mh_parser/vol_split/14 - 2Chronicles/Chapter 14.xml

<div2 id="iiCh.xv" n="xv" next="iiCh.xvi" prev="iiCh.xiv" progress="82.40%" title="Chapter XIV">
<h2 id="iiCh.xv-p0.1">S E C O N D   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iiCh.xv-p0.2">CHAP. XIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iiCh.xv-p1">In this and the two following chapters we have the
history of the reign of Asa, a good reign and a long one. In this
chapter we have, I. His piety, <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.1-2Chr.13.5" parsed="|2Chr|13|1|13|5" passage="2Ch 13:1-5">ver.
1-5</scripRef>. II. His policy, <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.6-2Chr.13.8" parsed="|2Chr|13|6|13|8" passage="2Ch 13:6-8">ver.
6-8</scripRef>. III. His prosperity, and particularly a glorious
victory he obtained over a great army of Ethiopians that came out
against him, <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.9-2Chr.13.15" parsed="|2Chr|13|9|13|15" passage="2Ch 13:9-15">ver.
9-15</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14" parsed="|2Chr|14|0|0|0" passage="2Ch 14" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iiCh.xv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.1-2Chr.14.8" parsed="|2Chr|14|1|14|8" passage="2Ch 14:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.14.1-2Chr.14.8">
<h4 id="iiCh.xv-p1.6">Asa King of Judah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p1.7">b. c.</span> 955.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xv-p2">1 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 And Asa
did <i>that which was</i> good and right in the eyes of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p2.1">Lord</span> his God:   3 For he took away
the altars of the strange <i>gods,</i> and the high places, and
brake down the images, and cut down the groves:   4 And
commanded Judah to seek the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p2.2">Lord</span> God
of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.   5
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places
and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.   6 And
he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had
no war in those years; because the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p2.3">Lord</span> had given him rest.   7 Therefore he
said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about
<i>them</i> walls, and towers, gates, and bars, <i>while</i> the
land <i>is</i> yet before us; because we have sought the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p2.4">Lord</span> our God, we have sought <i>him,</i>
and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and
prospered.   8 And Asa had an army <i>of men</i> 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 <i>were</i> mighty men of valour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p3">Here is, I. Asa's general character
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.2" parsed="|2Chr|14|2|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): He did
<i>that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his
God.</i> 1. He aimed at pleasing God, studied to approve himself to
him. Happy are those that walk by this rule, to do that which is
right, not in their own eyes, or in the eye of the world, but in
the eyes of God. 2. He saw God's eye always upon him, and that
helped much to keep him to what was good and right. 3. God
graciously accepted him in what he did, and approved his conduct as
good and right.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p4">II. A blessed work of reformation which he
set on foot immediately upon his accession to the crown. 1. He
removed and abolished idolatry. Since Solomon admitted idolatry, in
the latter end of his reign, nothing had been done to suppress it,
and so, we presume, it had got ground. Strange gods were worshipped
and had their altars, images, and groves; and the temple service,
though kept up by the priests (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.13.10" parsed="|2Chr|13|10|0|0" passage="2Ch 13:10"><i>ch.</i> xiii. 10</scripRef>), was neglected by many
of the people. Asa, as soon as he had power in his hands, made it
his business to destroy all those idolatrous altars and images
(<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.3 Bible:2Chr.14.5" parsed="|2Chr|14|3|0|0;|2Chr|14|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:3,5"><i>v.</i> 3, 5</scripRef>), they
being a great provocation to a jealous God and a great temptation
to a careless unthinking people. He hoped by destroying the idols
to reform the idolaters, which he aimed at, rather than to ruin
them. 2. He revived and established the pure worship of God; and,
since the priests did their part in attending God's altars, he
obliged the people to do theirs (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.4" parsed="|2Chr|14|4|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): <i>He commanded Judah to seek
the Lord God of their fathers,</i> and not the gods of the heathen,
and <i>to do the law and the commandments,</i> that is, to observe
all divine institutions, which many had utterly neglected. In doing
this, <i>the land was quiet before him,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.5" parsed="|2Chr|14|5|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Though they were much in love
with their idols, and very loth to leave them, yet the convictions
of their consciences sided with the commands of Asa, and they could
not, for shame, refuse to comply with them. Note, Those that have
power in their hands, and will use it vigorously for the
suppression of profaneness and the reformation of manners, will not
meet with so much difficulty and opposition therein as perhaps they
feared. Vice is a sneaking thing, and virtue has reason enough on
its side to make <i>all iniquity stop her mouth,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.42" parsed="|Ps|107|42|0|0" passage="Ps 107:42">Ps. cvii. 42</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p5">III. The tranquillity of his kingdom, after
constant alarms of war during the last two reigns: <i>In his days
the land was quiet ten years</i> (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.1" parsed="|2Chr|14|1|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), no war with the kingdom of
Israel, who did not recover the blow given them in the last reign
for a great while. Abijah's victory, which was owing, under God, to
his courage and bravery, laid a foundation for Asa's peace, which
was the reward of his piety and reformation. Though Abijah had
little religion himself, he was instrumental to prepare the way for
one that had much. If Abijah had not done what he did to quiet the
land, Asa could not have done what he did to reform it; for
<i>inter arma silent leges</i>—<i>amidst the din of arms the voice
of law is unheard.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p6">IV. The prudent improvement he made of that
tranquillity: <i>The land had rest, for the Lord had given him
rest.</i> Note, <i>If God give quietness, who then can make
trouble?</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.34.29" parsed="|Job|34|29|0|0" passage="Job 34:29">Job xxxiv.
29</scripRef>. Those have rest indeed to whom God gives rest, peace
indeed to whom Christ gives peace, <i>not as the world giveth,</i>
<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:John.14.27" parsed="|John|14|27|0|0" passage="Joh 14:27">John xiv. 27</scripRef>. Now, 1. Asa
takes notice of the rest they had as the gift of God (<i>He hath
given us rest on every side.</i> Note, God must be acknowledged
with thankfulness in the rest we are blessed with, of body and
mind, family and country), and as the reward of the reformation
begun: <i>Because we have sought the Lord our God, he has given us
rest.</i> Note, As the frowns and rebukes of Providence should be
observed for a check to us in an evil way, so the smiles of
Providence should be taken notice of for our encouragement in that
which is good. See <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Hag.2.18-Hag.2.19 Bible:Mal.3.10" parsed="|Hag|2|18|2|19;|Mal|3|10|0|0" passage="Hag 2:18,19,Mal 3:10">Hag.
ii. 18, 19; Mal. iii. 10</scripRef>. We find by experience that it
is good to <i>seek the Lord;</i> it <i>gives us rest.</i> While we
pursue the world we meet with nothing but vexation. 2. He consults
with his people, by their representatives, how to make a good use
of the present gleams of peace they enjoyed, and concludes with
them, (1.) That they must not be idle, but busy. Times of rest from
war should be employed in work, for we must always find ourselves
something to do. In the years when he had no war he said, "Let us
build; still let us be doing." When the <i>churches had rest</i>
they were <i>built up,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Acts.9.31" parsed="|Acts|9|31|0|0" passage="Ac 9:31">Acts ix.
31</scripRef>. When the sword is sheathed take up the trowel. (2.)
That they must not be secure, but prepare for wars. In times of
peace we must be getting ready for trouble, expect it and lay up in
store for it. [1.] He fortified his principle cities with <i>walls,
towers, gates, and bars,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.7" parsed="|2Chr|14|7|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>. "This let us do," says he, "<i>while the land is yet
before us,</i>" that is, "while we have opportunity and advantage
for it and have nothing to hinder us." He speaks as if he expected
that, some way or other, trouble would arise, when it would be too
late to fortify, and when they would wish they had done it. <i>So
they built and prospered.</i> [2.] He had a good army ready to
bring into the field (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.8" parsed="|2Chr|14|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>), not a standing army, but the militia or
trained-bands of the country. Judah and Benjamin were mustered
severally; and Benjamin (which not long ago was called <i>little
Benjamin,</i> <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.27" parsed="|Ps|68|27|0|0" passage="Ps 68:27">Ps. lxviii.
27</scripRef>) had almost as many soldiers as Judah, came as near
as 28 to 30, so strangely had that tribe increased of late. The
blessing of God can make a <i>little one to become a thousand.</i>
It should seem, these two tribes were differently armed, both
offensively and defensively. The men of Judah guarded themselves
with targets, the men of Benjamin with shields, the former of which
were much larger than the latter, <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.10.16-1Kgs.10.17" parsed="|1Kgs|10|16|10|17" passage="1Ki 10:16,17">1 Kings x. 16, 17</scripRef>. The men of Judah
fought with spears when they closed in with the enemy; the men of
Benjamin drew bows, to reach the enemy at a distance. Both did good
service, and neither could say to the other, I have <i>no need of
thee.</i> Different gifts and employments are for the common
good.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iiCh.xv-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.9-2Chr.14.15" parsed="|2Chr|14|9|14|15" passage="2Ch 14:9-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:2Chr.14.9-2Chr.14.15">
<h4 id="iiCh.xv-p6.10">Asa Defeats the Ethiopians. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p6.11">b. c.</span> 945.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iiCh.xv-p7">9 And there came out against them Zerah the
Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred
chariots; and came unto Mareshah.   10 Then Asa went out
against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of
Zephathah at Mareshah.   11 And Asa cried unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.1">Lord</span> his God, and said, <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.2">Lord</span>, <i>it is</i> nothing with thee to help,
whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.3">O Lord</span> our God; for we rest on thee, and
in thy name we go against this multitude<span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.4">. O
Lord</span>, thou <i>art</i> our God; let not man prevail against
thee.   12 So the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.5">Lord</span> smote
the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians
fled.   13 And Asa and the people that <i>were</i> with him
pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that
they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before
the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.6">Lord</span>, and before his host; and
they carried away very much spoil.   14 And they smote all the
cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iiCh.xv-p7.7">Lord</span> came upon them: and they spoiled all the
cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.   15 They
smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels
in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p8">Here is, I. Disturbance given to the peace
of Asa's kingdom by a formidable army of Ethiopians that invaded
them, <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.9-2Chr.14.10" parsed="|2Chr|14|9|14|10" passage="2Ch 14:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>.
Though still they sought God, yet this fear came upon them, that
their faith in God might be tried, and that God might have an
opportunity of doing great things for them. It was a vast number
that the Ethiopians brought against him: 1,000,000 <i>men;</i> and
now he found the benefit of having an army ready raised against
such a time of need. That provision which we thought needless may
soon appear to be of great advantage.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p9">II. The application Asa made to God on
occasion of the threatening cloud which now hung over his head,
<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.11" parsed="|2Chr|14|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. He that
sought God in the day of his peace and prosperity could with holy
boldness cry to God in the day of his trouble, and call him <i>his
God.</i> His prayer is short, but has much in it. 1. He gives to
God the glory of his infinite power and sovereignty: <i>It is
nothing with thee to help</i> and save by many or few, by those
that are mighty or by <i>those that have no power.</i> See
<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.14.6" parsed="|1Sam|14|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 14:6">1 Sam. xiv. 6</scripRef>. God works in
his own strength, not in the strength of instruments (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.21.13" parsed="|Ps|21|13|0|0" passage="Ps 21:13">Ps. xxi. 13</scripRef>), nay, it is his glory to
<i>help the weakest</i> and to <i>perfect strength out of the mouth
of babes and sucklings.</i> "We do not say, Lord, take our part,
for we have a good army for thee to work by; but, take our part,
for without thee we have no power." 2. He takes hold of their
covenant-relation to God as theirs. <i>O Lord, our God!</i> and
again, "<i>Thou art our God,</i> whom we have chosen and cleave to
as ours, and who hast promised to be ours." 3. He pleads their
dependence upon God, and the eye they had to him in this
expedition. He was well prepared for it, yet trusted not to his
preparations; but, "Lord, <i>we rest on thee, and in thy name we go
against this multitude,</i> by warrant from thee, aiming at thy
glory, and trusting to thy strength." 4. He interests God in their
cause: "<i>Let not man" (mortal man,</i> so the word is)
"<i>prevail against thee.</i> If he prevail against us, it will be
said that he prevails against thee, because thou art our God, and
we rest on thee and go forth in thy name, which thou hast
encouraged us to do. The enemy is a mortal man; make it to appear
what an unequal match he is for an immortal God. Lord, maintain thy
own honour; <i>hallowed by thy name.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="iiCh.xv-p10">III. The glorious victory God gave him over
his enemies. 1. God defeated the enemy, and put their forces into
disorder (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.12" parsed="|2Chr|14|12|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>):
<i>The Lord smote the Ethiopians,</i> smote them with terror, and
an unaccountable consternation, so that they fled, and knew neither
why nor whither. 2. Asa and his soldiers took the advantage God
gave them against the enemy. (1.) They destroyed them. They fell
<i>before the Lord</i> (for who can stand before him?) and before
his host, either an invisible host of angels that were employed to
destroy them or the host of Israel, called <i>God's host</i>
because owned by him. (2.) They took the plunder of their camp,
<i>carried away very much spoil</i> from the slain and from the
baggage. (3.) They <i>smote the cities</i> that were in league with
them, to which they fled for shelter, and carried off the spoil of
them (<scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.14" parsed="|2Chr|14|14|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>); and
they were not able to make any resistance, <i>for the fear of the
Lord came upon them,</i> that is, a fear which God struck them with
to such a degree that they had no heart to withstand the
conquerors. (4.) They fetched away the cattle out of the enemy's
country, in vast numbers, <scripRef id="iiCh.xv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.14.15" parsed="|2Chr|14|15|0|0" passage="2Ch 14:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. Thus the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the
just.</p>
</div></div2>