enemies without, and the worse curse of enemies within the kingdom. But "when in their trouble they did turn to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found of them."

Then the prophet adds these encouraging words : Be ye strong, therefore, and let not your hands be weak for your work shall be rewarded." What work would this be? Doubtless, destroying the idols which had been set up, even in Judah. For we read, that when Asa heard the words of Azariah and the prophecy of Oded, he took courage, and put away "the abominable idols out of the land of Judah and Benjamin." And he built up again the altar of the Lord. And he and his people entered into a covenant with the God of Israel. Then Azariah's words came For "the Lord

true. Their work was rewarded.

gave them rest round about."

(Read 2 Chronicles xv. 1-15.)

III.

banani the Seer. (B.C. 953.)

You remember how the great army of the Ethiopians was smitten by the Lord; for in his distress King Asa had prayed, "Help us, O God; for we rest on Thee."

Would you not have expected that, when another enemy came against him, he would again have gone to the Lord for help? But, alas! he forgot who had delivered him. And when Baasha, king of Israel, came to fight against Judah, Asa sent in haste to the King of Syria. He begged him to come and help him. He even took the gold and silver out of the Lord's house to bribe him to come. And because that was not enough, he had to give some of his own treasures also. The Lord was displeased with Asa for his forgetfulness of former mercies, and for his want of faith. So he sent a prophet to reprove him. The prophet's name was Hanani. He is called a Seer. And well might a prophet get such a name as this. For did not God allow him to see and know things which are hidden from the sight and knowledge of other men?

Hanani went to King Asa, very probably to his palace. He reproaches him with relying on the King of Syria and not on the Lord. He tells him he has "done foolishly." For had he trusted in the Lord, he would have conquered the Syrians too.

Then the prophet reminds him of his former deliverance. What a mighty host the Ethiopians had! What a number of horsemen and chariots! Yet God had delivered them into his hand.

Then Hanani spoke these beautiful words: "The eyes of the Lord turn to and fro, throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong for those whose heart is perfect before Him."

What punishment came upon Asa for his sin? It was a very severe one: "From henceforth thou shalt have wars."

Did he humble himself before the Lord? Did he say like the King of Nineveh in Jonah's time: "Who can tell if God will turn and repent ?" You will be grieved to hear that he did not do so.

Hanani's words only stirred up anger in the king's breast. He dared not show it to God. But he " was in a rage" with the prophet. And because of his faithful words the king shut him up in a prison-house. We do not know if he was afterwards released, or whether he died there. But we do know that he has now received a very different reward. For the Lord has promised: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

(Read 2 Chronicles xvi. 1-10.)

IV.

Febu. (B.C. 930).

You will hear now of Hanani's son, who was a prophet as well as his father. Jehu was very young when he was first entrusted with the Lord's messages. He lived a long time, and in his old age he wrote the history of Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah. Jehu, though a prophet of Judah, was first sent to speak to a king of Israel. This was Baasha, the third king. He had slain Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, and had taken his throne. We are told he did evil in the sight of the Lord. So Jehu was sent to reprove him, and to announce the punishment that the Lord would send upon him. Jehu reminds Baasha of his low origin. He had been lifted as it were out of the dust. Who had lifted him up? It was the Lord Himself. He had made him a prince over His people Israel. But instead of rendering back to the Lord for His goodness, he had sinned, by following Jeroboam's wicked example; and he had also compelled his people to worship the golden calves.

There was another sin that the Lord could not overlook. He has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." But Baasha had taken the sword into his own hand and slain Nadab. And although he was a bad man, he was still the anointed king. Baasha had to listen to his sentence from the prophet's lips.

He was to suffer severely in his family. Though he was to die without violence, none of his children would do so. Though he should sleep with his fathers, no son of his would lie in an honoured grave. For, if any of his children should die in the city, the dogs which prowl about would devour them; and if death came to them in the field, the cruel ravens and vultures would eat them up.

The judgment came swiftly. Two years after his son Elah came to the throne, he was slain by one of his own captains. His name was Zimri, and he had charge of half of all the king's chariots. How did Elah so easily fall by a murderer's hand? Alas! in most unkingly fashion; he was drinking himself drunk in one of his servant's houses. I suppose there was no guard of honour round such a dwelling. So Zimri soon got in and smote the king and killed him.

But what of the rest of the prophet's words about Baasha's house?

As soon as Zimri sat on the throne, he slew every child that Elah had! Not one of his kinsfolk, or even of his friends, was suffered to live. And thus these dreadful words of judgment were fulfilled.

We hear nothing more of the prophet Jehu for about thirty years. Then he was sent again by God with a message to another king. This king was Jehoshaphat, one of the best of the kings of Judah. But at this time he had done something which had displeased the Lord. He had formed a friendship with Ahab, one of the worst kings who ever reigned over Israel. And Jehoshaphat was returning from a battle, where he had been fighting side by side with this wicked king.

Jehu meets him with a question before he reaches