The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 330

a.nd fastens on nothing more readily than on the objects which call forth a natural reverence. Of. the story of Ghleon's ephod (Ju<lg. viii. 24--27). 'l'hus from the vene- ration of martyrs in the Christian Church there grew the worship of relics. So with all other aids to devotion, conceptions that fitly invest religious feeltngs, which, &11 Carlyle says (' On Heroes') are eidola, things seen, symbols of the invisible. When the sense and spiritual meaning goes out of these, and they become objects of supersti- tious reverence in themselves, it is time for them to be broken up. Even an object so sacred as the serpent which Moses made sinks to the level of a mere "piece of brass." We are reminded of Knox's reply when a prisoner in the galleys, and the image of the Virgin was presented to him to kiss. "Mother? Mother of God?" be said. "This is no mother of God; this is a painted lYrlld,d "-a piece of painted wood-and flung the thing into the river. III. PRE-EMINENT GODLINESS. 1. Hezekiah the best of his line. Additional emphasis is given to the commendation of Hezekiah by the statement, "After him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him." It is good to be pre-eminent, but moRt of all to be pre-eminent for godliness. When we remember that among the kings with whom Hezekiah is here compared are such as Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Uzzie.h before him, and Josiah after him, we see that the praise is very great. 2. The praise particularized. The genera.I statement is expanded into its particulars. Hezekiah trusted in the Lord; he clave to the Lord; be departed not from following him; he kept his commandments, as given to Moses. Trust, fidelity, obedience, and perseverance, in all these were bis distinctive characteristics. Some kin~s had trusted, but not with so entire a heart; some had been obedient, but not so fully; some bad been faithful for a time, but had failed to persevere. Hezekiah had the better record. God puts special honour on whole-hearted service. We are to see, however, that, exceptional as his goodness was, Hezekiah was not perfect.. He had his flaws, his sins, his failures too. The intention of the text is not to represent him as sinless, but only as pre-eminently great and good. "There is not a just man on earth that doeth good, and sinneth not" (Eccles, vii. 20). lV. DrvmE REWARD. Hezekiah's piety won for him Divine favour, protection, and success. 1. Freedom from sei"'Vitude. "He rebelled against the King of Assyria, and served him not." He thus rescued the kingdom from the humiliating dependence into which it had been brought by Ahu:. 2. Victory over enemies. Hezekiah had also important victories over the Philistines, and was prospered "whithersoever" be went forth. Spiritually, God gives to those who fear him deliverance from the power of sin within, and victory over the world, the devil, and the flesh.-J. 0. Vers. 13-17.-Sennacherib's first assault, We enter in this passage on the con- sideration of one of the most memorable crises Judah ever passed through. The Assyrian, the rod of God's auger (Isa. x. 4), hung over Jerusalem, showing how near destruction it was if God did not interpose. A mighty deliverauce was vouchsafed, showing how inviolable was its security if only fleshly confidence was renounced, and the people put their trust in the living God. I. SENNACHERIB'S EARLY SUCCESSES, 1. Connectioo with the moral state of tll4 people. Despite the efforts of Hezekiah and Isaiah, the moral state of the people con- tinued at bottom unchanged. The enthusiasm enkindled by Hezekiah's great Passover (2 Cbron. xxx.) passed away, and things reverted very much to their former state. 'l'ho idols which Hezekiah had destroyed were brought back (cf. Isa. x. 10, 11). The nation is pointedly described as "an hypocritical nation," and pictures of the saddest kind are drawn of its wickedness (Isa. x. 6; cf. eh. i., xxii.; Micah iii.). At one point, indeed, the Prophet Micah was sent with a direct announoement of judgment, aud the fulfilment was only lJOStponed by the earnest repentance of the king (Jer. xxvi. 18, 19; cf. Micah iii. 12). Hezekiah was not faultless, but had himself transgressed through pride on the occasion of the visit of the messengers from Babylon, which falls before this period (eh. xx. 12-19; 2 Cbron. xxxii. 31). He had besides been seeking to strengthen himself by political alliance with Egypt (Isa. xxx.). What wonder that chastisement should be allowed to descend on a "sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers" (Isa. i. 4) I A.s we forget God, and abuse his favours, God withdraws from us. 2. :&:tent qf his succeS6es. (1) Sennacherib took all the fenced 87S THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [oH. xvm. 1-3'7.