The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 272

HOMILETICS. Vers. 1---(.-T'M gor:Tliness of parents does not secure the perseverance of their chi7,dren in u:eU-doing, but increases the children's guilt if they take to evil courses, Ahaz, the worst of all the kings of Judah, is the son of one of whom it is said that" he did right in the sight of the Lord" (eh. xv. 34). Manasseh, perhaps the next worst, is the child of the one king for whom the sacred writers have no word of blame. Wicked Abimelech is the son of the pious Gideon (Judg. ix. 1). We naturally expect the contrary of this to bapprn. We suppose that education does everything, and we look to see the children of godly parents grow up godly, and are apt, without any inquiry into the circumstances, to suppose that every ill-conducted young man must have been badly brought up. The dictum of the wise man, " Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, be will not depart from it" (Prov. :xxii. 6), may be quoted in justification of such views, and is often so quoted, as if it were a. rule without any exception. But no proverb is of this character. All are general rules, which admit of exceptions; a.nd the exceptional character of this particular proverb is continually allowed in the Scriptures (Prov. :xvii 21, 25; xix. 13; Ezek. xvili. 10, etc.). The points to be urged practically are-. L THAT PABENTS SHOULD MAKE EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT, JUST AS IF THEIR CHil,DBEN'S CHARACTERS DEPENDED ENTIRELY UPON THEM. "Instruction," education, train in"', though sometimes of no avail, have, in the majority of cases, very great weight. Even ;hen they seem to have failed, it often happens that their results remain deep buried in the soul, and in the end show themselves, and are of sufficient force to snatch many a brand from the burning. The parent must not despair because he does not see much fruit of his labours at once. He has to do his best, to " liberate his own soul," to see that, if his child be lost, it is not owing to his neglect. He has to "hope against hope," to persevere with his efforts, to be unwearied in hie prayers, to do the utmost that lies in bis power to lead his children into the right path. A parent ought never to despair. While there is life there is hope. The way of repentance is.open to all • and historically, there have been .repentances from such a. depth of depravity that no 'case 'should seem quite hopele3s. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound " (f!om. v. 20). The mercy of G~d i~ unsearchable, un_fa~ho_mable.. 'l'h~re is no saying what sinner may not turn from hlB Bill, put away the 1mqmty of his doings, and becc,me a true servant of the Most Higb. JL 'l'HAT PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE OVER-SORROWFUL, OB DEPRESSED BEYOND MEASURE, BECAUSE THEIR EFFORTS TO KEEP TREIB CHU.DREN IN THE BIGHT PATH HAVE IN SOME CASES FAILED. lf, indeed, they have had many children, and their efforts have failed with all, they may reasonably suspect some defect in themselves or in their system. But if the results are varied, if a. portion of their children have been a.11 that ~hey could wish, while others---deepite all that they could do-have preferred to " walk m the way of sinner1," and even to "sit in the seat of the seornful," then they have no need to 011. xvr. 1-20.] THE SECOND BOOK OJ\' THE KINGS. 319