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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Chronicles, Chapter XIV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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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. XIV.</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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In this and the two following chapters we have the history of the reign
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of Asa, a good reign and a long one. In this chapter we have,
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I. His piety,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. His policy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:6-8">ver. 6-8</A>.
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III. His prosperity, and particularly a glorious victory he obtained
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over a great army of Ethiopians that came out against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:9-15">ver. 9-15</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_8"> </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>Asa King of Judah.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 955.</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 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the
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city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days
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the land was quiet ten years.
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2 And Asa did <I>that which was</I> good and right in the eyes of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his God:
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3 For he took away the altars of the strange <I>gods,</I> and the
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high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
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4 And commanded Judah to seek the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of their fathers,
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and to do the law and the commandment.
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5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high
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places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
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6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest,
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and he had no war in those years; because the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> had given him
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rest.
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7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and
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make about <I>them</I> walls, and towers, gates, and bars, <I>while</I> the
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land <I>is</I> yet before us; because we have sought the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God,
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we have sought <I>him,</I> and he hath given us rest on every side. So
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they built and prospered.
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8 And Asa had an army <I>of men</I> that bare targets and spears,
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out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that
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bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand:
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all these <I>were</I> mighty men of valour.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Asa's general character
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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He did <I>that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his
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God.</I>
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1. He aimed at pleasing God, studied to approve himself to him. Happy
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are those that walk by this rule, to do that which is right, not in
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their own eyes, or in the eye of the world, but in the eyes of God.
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2. He saw God's eye always upon him, and that helped much to keep him
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to what was good and right.
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3. God graciously accepted him in what he did, and approved his conduct
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as good and right.</P>
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<P>
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II. A blessed work of reformation which he set on foot immediately upon
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his accession to the crown.
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1. He removed and abolished idolatry. Since Solomon admitted idolatry,
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in the latter end of his reign, nothing had been done to suppress it,
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and so, we presume, it had got ground. Strange gods were worshipped
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and had their altars, images, and groves; and the temple service,
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though kept up by the priests
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+13:10"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 10</A>),
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was neglected by many of the people. Asa, as soon as he had power in
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his hands, made it his business to destroy all those idolatrous altars
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and images
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:3,5"><I>v.</I> 3, 5</A>),
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they being a great provocation to a jealous God and a great temptation
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to a careless unthinking people. He hoped by destroying the idols to
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reform the idolaters, which he aimed at, rather than to ruin them.
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2. He revived and established the pure worship of God; and, since the
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priests did their part in attending God's altars, he obliged the people
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to do theirs
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers,</I> and
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not the gods of the heathen, and <I>to do the law and the
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commandments,</I> that is, to observe all divine institutions, which
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many had utterly neglected. In doing this, <I>the land was quiet before
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him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Though they were much in love with their idols, and very loth to leave
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them, yet the convictions of their consciences sided with the commands
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of Asa, and they could not, for shame, refuse to comply with them.
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Note, Those that have power in their hands, and will use it vigorously
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for the suppression of profaneness and the reformation of manners, will
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not meet with so much difficulty and opposition therein as perhaps they
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feared. Vice is a sneaking thing, and virtue has reason enough on its
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side to make <I>all iniquity stop her mouth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:42">Ps. cvii. 42</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. The tranquillity of his kingdom, after constant alarms of war
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during the last two reigns: <I>In his days the land was quiet ten
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years</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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no war with the kingdom of Israel, who did not recover the blow given
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them in the last reign for a great while. Abijah's victory, which was
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owing, under God, to his courage and bravery, laid a foundation for
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Asa's peace, which was the reward of his piety and reformation. Though
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Abijah had little religion himself, he was instrumental to prepare the
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way for one that had much. If Abijah had not done what he did to quiet
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the land, Asa could not have done what he did to reform it; for
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<I>inter arma silent leges</I>--<I>amidst the din of arms the voice of
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law is unheard.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. The prudent improvement he made of that tranquillity: <I>The land
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had rest, for the Lord had given him rest.</I> Note, <I>If God give
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quietness, who then can make trouble?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+34:29">Job xxxiv. 29</A>.
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Those have rest indeed to whom God gives rest, peace indeed to whom
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Christ gives peace, <I>not as the world giveth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:27">John xiv. 27</A>.
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Now,
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1. Asa takes notice of the rest they had as the gift of God (<I>He hath
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given us rest on every side.</I> Note, God must be acknowledged with
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thankfulness in the rest we are blessed with, of body and mind, family
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and country), and as the reward of the reformation begun: <I>Because we
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have sought the Lord our God, he has given us rest.</I> Note, As the
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frowns and rebukes of Providence should be observed for a check to us
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in an evil way, so the smiles of Providence should be taken notice of
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for our encouragement in that which is good. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hag+2:18,19,Mal+3:10">Hag. ii. 18, 19; Mal. iii. 10</A>.
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We find by experience that it is good to <I>seek the Lord;</I> it
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<I>gives us rest.</I> While we pursue the world we meet with nothing
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but vexation.
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2. He consults with his people, by their representatives, how to make a
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good use of the present gleams of peace they enjoyed, and concludes
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with them,
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(1.) That they must not be idle, but busy. Times of rest from war
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should be employed in work, for we must always find ourselves something
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to do. In the years when he had no war he said, "Let us build; still
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let us be doing." When the <I>churches had rest</I> they were <I>built
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up,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:31">Acts ix. 31</A>.
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When the sword is sheathed take up the trowel.
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(2.) That they must not be secure, but prepare for wars. In times of
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peace we must be getting ready for trouble, expect it and lay up in
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store for it.
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[1.] He fortified his principle cities with <I>walls, towers, gates,
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and bars,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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"This let us do," says he, "<I>while the land is yet before us,</I>"
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that is, "while we have opportunity and advantage for it and have
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nothing to hinder us." He speaks as if he expected that, some way or
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other, trouble would arise, when it would be too late to fortify, and
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when they would wish they had done it. <I>So they built and
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prospered.</I>
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[2.] He had a good army ready to bring into the field
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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not a standing army, but the militia or trained-bands of the country.
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Judah and Benjamin were mustered severally; and Benjamin (which not
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long ago was called <I>little Benjamin,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:27">Ps. lxviii. 27</A>)
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had almost as many soldiers as Judah, came as near as 28 to 30, so
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strangely had that tribe increased of late. The blessing of God can
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make a <I>little one to become a thousand.</I> It should seem, these
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two tribes were differently armed, both offensively and defensively.
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The men of Judah guarded themselves with targets, the men of Benjamin
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with shields, the former of which were much larger than the latter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+10:16,17">1 Kings x. 16, 17</A>.
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The men of Judah fought with spears when they closed in with the enemy;
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the men of Benjamin drew bows, to reach the enemy at a distance. Both
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did good service, and neither could say to the other, I have <I>no need
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of thee.</I> Different gifts and employments are for the common
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good.</P>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Ch14_15"> </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 Defeats the Ethiopians.</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>9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an
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host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came
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unto Mareshah.
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10 Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in
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array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
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11 And Asa cried unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> his
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God, and said, L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>it is</I> nothing
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with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power:
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help us, O L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God; for we rest on
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thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O L<FONT
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SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, thou <I>art</I> our God; let not man prevail
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against thee.
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12 So the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before
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Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
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13 And Asa and the people that <I>were</I> with him pursued them
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unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could
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not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>,
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and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
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14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the
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fear of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities;
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for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
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15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep
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and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. Disturbance given to the peace of Asa's kingdom by a formidable army
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of Ethiopians that invaded them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>.
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Though still they sought God, yet this fear came upon them, that their
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faith in God might be tried, and that God might have an opportunity of
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doing great things for them. It was a vast number that the Ethiopians
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brought against him: 1,000,000 <I>men;</I> and now he found the benefit
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of having an army ready raised against such a time of need. That
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provision which we thought needless may soon appear to be of great
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advantage.</P>
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<P>
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II. The application Asa made to God on occasion of the threatening
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cloud which now hung over his head,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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He that sought God in the day of his peace and prosperity could with
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holy boldness cry to God in the day of his trouble, and call him <I>his
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God.</I> His prayer is short, but has much in it.
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1. He gives to God the glory of his infinite power and sovereignty:
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<I>It is nothing with thee to help</I> and save by many or few, by
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those that are mighty or by <I>those that have no power.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+14:6">1 Sam. xiv. 6</A>.
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God works in his own strength, not in the strength of instruments
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+21:13">Ps. xxi. 13</A>),
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nay, it is his glory to <I>help the weakest</I> and to <I>perfect
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strength out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.</I> "We do not say,
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Lord, take our part, for we have a good army for thee to work by; but,
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take our part, for without thee we have no power."
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2. He takes hold of their covenant-relation to God as theirs. <I>O
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Lord, our God!</I> and again, "<I>Thou art our God,</I> whom we have
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chosen and cleave to as ours, and who hast promised to be ours."
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3. He pleads their dependence upon God, and the eye they had to him in
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this expedition. He was well prepared for it, yet trusted not to his
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preparations; but, "Lord, <I>we rest on thee, and in thy name we go
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against this multitude,</I> by warrant from thee, aiming at thy glory,
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and trusting to thy strength."
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4. He interests God in their cause: "<I>Let not man" (mortal man,</I>
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so the word is) "<I>prevail against thee.</I> If he prevail against us,
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it will be said that he prevails against thee, because thou art our
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God, and we rest on thee and go forth in thy name, which thou hast
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encouraged us to do. The enemy is a mortal man; make it to appear what
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an unequal match he is for an immortal God. Lord, maintain thy own
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honour; <I>hallowed by thy name.</I>"</P>
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<P>
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III. The glorious victory God gave him over his enemies.
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1. God defeated the enemy, and put their forces into disorder
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
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<I>The Lord smote the Ethiopians,</I> smote them with terror, and an
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unaccountable consternation, so that they fled, and knew neither why
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nor whither.
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2. Asa and his soldiers took the advantage God gave them against the
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enemy.
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(1.) They destroyed them. They fell <I>before the Lord</I> (for who can
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stand before him?) and before his host, either an invisible host of
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angels that were employed to destroy them or the host of Israel, called
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<I>God's host</I> because owned by him.
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(2.) They took the plunder of their camp, <I>carried away very much
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spoil</I> from the slain and from the baggage.
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(3.) They <I>smote the cities</I> that were in league with them, to
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which they fled for shelter, and carried off the spoil of them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>);
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and they were not able to make any resistance, <I>for the fear of the
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Lord came upon them,</I> that is, a fear which God struck them with to
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such a degree that they had no heart to withstand the conquerors.
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(4.) They fetched away the cattle out of the enemy's country, in vast
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numbers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+14:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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Thus the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.</P>
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