Those manly words are worth quoting in full, and they will fitly set forth the service young Asa rendered to his kingdom, and to the world at large.

I.

It may be well to analyse a little more closely the reformation this right-hearted king attempted.  He diminished opportunities for sin.  The traffic in vice, by which many were making profit, he put down with a strong hand.  And there are hotbeds of vice to be found in our own land, where strong appeal is made to the lusts of the flesh, and where intoxicating drink incites men to yield to passions which need restraint.  Indeed, even in our streets moral perils assail the young and innocent, which no Christian nation ought to tolerate.  We often meet the assertion that we cannot make people moral by Acts of Parliament; but if dens of infamy, which it is perilous to enter, are swept away, if gin-palaces and public-houses which flood the land with ruin are diminished in number, and in their hours of trade, it would certainly lessen the evils we deplore.  Vested interests fight against such a change, and many on the side of sobriety and righteousness shrink from the contest, so that we need the inspiration which God gave to Asa, if we are to win the victory.

This kingly reformer not only lessened opportunities for vice, but certain evil influences in his kingdom he brushed aside with a strong hand.  Maachah, the king’s mother, was a potent influence on the side of idolatry.  It seemed at first impossible to touch her.  The king was indebted to her.  She was aged, and age merits respect, and, therefore, some would argue that she might be tolerated for the few years she yet had to live.  But these pleas did not avail her, for the issues involved were too serious for the nation, and for the kingdom of God.  And because “Asa’s heart was perfect,” completely devoted to Jehovah’s cause, he “removed her from being queen,” and publicly burnt the idol she had put up.

Leaders in evil are sometimes found among the leaders of the world.  Clever, unscrupulous men succeed in winning power through their want of principle, and even of scruple.  Distinguished writers, gifted with brilliant style, or poetic power, exercise widespread influence for evil.  Young people of singularly attractive personality win to themselves a large following, and use it for the worst ends.  Many a golden image, or beautiful object of adoration, still stands on the high places of the world; and even if we cannot pull them down, as Asa did, at least we can say to the evil one, who set them up, “Be it known unto thee that we will not serve thy gods nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

The history of Asa should inspire us to a renewal of war against the evils which Jesus Christ died to put away.  Victory will not come without conflict.  In respect to anxiety we are to be quiescent as the lilies, which neither toil nor spin, but in respect of moral evil, within or without, we must be vigilant and strenuous.