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in the days of Abijah： and the Lord struck him； and he died。〃 2 Chronicles 13：20。
The apostasy introduced during Jeroboam's reign became more and more marked； until finally it resulted in the utter ruin of the kingdom of Israel。 Even before the death of
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Jeroboam； Ahijah； the aged prophet at Shiloh who many years before had predicted the elevation of Jeroboam to the throne； declared： 〃The Lord shall smite Israel； as a reed is shaken in the water； and He shall root up Israel out of this good land； which He gave to their fathers； and shall scatter them beyond the river； because they have made their groves； provoking the Lord to anger。 And He shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam； who did sin； and who made Israel to sin。〃 1 Kings 14：15； 16。
Yet the Lord did not give Israel up without first doing all that could be done to lead them back to their allegiance to Him。 Through long； dark years when ruler after ruler stood up in bold defiance of Heaven and led Israel deeper and still deeper into idolatry； God sent message after message to His backslidden people。 Through His prophets He gave them every opportunity to stay the tide of apostasy and to return to Him。 During the years that were to follow the rending of the kingdom； Elijah and Elisha were to live and labor； and the tender appeals of Hosea and Amos and Obadiah were to be heard in the land。 Never was the kingdom of Israel to be left without noble witnesses to the mighty power of God to save from sin。 Even in the darkest hours some would remain true to their divine Ruler and in the midst of idolatry would live blameless in the sight of a holy God。 These faithful ones were numbered among the goodly remnant through whom the eternal purpose of Jehovah was finally to be fulfilled。
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Chapter 8
National Apostasy
From the time of Jeroboam's death to Elijah's appearance before Ahab the people of Israel suffered a steady spiritual decline。 Ruled by men who did not fear Jehovah and who encouraged strange forms of worship； the larger number of the people rapidly lost sight of their duty to serve the living God and adopted many of the practices of idolatry。
Nadab； the son of Jeroboam； occupied the throne of Israel for only a few months。 His career of evil was suddenly stopped by a conspiracy headed by Baasha； one of his generals； to gain control of the government。 Nadab was slain； with all his kindred in the line of succession； 〃according unto the saying of the Lord； which He spake by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite： because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned； and which he made Israel sin。〃 1 Kings 15：29； 30。
Thus perished the house of Jeroboam。 The idolatrous worship introduced by him had brought upon the guilty offenders the retributive judgments of Heaven； and yet the
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rulers who followedBaasha； Elah； Zimri； and Omriduring a period of nearly forty years； continued in the same fatal course of evil…doing。
During the greater part of this time of apostasy in Israel； Asa was ruling in the kingdom of Judah。 For many years 〃Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God： for he took away the altars of the strange gods； and the high places； and brake down the images； and cut down the groves： and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers； and to do the law and the commandment。 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun ＇margin＇ images： and the kingdom was quiet before him。〃 2 Chronicles 14：2…5。
The faith of Asa was put to a severe test when 〃Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand； and three hundred chariots；〃 invaded his kingdom。 Verse 9。 In this crisis Asa did not put his trust in the 〃fenced cities in Judah〃 that he had built； with 〃walls； and towers； gates； and bars；〃 nor in the 〃mighty men of valor〃 in his carefully trained army。 Verses 6…8。 The king's trust was in Jehovah of hosts； in whose name marvelous deliverances had been wrought in behalf of Israel of old。 Setting his forces in battle array； he sought the help of God。
The opposing armies now stood face to face。 It was a time of test and trial to those who served the Lord。 Had every sin been confessed？ Had the men of Judah full confidence in God's power to deliver？ Such thoughts as these were in the minds of the leaders。 From every human viewpoint the vast host from Egypt would sweep everything before it。 But in time of peace Asa had not been giving
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himself to amusement and pleasure； he had been preparing for any emergency。 He had an army trained for conflict； he had endeavored to lead his people to make their peace with God。 And now； although his forces were fewer in number than the enemy； his faith in the One whom he had made his trust did not weaken。
Having sought the Lord in the days of prosperity； the king could now rely upon Him in the day of adversity。 His petitions showed that he was not a stranger to God's wonderful power。 〃It is nothing with Thee to help；〃 he pleaded； 〃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 man prevail against Thee。〃 Verse II。
The prayer of Asa is one that every Christian believer may fittingly offer。 We fight in a warfare； not against flesh and blood； but against principalities and powers； and against spiritual wickedness in high places。 See Ephesians 6：12。 In life's conflict we must meet evil agencies that have arrayed themselves against the right。 Our hope is not in man； but in the living God。 With full assurance of faith we may expect that He will unite His omnipotence with the efforts of human instrumentalities； for the glory of His name。 Clad with the armor of His righteousness； we may gain the victory over every foe。
King Asa's faith was signally rewarded。 〃The Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa； and before Judah； and the Ethiopians fled。 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar： and the Ethiopians were overthrown； that they could not recover themselves；
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for the were destroyed before the Lord； and before His host。〃 2 Chronicles 14：12； 13。
As the victorious armies of Judah and Benjamin were returning to Jerusalem； 〃the Spirit of God came upon Azariah 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。〃 〃Be ye strong therefore； and let not your hands be weak： for your work shall be rewarded。〃 2 Chronicles 15：1； 2； 7。
Greatly encouraged by these words； Asa soon led out in a second reformation in Judah。 He 〃put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin； and out of the cities which he had taken from Mount Ephraim； and renewed the altar of the Lord； that was before the porch of the Lord。
〃And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin； and the