The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 19

o.nd reason on our side. A full examination of 1111 the circumstances will generally banish even such a suggestion from our minds. But, then, there are many cases where we cannot possibly understand or know all the circumstances. In such a case, is it not the only course we can take to bow in Sllbmission to the all-wise will of God? "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" For all these reasons I conclude that the fire which came down from heaven upon these soldiers was an act of justice. II. FIRE FROM HEAVEN 1B AN ACT OF NECEBSlTY. More than one reason has already been suggested why this fire from heaven was necessary. It may have been neces~ary in de[cnce of the prophet's life. It may have been necessary in vindication of the power and honour of God; for it took place at a time of almo~t uni versa! idobtry an l Baal-worship on the part of Israel. This, however, we may be sure of, that, whether we can see the necessity for it or not, fire from heaven is necessary, or God would not send it. There are three uses which fire serves in the natural world, for which analogies may be found in the spiritual world. These are purifying, destroying, and testing. We need the cleansing fires to purify us in the spiritnal life. Perhaps we are becoming too worldly, too much engrossed with the things of this life, laying up for ourselves treasures upon earth. Perhaps we are making an idol of some earthly object of our affection. Perhaps we are becoming spiritually proud. Perhaps we compare ourselves favourably with others, and think how much better we are than they. Then our heavenly Father may think it wise to purify us from such dross as this. And so he calls us to pass through the furnace of affliction, or adversity, or sickness. Thu~ he humbles us. Thus he keeps us mindful that we are but dust. Thus he keeps us mindful of our dependence upon him. Then the dr:stroying fire is needed in the moral and spiritual world, as well as in the natural world. It was a necessary part of the Divine government that Sodom and Gomorrah should be destroyed. They were a moral pl~crue-spot. The festering limb must be cut off if the body is to be saved. So also Herculaneum and Pompeii were destroyed when they too became a centre of moral degradation and corruption. Would it be any wonder, would it be any injustice, if the fire of God would come down from heaven and burn up some of the moral plague-spots of modern times? Would not the worl<l be vastly the better if the gambling-bells and drinking-hells and hells of immorality were burnt up in one vast conflagration? And if they are spared, and if the moral corrupters of others are spared, will it_ be an.v better for them in that day when "the fearful, :md unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which bnrneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death"? Then there is the testing fire. This also is necessary in the spiritual world. "Whereio ye greatly rejoice," says the Apostle Peter, "though now for a season, if need be, ye are io heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. i. 6, 7). If there were no trials and difficulties, there would be no test, no proof of our faith. And then the time is coming when the fire--the searching, testing fire of God's judgment-shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If our life is built up on Christ, then out of the p'IJ,rify·ing fire it will come clearer and brighter, from the destroying fire it will suffer no harm, and from the testing· fire it will come forth to honour and glory. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. xiii. 43). III. FIRE FROM HEAVEN IS NOT INOONBISTENT WITH THE D1vn,'E MERCY. Here we may consider a difficulty which some have raised. When Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, passed through a village of the Samaritans, the people there would not receive him, "because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem." The disciples, io anger, asked him if they should command fire to come down from heaven, as Elijah did, and consume them. The answer of our Saviour was, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them" (Luke ix. 61-56), Now, the question which some have asked is this-Doee not Christ here condemn the action of Elijah? A careful study of the narrative befol'9 us would at once dispose of such a question as that. It is said here, " The fire of God came down from heaven." Even if this were not stated, it is obvious that Elijah of _hims~lf bad no power to bring down fire from heaven, unless with God's sanction and  12 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [err. r.1-18.