away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

10 Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.

11 And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.

12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.

13 ¶ So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.

14 And he did evil, because he 'prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

15 Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

16 And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.

THE temporary character of Rehoboam's religion was briefly alluded to in the last chapter. We shall have some further occasion to speak of him in this. His case is a loud warning to all. It teaches us, that present appearances, however hopeful, are not to be trusted, unless they abide, and lead to a satisfactory conclusion.

When Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel with him (v. 1). Note the awful conduct of this wicked man. So long as he was in trouble, and feared the loss of the remaining part of the kingdom, he followed the way of David: that is, he feared and served the Lord in the appointed order; and so long as he did so, he prospered. He honoured the Lord, and the Lord honoured him. But all this was

of constraint; not willingly. It was not his deliberate choice; but his forced necessity. The consequence was, when that cause of alarm, which impelled him to act in this manner, appeared to be removed, there was no longer any necessity, as he thought, why he should persevere in that course. Being now, as he imagined, strong enough to do without the Lord's help, he no longer hesitated to forsake him. This he did, and all his people went with him in the apostasy. Now, does not this matter bring many things to light? You see some people diligently following the Lord for a time: perhaps, like Rehoboam, for some few years. While they do so, things go well with them. They have many temporal blessings; and, so far as their religion goes, many religious comforts. But, after awhile, they turn aside, or go back they forsake the Lord, and others go with them. Can you account for these lamentable declensions? Did you ever inquire into the cause of this grievous apostasy? The reason is obvious. They were never sound. The motive that led to this excitement was fallacious. It was fear, dread, terror; not the love of the truth, nor the favour of the Lord. Their character was in jeopardy; their business was at stake; they were afraid of death; they thought they should lose their soul. But there was no sense of sin; no need of Christ; no desire for his salvation. They merely wanted relief under their present emergencies; and, when they got that, then their fears were gone; their diligence relaxed; and they turned, like the dog to his vomit, and like the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. It not this the awful course of thousands? He that hath ears to hear, let him take warning, and be wise in time. (2 Peter ii. 20-22.)

But, what led to this awful step? and to this fearful discovery? His heart was lifted up. He was carried away by the feeling of a false security. That led to his fall; and, but for the mercy of God, to his ruin. No man can forsake the Lord, and prosper. Rehoboam soon felt this. In the midst of his security, enemies sprung up around him; and he was deeply humbled in the sight of the nations. Egypt began to spoil his

treasures. God sent him an awakening message. They forsook the Lord'; and the Lord give them up. What was the consequence? They were soon brought low: and, though he spared them, they were made to know the difference between his service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries. Such are always the fruits of sin. Bitter experience proves the truth of the warning. He did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord (v. 14). His religion originated in self: it was, therefore, of a temporary duration; and it ended in misery and sorrow. If the heart be not prepared to seek the Lord, you will endure only for a while. In time of temptation you will fall away. While they who hold on in his ways shall be increasingly blessed; the backslider shall eat of the fruit of his ways, and be filled with his own devices.

2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.

3 And Abijah 'set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.

4 And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;

5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

6 Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.

7 And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.

8 And now ye think to withstand the

kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.

9 Have not ye cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be priest of them that are no gods.

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10 But as for us, the LORD is our God, priests, which minister unto the LORD, are and we have not forsaken him; and the the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:

11 And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.

12 And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.

13¶ But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.

14 And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.

15 Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

16 And the children of Israel fled before Judah and God delivered them into their hand.

17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen

men.

18 Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.

19 And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.

20 Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.

THE sacred narrative as it now proceeds will bring much awakening matter to light. We shall find many things to teach us; many things to warn us; and many things to encourage us. In the present instance we have some account of Rehoboam's successor; and what took place between him and Jeroboam, the wicked king of Israel, in the war they carried on against each other.

And

What a dreadful thing is war! Here are no less than one million two hundred thousand men, on both sides, gathered together ready to slay and kill each other! before you come to the end of the chapter, you find that nearly one half of that number, on the part of Israel alone, was slain. Who can think of so many hundreds of thousands of men, cut off in their sins and hurried into eternity, without any preparation to meet God in peace, and not sicken at the thought? Who can think of these things, and not pray that the gospel of peace may more and more shed its benign influence on the hearts of men? and thus, instead of destroying each other, cement them together in the holy bonds of brotherhood and love!

In all contests of this kind, it is requisite, in order to hope for a favourable issue, that we should not be the aggressors; but have right on our side. Even then war should never be resorted to, but as a last resource, and after every other means has been tried in vain. Abijah's address on this occasion contains a great deal of truth, and must have placed his adversaries in a very unpleasant light; and the more so, because what he said could not be denied. Was not the kingdom of Jeroboam an usurpation? Had it not been established in rebellion? Was

it not upheld by apostasy and idolatry? Under such circumstances, could they expect to succeed? Would the Lord grant them his favour? Could they rely on his protection? Had they not cast out the

All

priests of the Lord? Had they not forsaken the Lord himself? Had they not set up a ! self-willed and self-devised religion of their own; not only not acceptable to God, but in open contradiction of his word? these things told against Jeroboam; and, being the truth, no doubt they exasperated him the more. God will never be the patron of idolatry, injustice, or sin. If you have not right on your side, you cannot expect his blessing and if you are not found in the right way, you cannot expect his salvation.

Even when it may be manifest that we are right, and others are wrong, we must not place such reliance on the equity of our cause, as to lead us to neglect our dependence on the Lord for help and deliverance. Abijah was soon made to feel that he stood in a very perilous condition. Whilst he was speaking, Jeroboam was plotting. Before he had scarcely finished his address, he found himself in such a difficulty, that, had not the Lord delivered him, the consequences might have been fatal. Never lose sight of your dependence on the Lord. However right your cause, or safe your state, your security always depends on the Lord alone. If you forget that, or act as if the case were not so, you may soon be made to feel the consequences of your forgetfulness or mistrust; till you come back to the humble cry, which is the only safe condition for your soul, "Lord, save me, I perish."

Lastly, in all your perils or perplexities, never forget, and never cease to pray unto the Lord. Abijah cried unto the Lord; and the Lord smote Jeroboam. The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers (v. 18). Such is the efficacy of prayer. Such, too, may you find it to be in your difficulties or trials. On the other hand, mark the end of Jeroboam. The Lord struck him, and he died. The same hand that saved his people, destroyed their enemy. So has it always been, and ever will be. The pillar of the cloud, that gave light to Israel, was darkness to the Egyptians. And the same gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to them that believe, is foolishness to them that perish. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

CHAPTER XIV.

1 Asa succeeding destroyeth idolatry. 6 Having peace, he strengtheneth his kingdom with forts and armies. 9 Calling on God, he overthroweth Zerah, and spoileth the Ethiopians.

NO 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 that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the 'images, and cut down the groves:

4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD 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 LORD had given him rest.

7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

8 And Asa had an army of men 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 were mighty men of valour.

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.

Il 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 our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not 3man prevail against thee.

12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were 'destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.

VOL. II.

WE are here introduced to another reign. It is that of Asa, who was a good man, and a pious king. He did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord (v. 2).

Good men will always find much to do. They will have much evil to amend; and much that is right to practise and uphold. Let us see what Asa did. He took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places; and brake down the images, and cut down the groves (v. 3). This was doing right. Next, he commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers; and to do the law and the commandment (v. 4). This again was doing as a pious and godly king ought to act: and this exercise of authority he extended throughout the kingdom. The consequence was, the kingdom was quiet before him (v. 5). Thus he was a great national reformer, as well as a true saint, and a godly king. Will not all godly princes and rulers find much to do for God, if they do their duty in their elevated stations? Will not others, too, in their more humble spheres, have abundant cause to labour in the same way ? What laborious exertions must be made by the minister of the gospel for the welfare of a parish, before things can be viewed in any favourable light! How much that is wrong needs to be remedied in a family, before it can be settled in any religious order! And when we look into our own hearts, and examine our ways, how much sin is there to be forgiven; how many corruptions to be subdued; evil works to be abandoned; and duties to be performed, before there can be any proper evidence that our ways are pleasing in the sight of God!

But good men will also find many difficulties to contend with. Asa found that he had as much need to guard his kingdom True as to amend their ways (v. 6—8). piety is as much to be seen in a spirit of

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