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ENCOURAGEMENT TO EXERTION
THERE are two extremes to which mankind are prone—presumption, and despondency. To the former the ungodly are inclined; to the latter, the righteous. King Asa was a man who “did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God [Note: 2Ch_14:2.],” and “his heart was perfect all his days [Note: ver. 17.]:” yet did he need encouragement from a prophet of the Lord, to sustain his fainting mind.
In the passage before us, we have,
I. An historic record—
Asa had been enabled to vanquish an host of not less than a million of Ethiopians, with an army of little more than one half their number. But in his own kingdom there was a great work to perform, a work which he despaired of ever being able to accomplish. God, however, mercifully sent him a prophet, to raise his drooping spirits, and to animate him to his appointed work. Hear the message delivered to him—
[“Be strong, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.” Think nothing too arduous to be attempted, provided the Lord call you to it [Note: Jos_1:6-7; Jos_1:9. 1Ch_28:20.] — — — And never doubt of success in any thing that you undertake for Him — — —]
Mark, too, the effect produced upon his mind—
[“He took courage.” And how did he evince the power of that grace which had been bestowed upon him? He put down idolatry throughout his dominions [Note: ver. 8.] — — — He summoned all his people to enter into a solemn “covenant with God, to serve Him with all their heart [Note: ver. 12,]” — — — and “he deposed his mother from her throne, because she had made an idol; which he cut down, and stamped, and burned at the brook Kidron [Note: ver. 16,]” — — —]
In this noble conduct he has left to us,
II. An encouraging example—
We also have difficulties, every one of us, to encounter—
[Great are the corruptions by which we are assailed — — — And fierce will be the opposition which will be made to us, if we exert ourselves for the reformation of others — — —]
But to us, no less than to Asa, are the prophet’s words addressed [Note: See Isa_35:3-4.]—
[We should “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might [Note: Eph_6:10.]:” and if we “hold fast our confidence in him, we shall have a great recompence of reward [Note: Heb_10:35.].” We are assured that “our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord [Note: 1Co_15:58.].”]
In us, also, should they produce a similar effect—
[They should encourage us to serve the Lord alone — — — to serve him with our whole hearts — — — to serve him “without partiality, and without hypocrisy [Note: Jam_3:17. 1Ti_5:21.].” The nearest friends must be withstood, and the most endeared lust be mortified. Not a right hand, or right eye, must be retained: every thing that is offensive to God must be sacrificed without reserve.]
Application—
[If Asa acted thus on one single word of encouragement, what may be expected of you, who have had all the promises of God set before you from Sabbath to Sabbath, through many successive years? If He, under that dark dispensation, acted so noble and consistent a part, what may be expected of you, who live under the full light of the Gospel, and are instructed in all the wonders of redeeming love? — — —]