The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 14

calves, whether he would persecute or protect the adherents of the Jehovistic religion. He decided to "walk in the way of his father and of his mother," and at once the firet blow fell. Moab revolted, and was successful. The mere attempt at revolt might have happenccl in any case, for Mesha would naturally have seized such an opportunity o.s tbe death of Ahab under such circumstances offered. Dut the God of battles determines success or failure, and Mcsho.'s unbroken series of victories (Moo.bite Stone, lines 9--33) were the consequence of Ahaziah's guilt. As usual, "for the king's offence the people bled." Seven thousand Israelite warriors were destroyed in one siege ; the women and children were taken prisoners, and "devoted to Ashtar-Cbemosh." There was 'Widespread and extreme suffering. This should not surprise us. There is o. soliclarity between a king and his people, which unites them almost indissolubly in ~heir_ fort~nes and in their s!ns. The peopl_e fol)ow th~ king's example, and, partaking m his guilt, naturally and Justly partake m his pumshment (see the homiletics on 1 Kings xxii., pp. 542, 543). The king's second punishment was personal. It was permitted that an accident should befall him. Sitting in an upper chamber, i.e. in one not upon the ground floor, which had e. latticed window, opening out probably on a garden, he rashly leant against it, when the fastenings or the woodwork gave way, and he was precipitated t-0 the ground. The hurt received was serious, and forced him to take to his bed, where he lai probably in much pain and discomfort. Here was an opportunity for considering his ways, for asking himself what was amiss in them, for mourning over the sins which he had committed (1 Kings :x:xii. 52, 53), and renouncing them and turning away from them. God's judgments are sent to lead men to repent- ance. Prolonged lying on a sick-bed is especially favourable to meditation, self- examination, self-condemnation, penitence. But Abaziah was obdurate. He thought nothing of the goodness of God in sparing his life, for the fall might well have been instantaneously fatal; he thought nothing of God's mercy in giving him a time f11r reflection and amendment. He was merely impatient of his affliction, and anxious to have done with it. And in his impatience and obduracy he added sin to llin. Ignoring .Jehovah and his prophets, through whom it was always possible to "inquire of the Lord" (1 Kings :x::x:ii. 5-28), he makes his appeal to Baal. It is an ostentatious appeal. He sends a public embassy to consult the Baal of a foreign town. Then his final punishment is decreed. Hitherto his life had hung in the balance-his fate had been in the hands of him with whom are the issues of life and death. Now his own act had shut the gate of mercy. The sentence went forth from the mouth of God's prophet, "Thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die." Cut off in his youth, childless (ver. 17), he pays the fitting penalty of obstinate persistence in sin, and, after weeks or months of suffering, "goes to his own place." He "whom Jehovah upholds " becomes "he whom Jehovah destroys "-destroys arter e. short reign of little more than a year-a reign disgraceful to himself and disastrous to his country. Vers. 9-16.-The "spirit we are of"-the old dispensati()'II, and the new. l THE SPIRIT OF THE OLD DISPENSATION. The spirit of the Law was strict, stern, inexorable justice. "Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image. . . . Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. . •. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark," etc. (Deut. :x::x:vii. 15-26); "He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Exod. :x:xi. 17) ; "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (Exod. :x::x:i. 24, 25); "He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall surely be put to death" (Exod. :x::x:i. 12); "He that smiteth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death" (Exod. :x::x:i. 15); "He that stealeth e. man, and eelleth him, shall surely be put to death " (Exod. :x:xi. 16); "'l'bou ehalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exod. xxiL 18); "Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death" (E:x:od. :x::x:ii. 19); "He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed" (Exod. xxii. 20), etc. Man was so far gone from original righteousness, bad so corrupted and depraved himself, that only by the strictest possible system, by the most solemn warnings, the most awful threats, e.nd the sternest possible execution of the threats when the occasion came, could wickedness be repressed, crime ,_..evente.d from becoming rampant, mankind be reclaimed, society saved, Hence the 011. I. 1-ld.J THE SECOND BOOK OF 'l'HE KINGS. 7