The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 21

fift:r, destroyed by lightning. '.fhis aw!hl judgment came npon them, not merely on their own account-although, like all srnners, they had forfeited their lives to eternal justice-but as messengers of the king. Throughout the human race, in all races and times, there are found millions groaning under the trials and sufferings brought on them by the conduct of others. In this world the innocent suffer for the guilty• the "fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." ' II. MAN EMPLOYED AB THE EXEOUTOB OF DIVINE JUSTICI!:. These hundred men messengers from the king, were struck down by Elijah at the command of God. Ther~ was no personal vengeance in the act. Elijah was used as the organ of Heaven. God's plan in this world is to pwnish e.e well as to save man by man. How was Pharaoh punished, and the Canaanites, etc.? By man. Sinful nations are punished, often by worthless kings and ruthless despots. III. MAN STEPPING mTo THE PLACE OF THE DEAD. The King Ahaziah dies; Jehoram steps into his place. "So he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead." "One generation cometh, and another passeth away." Places, positions, and the various offices of life are no sooner vacated by death than they are stepped into by others. Thus the world goes on, and the dead are soon forgotten. The greatest man on earth to-day is but a mere bubble on the great river of human life; he sparkles for a moment, and is lost for ever in the abyss.-D. T. Ver. 1.-The revolt of Moa"b, (On this cf. eh. iii.) Moab, one of the conquests of David (2 Sam. viiL 2), perhaps regained its independence after the death of Solo- mon, and, if the Moabite Stone can be trusted, was again subdued by Omri, Ahab's father. Now, on the occasion of the death of Ahab, it renewed the attempt to throw off the Israelitish yoke. 1. The original conquest had been not unstained by cruelty. These things burn into the memory of peoples. 2. The rule of Omri and Ahab had been most oppressive (eh. iii. 4). Nothing else could be expected from these god- less monarchs. "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel " (Prov. xii. 10). Half the rebellions and revolutions in the world have their origin in oppression and mis- government. 3. Ahab and Israel had just sustained a severe defeat, that viz. at the hands of the Syrians (1 Kings xxii.). This weakened the Israelitish power, and gave a favourable opportunity for revolt. Those whom we hold in subjection by force, not love, cannot be blamed if they take the earliest opportunity to get rid of our yoke. 4. Israel and Moab were divided by religion. This is the deepest ground of se1•erance among peoples. Nationalities based on different religious faiths constantly tend to fall asunder. .A:ny unity in which they are held can be only external. The federation of the race can only be accomplished on the basis of the worship of the One Jehovah, and the one Lord Jesus Christ. 6. God used these revolts as a means of chastisement (cf. 1 Kings xi. 23). Under David, the greatest theocratic ruler, the kingdom wns built up, consolidated, extended. The revolt from God, both in Judah and Israel, was aignalizecl by the revolt of dependencies. Will our own Britain hold its foremost position among the nations, or will its greatness too decay, and its power be shorn by successive breaki.ng off of its colonies? The answer, we believe, will depend very much on its fidelity to God.-J. 0. Vere. 1-8.-.Ahaziah's sickness. Son ofa doomed house (1 Kings xxi. 29), Ahab's successor on the throne reigned for two inglorious years. His evil character is described in the words, " He walked in tho way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" (1 Kings xxiL 52). A weak ruler, he was probably the more tool of his mother Jezebel, whose worst qualities he inherited. In determined idolatry, open defiance of Jehovah, and vindictive perse- oution of God's servants, as shown by his attempt on the life of Elijah, he is the true child of the" cursed woman" (eh. ix. 34). Even on his death-bed he shows no such compunction as occasionally visited his father Ahab (1 Kings xxi. 27). Undeterred by examples and warnings, he "hardened his neck" in a way which led to his being "suddenly destroyed" (Prov. xxix. 1). I. THE FATAL FALL. The faineant king came to his end in a manner: 1. Suffi- ciently simple. Idly lounging at the projeot-ing lattice-window of his palace in Samaria 14 THE SECOND DUUK ol•' THE KINGS, [oH. I, 1-18.