2CO 14-16Mamma. Now Abijah died, and was buried in the city of David, and his son Asa became king. And the land was quiet for ten years. Asa did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord. He took away the altars of strange gods, and the high places, and the images.
Sophy. Did the people really worship images, when they had that beautiful temple that Solomon built?
M. They did indeed! It is amazing to us to read this history and to see how a people brought near to God in intelligence and blessing could continually turn to false gods. How often they turned aside from God's magnificent ritual, and perfect, beautiful order of worship, to invent some folly for themselves. But if we know our own hearts, we shall find that we are just as prone to go after other gods and serve them. Fame, or riches, or praise, or power, may become false gods to us. Anything that comes between the heart and God is an idol to us, if we love it and try to keep it. The apostle says, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols," which shows that even Christians may have idols, though it is very sad to think so.
S. How were little children to keep themselves from idols?
M; By keeping near the one true God, and His Son Jesus Christ. The Psalmist says, "I have set the Lord always before me, therefore I shall not be moved." And "My heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." He did not want a false god, he had something better. Just so with any poor Israelite, if he went up to the temple to pray, he would not want to go home and worship an image, nor would he set to work to make one for himself. But when God is forgotten, then the heart of man looks round for a false god, and it is wonderful what foolish, worthless things man will be content with then, because Satan, who is like a roaring lion, and goes about seeking whom he may devour, is pleased when he sees us forgetting God, and he makes it pleasant to us to follow the desires of our own hearts.
S. But why did they care for a calf of gold?
M. True, it was a stupid god to bow down to, but all false gods are quite as stupid to a heart that knows the Lord. I think they got the idea of a golden calf from Egypt. The Egyptians worshipped bulls and calves; and Jeroboam had just come from Egypt, and thought he would please the people by something new, which would keep them from wishing to go up to Jerusalem to worship in the temple. You may remember that when God brought His people out of Egypt, they sinned against Him in the wilderness by making a calf of gold.
When Abijah was dead, his son Asa succeeded him, he did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord; for he took away the altars of the strange gods, and broke down the images, and cut down the groves.
S. What were the groves for?
M. It was a heathen custom to plant trees round their idols. If you go to France now, you may see at one end of a fine garden, a sort of little arbor, and inside this an image of the Lord Jesus on the cross, or of the Virgin Mary.
S. Do the people in France worship idols?
M. I speak of Roman Catholics, they bow before images and pray to them; and hurt and ill-treat their bodies to make the images hear them-images of saints who are sleeping in Jesus and who can do them no more good than the image itself. Even the happy, honored Mary, the mother of Jesus, cannot hear our prayers. The Lord Jesus always said: Come unto Me. He never once told a poor sinner to go to any one else.
S. Why do they make an image of Jesus on the cross?
M. Because they only know Him as the dead Savior, and so they worship the cross and the nails and even the hammer and crown of thorns. If they knew that He had passed through death, and gone up to God's right hand, to be the living Savior, alive from among the dead, then they would know that His work was finished, and that there was nothing left for us to do. They are taught to think that Jesus only did part of the work of our salvation, and that we have to do the rest ourselves.
S. How glad I am that you do not teach me that
M. I desire to teach you nothing but what is in God's own word, where you may search and find it all for yourself; for this word is written that even a child may become wise unto salvation. The Roman Catholics are not allowed to read the Bible, or to search it for themselves as we may.
To return to king Asa. We find that he built fenced cities, and the Lord gave him rest, so that there was no war for ten years. And when the Ethiopians came up against Judah, Asa cried to the Lord and He helped them. After this God sent a message to Asa by His prophet. He said the Lord would be with them as long as they sought Him; and Asa felt encouraged by the Lord's goodness to him, and he was more diligent in searching out every evil in his kingdom that it might be put away. Then he called all the people to come up to Jerusalem; not only those of Judah and Benjamin, but a great many out of Israel came, and they offered to the Lord together and made a covenant to seek the Lord, with all their heart and with all their soul; and he said that whoever did not seek the Lord should be put to death. They sware to the Lord with a loud voice, with shouting, with trumpets and with music. And Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they sought the Lord with their whole desire. Even the king's mother was put away from being queen, because she had an idol and Asa burnt her idol; for Asa's heart was perfect all his days.
Now there had not been war for thirty-five years, until the king of Israel came up against Judah, and built the city of Ramah, that he might prevent the children of Israel going up to Jerusalem to worship or going to Asa the king. And now we hear of Asa doing something very sad, he made a league with the king of Syria, and gave him treasures out of the Lord's house, to make him go and fight against the king of Israel.
S. Was God much displeased?
M. He sent a message to Asa by Hanani the seer; saying because he had relied upon the king of Syria, and had not relied upon the Lord, he had lost the opportunity of conquering the king of Syria; God would have helped him against Syria as He had helped him before. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him. And from that time the rest that God gave was gone, and God allowed Asa to have wars.
S. Did Asa know that the Lord was displeased?
M. I am afraid he did not listen to the Lord's word by His prophet, for he got into a rage with the prophet, and put him in prison. But the Lord did not take His hand off Asa, for he got a disease in his feet, yet he sought not the Lord, but went to the doctors to cure him. But he only lived two years longer, and they buried him with great honors in the city of David.