THE history of Asa, king of Judah, and the Lord's dealings with the remnant who had not revolted from the house of David, is full of instruction for us in these remnant times. There were times when the Lord was with His people most manifestly, and there were times when He was not with that same people. It is so now. Is not the Lord manifestly present to faith in the midst of Christians, when assembled together gathered to His name, according to His promise, in Matt. 18? And are there not instances when there is no manifestation of His presence with His people, not only where all is mere established form and routine, a man, or men, appointed to everything, and no thought of looking for the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and no thought of the Lord Jesus being present?
But where there is the profession of being gathered to His name, and the outward form of owning the presence and guidance of the Lord; where the remnant-separation position is taken, like the separation of Judah from Israel—yes, around the table of the Lord—are there not times and places where there is not the felt, conscious sense of the Lord's presence, either for worship or discipline? Hymn after hymn, scripture after scripture read, and no real divine order, no real manifestation of the Lord with them, and consequently, no power for worship, no going out to win souls, and take spoil from Satan. This is not a question on of the salvation of the soul. Are there not thousands saved who have never known reality of the Lord's presence with those truly gathered to His blessed name?
Now, this inquiry is the more important, when we remember the last two conditions of the seven states of Christendom. (Rev. 2; 3) In Philadelphia we see the state of an assembly truly gathered to Christ, the Holy and the True. He is everything, and everything is approved. In Laodicea Christ is nothing to them, they have everything but Him, and there all is wrong, and all is disapproved. Rich, and increased in goods, but as to Christ, lukewarm indifference. Now, can any one with spiritual discernment question the fact, that there are assemblies sinking into this state? In this sense, then, how solemn the words of Azariah, the son of Oded: “The Lord is with you, while ye be with him."
It is said in chapter xiv. “And Asa, did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his GOD." We would not question, for a moment, that, in these days again, the Spirit has raised up those who have sought only to do that which is good and. right in the eyes of the Lord. Such is the true Philadelphian condition, to have the approval of the Lord. Sadly this is forgotten in the mass of Sardis; but the Spirit of God has led, in these last days, a feeble remnant to desire, above all things, to walk in the sight of the Lord. (Compare Rev. iii. 7-13.)
Verses 4, 5. Strange altars and high places did Asa remove, and built fenced cities in Judah. Strange altars, unscriptural forms of worship, have been removed in our days; and little fenced assemblies have been gathered, holding the blessed security of the Lord's presence for discipline. The land had rest, because the Lord had given them rest.
It has also been wonderful, the deep enjoyment of peace, of rest of soul, after centuries of doubt and perplexity: "Because the Lord had given him rest." Yes we have had rest, the Lord has given us perfect peace, rest of soul, in His dear presence. Having been justified, we have peace with God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And not only so, but how calm the peace of the soul, or of the assembly, that rests in the love of God, and the consciousness of the presence of the Lord—a peace of mind we never new in the organizations of men.
Asa said, Let us build these cities, &c, "because we have sought the Lord our God, we have naught him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built, and prospered." Surely we may learn here how much holy discipline—yes, walls and towers, gates and bars—have to do with the spiritual prosperity of an assembly of Christians. So they built, and prospered.
The army of Asa bare targets and spears, they bare shields, and drew bows. Thus in active gospel service now, we have found the need of the shield of faith, in going forth to war with the powers of darkness. Great was the host of Zerah, the Ethiopian, the host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots. And this great host came against Asa. "And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord oar God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude." Is not this the true Philadelphian state of soul? A feeble company, having little strength, but gathered to, and trusting in, the name of the Lord. Yes, ""Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest in thee/'
Far more in Christendom than the host of Zerah are the determined foes of those who know, and trust in, and rest in the Lord. And the warfare of the feeble remnant now is not to destroy, but to save. It is not to smite, but to heal. They do seek to gather much spoil, but it is to spoil the cities of Satan of precious souls. And, as Asa brought much spoil to Jerusalem, so would they bring much spoil to the place where the name of the Lord is recorded. Yes, they would bring the spoil of precious souls to the feet of their Lord. Yes, chapter xiv. may be used as very aptly illustrating the work of the Holy Ghost, in separating souls to the Lord, in these last days, as found in the last but one state of Christendom, as prophetically described in the address to Philadelphia.
Have you known this rest of conscience, through the infinite sacrifice of Christ? And have you known this rest of heart, as truly gathered to the Lord? If so, we will now look at the warnings and instructions of chapter xv.
It is the Spirit of God who gives the warning. He came upon the son of Oded: " And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you, while ye be with him: and if ye seek him, he will be found of you: but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you." We must beware of using these words in reference to the eternal salvation of our souls. In that sense, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:30-3930Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:30‑39).) But, as to all fruit-bearing, and real testimony for Christ, and consequent reward hereafter, Jesus says: " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." "If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." To such, how real the privilege! He-says to them, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
In Luke 24:35-4835And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. 36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them. 44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:35‑48), and John 20:19-2319Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:19‑23), we have a visible illustration of the Lord in the midst since His resurrection. Yes, Jesus Himself in the midst of them. Do we believe that He is as really present now, though not seen by mortal eyes? Does He open to us the scriptures* by the Holy Ghost sent down to take His place? The question is this—Is it reality, or mere form? In this sense, let us listen to the Spirit speaking to us by the son of Oded. And, to help us in meditating on these solemn warnings and encouragements, let us remember that, though Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea run on to the end, yet Sardis, or Protestantism, came out of Thyatira, or Romanism; and Philadelphia succeeded Sardis. And, in like manner, the awful state of Laodicea follows Philadelphia. And may not this last be the dead and lifeless form of those who have the very truth itself?
If, then, 2 Chron. 14 illustrates the gracious work of God the Holy Ghost during the last fifty years, how timely, then, and searching the words of the same Spirit of God by the son of Oded? He thus addressed the remnant of those days. May his words be blest to those who have an ear to hear in these days.
Asa had an ear to hear, "Asa heard these words." We shall see the effect on him, and on the remnant. Surely every verse speaks to us. They were needed then, they are needed now. The works of the beginning of his reign had to be done again. Is it not so with us? Do we not need also to do our first works? What is the true condition of those professedly gathered to Christ? Let us, then, hear the Spirit, in this chapter, speaking to ourselves. Who can doubt the need of this?