God themselves, seek his precepts,
|
||
|
|
seek his favour. What is religion but seeking God, enquiring after him,
|
||
|
|
applying to him, upon all occasions? We shall not enjoy him till we
|
||
|
|
come to heaven; while we are here we must continue seeking. They would
|
||
|
|
seek God as the <I>God of their fathers,</I> in the way that their
|
||
|
|
fathers sought him and in dependence upon the promise made to their
|
||
|
|
fathers; and they would do it <I>with all their heart</I> and <I>with
|
||
|
|
all their soul,</I> for those only seek God acceptably and successfully
|
||
|
|
that are inward with him, intent upon him, and entire for him, in their
|
||
|
|
seeking him. We make nothing of our religion if we do not make
|
||
|
|
heart-work of it. God will have all the heart or none; and, when a
|
||
|
|
jewel of such inestimable value as the divine favour is to be found, it
|
||
|
|
is worth while to seek it <I>with all our soul.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That they would, to the utmost of their power, oblige others to
|
||
|
|
seek him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They agreed that <I>whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel</I>
|
||
|
|
(that is, would either worship other gods or refuse to join with them
|
||
|
|
in the worship of the true God, that was either an obstinate idolater
|
||
|
|
or an obstinate atheist) he should be put to death. This was no new
|
||
|
|
law of their own making, but an order to put in execution that law of
|
||
|
|
God to this purport,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+17:2-5">Deut. xvii. 2</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
&c. If this law had been duly executed, there would
|
||
|
|
not have been so many abominable idols found in Judah and Benjamin,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Whether men may now, under the gospel, be compelled by such methods as
|
||
|
|
these to seek the Lord is justly questioned; for the weapons of our
|
||
|
|
warfare are not carnal, and yet mighty.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. In what manner they made this covenant.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) With great cheerfulness, and all possible expressions of joy:
|
||
|
|
<I>The swore unto the Lord;</I> not secretly, as if they were either
|
||
|
|
ashamed of what they did or afraid of binding themselves too fast to
|
||
|
|
him, but with a loud voice, to express their own zeal and to animate
|
||
|
|
one another; and they all rejoiced at the oath,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They did not swear to God with reluctancy (as the poor debtor confesses
|
||
|
|
a judgment to his creditor), but with all the pleasure and satisfaction
|
||
|
|
imaginable, as the bridegroom plights his troth to the bride in the
|
||
|
|
marriage covenant. Every honest Israelite was pleased with his own
|
||
|
|
engagements to God, and they were all pleased with one another's. They
|
||
|
|
rejoiced in it as a hopeful expedient to prevent their apostasy from
|
||
|
|
God and a happy indication of God's presence with them. Note, The times
|
||
|
|
of renewing our covenant with God should be times of rejoicing, and
|
||
|
|
national reformation cannot but give general satisfaction to all that
|
||
|
|
are good. It is an honour and happiness to be in bonds to God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) They did it with great sincerity, zeal and resolution: <I>They
|
||
|
|
swore to God with all their hearts,</I> and <I>sought him with their
|
||
|
|
whole desire.</I> The Israelites were now in an extraordinarily good
|
||
|
|
frame. O that there had always been such a heart in them! This comes in
|
||
|
|
as the reason why they rejoiced so much in what they did: it was
|
||
|
|
because they were hearty in it. Note, Those only experience the
|
||
|
|
pleasure and comfort of religion that are sincere and upright in it.
|
||
|
|
What is done in hypocrisy is a mere drudgery. But, if God has the
|
||
|
|
heart, we have the joy.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. We are told what was the effect of this their solemn covenanting
|
||
|
|
with God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. God did well for them: <I>He</I> was <I>found of them, and gave them
|
||
|
|
rest round about</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
so that there was no war for a long time after
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
no open general war, though there were constant bickerings between
|
||
|
|
Judah and Israel upon the frontiers,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:16">1 Kings xv. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
National piety procures national blessings.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. They did, on the whole, well for him. They carried on the
|
||
|
|
reformation so far that Maachah the queen-mother was deposed for
|
||
|
|
idolatry and her idol destroyed,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This was bravely done of Asa, that he would not connive at idolatry in
|
||
|
|
those that were nearest to him, like Levi, that <I>said to his father
|
||
|
|
and mother, I have not seen him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:9">Deut. xxxiii. 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Asa knows he must honour God more than his grandmother, and dares not
|
||
|
|
leave an idol in an apartment of his palace while he is destroying
|
||
|
|
idols in the cities of his kingdom. We may suppose this Maachah was so
|
||
|
|
far convinced of her sin that she was willing to subscribe the
|
||
|
|
association mentioned
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
binding herself to seek the Lord, and therefore was not put to death as
|
||
|
|
those were that refused to sign it, great as well as small, women as
|
||
|
|
well as men: probably it was with an eye to her that <I>women</I> were
|
||
|
|
specified. But because she had been an idolater Asa thought fit to
|
||
|
|
divest her of the dignity and authority she had, and probably he
|
||
|
|
banished her the court and confined her to privacy, lest she should
|
||
|
|
influence and infect others. But the reformation was not complete; the
|
||
|
|
high places were not all taken away, though many of them were,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+15:3,5"><I>ch.</I> xiv. 3, 5</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Those in the cities were removed, but not those in the cities of Judah,
|
||
|
|
but not those in the cities of Israel which were reduced to the house
|
||
|
|
of David; or those that were used in the service of false gods, but not
|
||
|
|
those that were used in the service of the God of Israel. These he
|
||
|
|
connived at, and yet his heart was perfect. There may be defects in
|
||
|
|
some particular duties where yet the heart, in the man, is upright with
|
||
|
|
God. Sincerity is something less than sinless perfection.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
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