The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 229

use a.nd. enjoy freely the good. of every kind that falls to their lot. But let them beware lest the spirit of evil, in some form of outward oharm, through some secret avenue of soul or sense, should gain an entrance to the citadel of their heart, and "turn it away" from Him. III. THE CERTAINTY OF DIVINE RETRIBUTIONS. Solomon cannot sin with impunity. His personal defection involves the throne in dishonour and the whole nation in ~cord and sorrow. He had been forewarned that it should be so, and the threat- enmgs of God are as sure as His promises. What is God's " anger" but just the reverse side of that faithfulness that secures the purposes of His grace? What are His judgments but the severer methods of His holy love ? An inexorable Nemesis tracks the path of the transgressor; not a mere blind fate-not a mere impersonal law of moral sequence-but a Divine will and power, pledged to vindicate the cause of eternal right_eousness. It _may follow him slowly, as with "leaden foot," but sooner or later 1t overtakes hrm. "Whatsoever a man soweth," &c. (Gal. vi. 7, 8), And th~ugh one only may sow the evil seed, how many, often, are the reapers I "The sms of the fathers are visited on the children," &c. No man can "perish alone in his iniquity." According to the range of his social relations so is the mischief his wrong-doing works. When the king falls, how many fall with him I The laws of God " must work their will, Whatever human heart may bleed; And more than they who do the ill Must sufier for the evil deed." IV. THE MERcY THAT TEMPERS DIVINE JUDGMENTS. The execution of the sentence is both delayed and modified. Not in Solomon's own reign shall the thing be done; "nor shall the kingdom be wholly torn from his house " (vers. 12, 13). This is partly from tender regard for the sacred memory of David his father, and partly, we may believe, in mercy to himself, that spa.ce may be given him for re- pentance (see Psa. l.xxxix. 30-87). We have here a type and example of the general method of God's ways. "In wrath he remembers mercy." Something of gracious forbearance is seen in the severest of His judgments. His cha.stisements are fatherly. And beneath the darkest providences and the sternest retributions there is the steady flow of a loving-kindness that endures throughout all generations, the strength of a covenant that shall never be broken.-W. Vers. 9-13.-After tl.ie consecration of the temple Solomon reached the culmi- nating point of his reign, both in a spiritual and temporal point of view. His fame and his dominion continued to increase. The Queen of Sheba came from the far East to pay him homage. From this summit of glory he had a sudden and shame- ful fall, and became all but an apostate. This son of David, whose high honour it was to have built and consecrated the temple of Jehovah, this heir of the promises on which hung the salvation of mankind, sank into idolatry. The causes of his fall were-lst, PRIDE: he forgot to give glory to God. 2nd, LusT: strange women enticed him aiter strange gods (eh. xi. 3). The fall of Solomon repeats in amannerthe features of the :first transgression. It began in the desire to be aB God, and was consulll.IIlated in the gratification of the flesh. Its emphatic warning to all God's people is, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. x. 12). Chastisement from God is the consequence of this fall. God had already warned Solomon that His most glorious promises were contingent on obedience to His commands. " If thou walk in my ways," &c. (eh. iii. 13, 14). God chastens Solomon because He loves him, and does not altogether take His mercy from him, since He still leaves the kingdom of Judah to bis descendants. The book of Ecclesiastes, with its blend- ing of bitterness and repentance, is perhaps the ripening fruit of this merciful 11everity.-E. de F. CB, XI. 14-48,] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 233