2 Chronicles 14:1-8 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

Quiet in the land.

I. A GREAT BLESSING .

1 . Its character. No war ( 2 Chronicles 14:6 ). Few, reflecting on the untold calamities of war, the expenditure of blood and treasure, the sorrow and desolation sent into many homes, the interruption of the arts of peace, the bad passions kindled by it in the breasts even of the victors, will doubt that peace is one of the foremost blessings a nation can enjoy. This was the condition of Judah during the first ten years of Asa's reign. Compare Shakespeare's description of "peace after a civil war" ('King Henry IV .,' Part I. act 1. sc. 1).

2 . Its source. Jehovah ( 2 Chronicles 14:7 ). "Every good and every perfect gift is from above" ( James 1:17 )—true of national peace ( Joshua 21:44 ; 1 Chronicles 22:18 ) no less than of other things ( Psalms 29:11 ; Isaiah 45:7 ; Jeremiah 14:13 ; Haggai 2:9 ). As no king or people can stir up war until God permits, so can none extinguish its flames without his help. But "when he giveth quietness, who can make trouble?" ( Job 34:29 ). Hence national peace should be prayed for ( Jeremiah 29:7 ; 1 Timothy 2:1 , 1 Timothy 2:2 ).

3 . Its medium. Righteousness. The peace of Asa's opening years was due, not to Abijah's successful campaigns ( 2 Chronicles 13:15 ), though successful campaigns are of God's giving ( Psalms 144:1 , Psalms 144:2 , Psalms 144:10 ); or to his own skilful diplomacy, since skilful diplomacy is not always from above ( 2 Samuel 16:20 , etc.); or to his fenced cities, which would have been poor fortifications had they not been defended by Jehovah's battalions ( Psalms 127:1 ); but to his and his people's following after that righteousness which is a nation's best defence ( Proverbs 14:34 ) and a sovereign's surest security ( Proverbs 16:12 ). Asa and his people sought the Lord their God, and he gave them "rest on every side." The annals of Israel show that peace ever went hand-in-hand with piety, and war with disobedience ( Psalms 81:11-16 ; Isaiah 68:18, 19). Always when the people chose new gods there was war in the gates ( 5:8 ). When they forsook God, he forsook them, with the result that "there was no peace to him that went out or to him that came in" ( 2 Chronicles 15:5 ). So, in modem times, the military spirit exists in Christian men and nations in proportion as they depart from the religion of Jesus. If at any time "Christianity, socially regarded, does almost nothing to control the state of expectant war and the jealousies of nations," that is not because Christianity is a "failure," and "criminally complacent to these (and other)evils," or "because the religion of heaven and supernatural visions" is "powerless to control this earth and its natural realities", but because its professed disciples do not honestly obey its precepts ( John 13:34 ; Romans 13:8 ; Galatians 5:13 ; Ephesians 5:2 ) and carry out its principles ( Matthew 7:12 ; Romans 13:10 ; James 2:8 ). The reign of Christianity in any nation would put an end to civil feuds and wars of aggression. With the extinction of these, wars of defence would cease.

II. A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY .

1 . For the furtherance of true religion. Besides setting an example of personal religion—the most effective way in which kings can promote national religion—Asa laboured with promptitude, decision, and assiduity in the work of abolishing the prevalent idolatry.

2 . For promulgating useful laws. When nations are distracted by internecine feuds within themselves or between each other, it is hopeless to expect the work of good legislation to proceed. Hence the value of a "long peace" to any country, permitting, as it does, the cultivation of the peaceful arts, the development of trade and commerce, the spread of learning and culture, the growth of domestic institutions, and the promotion of measures for the welfare of the state. Asa, in the ten years of rest, "commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the Law and the commandment" ( 2 Chronicles 14:4 ); and though under the New Testament dispensation it is not required of kings to command their subjects to worship and obey God—that being an obligation already laid on men by the gospel—and far less to punish them should they disobey, it is, nevertheless, allowed kings to follow in Asa's footsteps so far as to utilize the years of rest their countries may enjoy in legislating for the comfort and happiness of their subjects.

3 . For securing the safety of the realm. Asa did so by

LESSON . The duty of individuals and nations to shun war and follow peace.—W.