The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 183

are to r:et. the countenance ~nd approval of good men for their deeds. Hypocrisy has been callt•d t!:ie _homage whwh 1·1ce pays to virtue, and this desire for the approval of 11 holy man 1s, m Another form, the tribute of worldly policy to the superior power of character. 2. Zeal/or the Lord. "Come with me," ~aid Jehu, "and see my zeal for the L?rd." (l) Of_ Jehu's "zeal," in itself considered, there could be no question. Zeal was Ins most promment characteristic. His zeal is seen in his eaO'er haste to attain bis ~nds, in hi~ scouti?g of diffi?ultics, in the thoroughness with whi~h each piece of work 1s accomplished, m the quickness and skill of his devices. Such zeal is in larO'e measure a natural endowment-a. thing of temperament. Still, it is au essential to ~uccess in practical undertakings, spiritual as well as worldly. The man who gets on 1s the man who does not let the grass grow beneath his feet, who is an enthusiast in what ~e takes in hand. "It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thin()'" (Gal. 11·. 18). (2) More doubtful is the quality of Jehu's zeal "for the Lord." Ost:n. sibly it was God's will Jehu was carrying out; outwardly it was God's work he was <l?i_ng. He may ev~n have,persuaded himself into the belief that he was honestly and d1srnter~stedly servmg Gods ends.. Dut the result showed that, in serving God, it was really bis own ends Jebu was servmg. His zeal was impure. It was larO'ely inspired by selfish ambition, by considerations of policy, by the thought of the re;ard to him- self. It -was impure also in its admixture of craft and worldly expediency. Had the same sen-ice been proposed to Jehu without any apparent material advantages to him- self, his zeal would not have been so easily evoked. (3) Similarly, how much that passes for "zeal for the Lord " in this world is of the same impure nature! How much of it is inspired by sectarian rivalry, by party spirit, by the desire to make "a fair show in the flesh" (Gal. vi. 12), by self-interest and worldly policy I How largely is it alloyed with human passion and intrigue! Truly we do well to examine ourselves. Zeal is to be tested, not by its passing a.nd spasmodic exhibitions, but by its power of endurance amidst good report and evil report. 3. The end of Ahab's house. When Jehu reached Samaria with Jehonadab, he made a.n end of all that remained of the family of Ahab-the word of the Lord by Elijah being thus completely fulfilled. II. THE FEAST TO BAAL. 1. Jehu's procl,amation. Hitherto Jehu had acted without giving to any one much explanation of his motives and designs. He had denounced to Jehoram Jezebel's idolatries and witchcrafts; he had whispered to Jehonadab of his " zeal for the Lord ; " but to the eye of the crowd his proceedings bore only the com- plexion of an ordi.r:ary political conspiracy. Having established himself upon the throne, the stage was clear for the revelation of his own intentions. And great dismay must have spread through the ranks of all those who looked for a revival of true religion from the downfall of Ahab's house, when the first public manifesto of the new king proclaimed him an enthusiastic worshipper of Baal. "Ahab," were his words, "Berved Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much." If Ahab's service of Baal was reckoned little, what was to be expected from one who would serve him so much more? It was certain that, whatever Jehu did, he would do it with abounding zeal. If he took up Ba.a.I's cause, there was no saying to what lengths he would carry it, or what severities he would employ to crush rival worships. Terrible disappointment would seize the hearts of the worshippers of Jehovah; and the servants of Baal, who had thought their cause destroyed, would be correspondingly elated. It is good neither to be unduly uplifted nor too heavily cast down at unexpected turns in public affairs. Those who rely for the succesR of their cause on the favours of great men are a.pt to be sorely disappointed. 2. The d,eluded assembly. It seemed at the first as if Ji,hu were to be every whit as good as his word. His proclamation not only included a decla- ration of bis fixed intention to worship Baal, but gave effect to that intention by summoning a great assembly of the prophets, priests, and servants of Baal, to be held in the house of Baal at Samaria. A day was set apart, and the assembly was pro- claimed throughout all lsrae l. The king was to offer a great sacrifice, publicly ratifying his avowal of allegiance to the heathen god. From all parts of the land thi, wor- shippers of Baal come trooping up, and the spacious courts of the great "house of Baal" were filled to overflowing. As if to give the highest possible eclat to the occasion, Jebu first ordered vestments to be produced from the temple or palace robe-chamber, and given to the worshippers; then he caused search to be made that none but servants of Baal were present. The wor~hippers of Baal were charmed; yet in truth they were OH, X, 1-36.) 'l'lfE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 225