The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 80

witnesses unto me .. unto the uttermost part of the earth." Judaism was a tribal religion; the faith of Christ is for humanity. IV. THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS. 1. The twevve officl'lrs were receivers-general; the twevve apostles were general givers. The first took from the people to give to the king : the latter received from their King to bestow on the people. To the former, the subjects of Solomon brought taxes or tribute; the latter have obtained blessings and gifts from their Lord for men. (Cf. Acts i. 8; ii. 18; viii. 18; 1 Tim. iv. 14 ; 2 Tim. i. 6, &c.) "It is more blessed to give," &c. 2. The officers nowrished the king (ver. 27, Heh.) and kis armies: the apostles fed the Church. (Cf. Acts xx. 28.) The 14,000 dependants of the court, the 4000 charioteers, the 12,000 horsemen, all were maintained by the twelve purveyors. Through the apostles, the Lord fed, now 4000, now 7000, and through them, their doctrine and their successors, He still feeds, with word and sacrament, the millions of the Church. So far the comparison is largely in favour of the prefects. As regards this world's gifts and dignities, they bea.r away the palm. In their lifetime they received their good things and the apostles evil things. But an old authority-it ie the dictwm of Solon to Crresus (Herod. i. 80--33)-warns us to pronounce on no man's fortune or happiness until we have seen the end. And the real end is not in this world. Let us therefore consider (1) What is the verdict of posterity .1 and (2) What will be the issue of futwrity as to these two classes ? Here we observe- I. THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE PREFECTS ARE FORGOTTEN; THE NAMES OF THE APOSTLES ARE IN EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE. The fame of Solomon's twelve was shortlived. Several of them are now known to us only by their patronymics. Those much dreaded satraps, before whom !!llbjects trembled, their very names are in some cases lost in oblivion. But the apostolic college, every member is still famed, reverenced, loved throughout the whole round world. Their names are heard, Sunday by Sunday, in the Holy Gospel (cf. Matt. xxvi 13). Better still, their "names are written in heaven" (Luke x. 20; cf. Phil. iv. 8). As to II. THE TWELVE APOSTLES WILL JUDGE THE TWELVE PREFECTS. In their time, the latter sate on twelve thrones, each in his capital city, ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. But their glory, like that of the Roman general's pageant, "lacked continuance." In the midst of their brief authority "Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears And slits the thin-spun life." The dominion of the apostles is in the future. It belongs to the "regenemtion." "When the Son of Man "-the true Son of David-" shall sit on the throne of his glory," then shall they '' sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes," &c. (Matt. xix. 28). The despised :fishermen shall judge the high and mighty officers -yes, and magnificent Solomon himself. Even now, it may be, their glory is in part begnn. " Lo, the twelve, majestic princes In the court of Jesus sit, Calmly watching all the confilct Raging still beneath their feet." Shall we follow the officers of Solomon, or the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Shall we, that is, desire earthly advancement, high position, contemporary fame, or shall we count all as dross that we may " win Christ and be found in Him" (Phil. iii. 8-11). "Whe.t shall it profit a man, if he gain," &c. We can.not all be iJyeµ61m; ,cai arpar1Jyoi, still less can we all wed kings' daughters. But we may ~ sit with Christ upon His tlu-one (Rev. iii. 21) ; me.y all receive the crown of life (Rev. ii. 10) ; may all be "called unto the m0,1Tiage supper of the Lamb" (Rev. xix. 'HJ),  74 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [ ClI, IV, 20-84,