The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 24

of his death, i_nstead of humbling himse~f in repentance, stretching out his puny arm to do battle with God m the person of his messenl(er. If he must die he is resolved that Elijah shall die also. This resolve is: 1. A si,gn of character.' It shows the thoroughly hardened and irreligious n&ture of the man. There are no limits to a sinn~r's madness in warring against God. 2. An act of infatuation. Knowing what be did of the prophet's history, he might have understood that his enterprise wec hope~ess. ~~- may he.:ve r~soned th~t, as ~he blood of prophets bad ~en spilt befor6 (1 K1_ngs xvm. 4), so 1t might be spilt again. But he was now crossmg a prophet in the direct discharge of his duty, and was thus, in a sense, giving a direct challenge to God. " Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker I Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth" (Isa. xlv. 9). A knowledge of the perilousness of the tas]( in which he was embarking is shown in the fact that a band of fifty men is sent to arrest one prophet(cf. John xviii. 8). If a band was necessary, it could only be because Elijah bad supernatural aid to rely on; and, if he had that aid, no amount of force could overcome him. 3. A trace of evil influence. It is the spirit of Jezebel which breathes in this Heaven-defying resolution. The queen-mother had not forgotten her yet unful.6.lled threat, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time" (1 Kings xix. 2). There were old scores to pay off age.inst Elijah, and this wicked woman was no doubt there to strengthen her son in his resolution to pay them. II. ELIJAH ON THE HILL. The band thRt was sent to apprehend Elijah found him seated on the top of a hill. Observe: 1. The solitary grandeur of his situation. The situation was characteristic. We me.y say of Elijah what Wordsworth says of Milton, his "soul was like a star, and dwelt ape.rt." He is a strange, solitary figure from first to last-stern, rugged, unconquerable. 2. His moral fearlessness. The appearance of Ahazie.h's soldiers inspired him with no terror. He had apparently waited in the neighbourhood where he met the messengers, and did not now retreat. Strong in his sense that God was on his side, he did not fear what man could do to him (Ps. cxviii. 6). 3. His invisible protection. The result showed how entirely Elijah was justified in his confidence. "The angel of the Lord," who had sent him on bis mission, "encamped a.round him" (Ps. miv. 7), and kept him from all evil. Those who are engaged in Di vine work can confidently rely on Divine protection. Not till they had "finished their testimony" was the beast allowed to kill the witnesses (Rev. xi. 7). The mountain on which Elijah sat was no doubt as" full of horses and chariots of fire" as the hill of Samaria was in after-days for the protection of Elisha ( eh. vi. 17). What could bands of fifties ave.ii against one thus defendeJ.? III. THE CAPTAINS AND THEm FIFTIES. 1. Theforst captain. Clothed with a little brief authority, this first captain, accompanied by his fifty men, approaches Elijah, and orders him to surrender. (1) The terms of his summons:" 'l'hou man of God, the king he.th said, Come down." In the same breath in which he acknowledges him to be a servant of Jehovah, he demanrls his submission to the wicked King of Israel. Leroy le veult-the king wills it. Thus poor, paltry, humau authority ventures to assert itself against the authority of the King of kings. No uncommon thing, it must be said, in history. In the extravagance of its conceit, too often has royal authority presumed to set itself above the law of heaven, and to dragoon, imprison, and coerce those who chose to obey God rather than man. Nor have tools ever been wanting to carry out these infamous behests. (2) A lurking fear. Notwithstanding his brave.do, the officer was not without his own fear of Elijah. He does not boldly mount the hili to secure his prisoner, but stands at a respectful distance, and summons him to "come down." '!'be wicked often inwardly fear the righteous at the very time when they boast most loudly of having them in their power. (3) 'l'he answer of fire. '£bis insolent summons to Elijab, in his character of "man of God," was a direct challenge to Jehovah to vindicate his own honour, and that of hie insulted servant. 'l'he insult was wanton and public, and must be as publicly met. Elijah met it by invoking God, if he was truly his servant, to send down fire from heaven to consume this blustering captain and bis myrmidons. As before, in the contest with Baal's prophets, his pmyer was granted, and the answer came by fire (1 Kiugs xviii. 21-39). "Elijah will let him know that the God of Israel is superior to the King of Israel, and has a greater r;ower to enforce hi.8 commands" (Matthew Henry). Thus e.t length, gospel dispensation cm. 11. 1-25.] THE SECOND ROOK OF THE KINGS. 17