The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 123

that he thought of no other explanation of the facts related to him. By his mooll y unbelief he nearly missed the blessing. 2. Distrust of God. There was more than distrust of man in Jehoram's suspicions; there was likewise distrust of God. Had his attitude to God's promise, ae conveyed through Elisha, been one of faith, he would at once have recognized that this which was told him was its fulfilment. He would have remembered Elisha's word; he would have perceived how precisely this report fitted into it; he would at least, before dismissing the lepers' story, have felt it his duty to consult Elisha, ancl ask him for his guidance. It was bis unbelief which gave the d::i.rk tinge to bis reflections. Are we not often guilty of similar distrust? We offer prayers, and, when the answer comes, we .are astonished, and can hardly believe (Acts xii. 15, 16). Our unbelief darkens God's provideuce to us, and prevents us from seeing his gracious hand. II. VERil'IOATION OF THE FLTGTIT. 1. The servants' counsel. '!'he servants on this, ae on other occasions, showed themselves wiser than their lord (Exod. x. 7; eh. v. 13). One of them gave him sound ::i.dvice. The report they had received wae, surely, at least worth inquiring into. Let him send some of the chariot-horses that remained (they were very few, and, like the remnant of the people of Israel, wasted with starvation, so that, at the worst, no greater evil could befall them than already existed), and let the charioteers bring word of the trne state of the case. How many rash ctiticisms, hasty condemnations, unwise delays, would be avoidr.d, if men would but act upon the principle "go and see"! The practical instincts are often sounder in the common people than in their lordly superiors. 2. The king's messengers. The king did as his servant suggested, and the chariots, two in number, were sent forth. The camp was found deserted, as the lepers had said, but, to make sure, the me~sengers continued their tour of inspection alon~ the road leading to Jordan. The evidences of hasty flight were indubitable. "All the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste." There was now no further doubt, so " the messengers returned, and told the king." They had seen, and believed : how much better had the king trnsted the word of the Lord, and believed, though he had not seen (John xx. 29) I When men are fleeing for their lives, they willingly leave all behind them. It should moderate our sense of the value of earthly treasures when we see how, in an emergency, they are so little reeked of. A day will come when the proudest and haughtiest would gladly pa.rt with all they have for a. single smile from the face of him who sits npon the great white throne (Rev. vi. 15, 16; xx. 11). 3. God's word fulfilled. Thus it ea.me about that, in e. manner wholly unprecedented and unlooked for, the prediction of Elisha was fulfilled. The starving people found themselves set free from t,heir besiegers, and, crowding out to the deserted tents, regaled themselveR on the abundance of provision the Syrians had left. The store of the Syrian host was at their disposal, and a measure of fine flour w::i.s sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for e. shekel. "Wisdom is justified of her children" (Matt. xi. 19). Those are always found right at last who repose implicit trust in God's Word. Wol'lc1ly men may le.ugh e.t them ; rationalists will mock them; the astute in this world's affairs will count them hare-brained and foolish; but the ennt justifies them. The principle of verification holds as true in religion as in science. What we now accept in faith will ultimately be verified by siaht. The difference between religion nnd science is that the latter refuses to act till it has received the verification (though even this is subject to qualification); the former trusts God, acts, and awaits the verification. HI. FATE OF THE MOCKER. There remained to be fulfilled the word which Elisha. ha.d spoken, that, though the king's officer who had scoffed at the promise should see the predicted plenty, he would not eat thereof. This word also was verified in a. remarkable, but seemingly accidental, way. This officer was appointed to snpP-rintend the sale of provisions in the gateway, but the pressnre of the frantic crowd was so great that he was trodd~n underfoot and died. How simply, yet bow accurately, was the prophet's forecast fulfilled I 1. Tbe incident is another evidence that even seemina "accidents" do not Iii' outside the providence of God. 2. It teaches men the folly nnd danger of mocking at God's Word. 3. It shows the certainty of God's threateninas being fulfilled. 4. It illustrates the end of the ungodly-seeing the fulfilment ~f God's promises of mercy, but not permitted to enjoy.-J. 0.  164 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [oH. vm. 1-l!U,