The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 290

invective he delivered the messo.ge of the Lord. Who was he? Josephus (Ant., viii. 8, § 6) identifies him with Iddo the seer. There is no proof of tl.iis. He wa,s one of the runny senTants of Jehovah who have done their work without emblazonin~ on it tlieir n11,IDe. Like John the Baptist, lie was content to be" a. voioe crying' out a testimony for God. In considering the service rendered in hie dny by this NillELEss PROPHET let us look at the following : I. His MESSAGE. 1. Its Divine origin. " He cried , .. in the word of the Lord." A remarkable expression. It represents the word as the sphere in which he lived, the atmosphere he breathed. A sense of the Divine presence, e. confi- dence in the Divine call, e. certainty of the Divine message, characterized him. This was a sign of the true prophet. Compare with this the coll of Samuel, the announcements of Elijah, the commission of Isaiah, &c. To some the declarations of God's will came :fitfully. Prophecy was never a constant possession of a servant of God. There was a tidal flow of inspiration, the law of which we know not. So was it mth the miraculous powers of the Apostles. 2. Its definite natwre (ver. 2). The very name of the coming avenger is mentioned more than three hundred years before Josiah's birth. It was foretold that the priests would be sacrified on the altar at which they had insulted God. The lea; talionis is the ground of this, as of other theocratic laws. It reminds us that the sinner is destroyed by his own sin; that punishments are not arbitrary, but are the legitimate issues of crime against God. It was further announced that the bones of the dead would be taken from the graves and bnrnt on the altar, so that the place of idolatry might be defiled and dishonoured. See Num. xix. 16. For fulfilment of prophecy read 2 Kings xxiii. 15-20. 8. Its merciful design. In oh. xii. 24 we read that God forbade the advance of the army of Judah on Jeroboam. Instead of carnage he sends this message. He willeth not the death of a sinner, but would rather he should turn from his wickedness and live. Suggest the warnings God now sends to rouse us to thought and penitence. II. Hrs COURAGE. It was a bold thing to venture amongst the people at a time when they were full of hatred to Judah, and of unwillingness to be reminded of Jehovah; and to face the king, who was a man of despotic and resolute temper, in the very pride of hie royal strength. But in the presence of them all the prophet's cry arose," 0 altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah,'' &c., as if the stones would listen more readily than the people. Give examples of similar courage being displayed by men who have had the consciousness they were speaking for God; e.g., Moses before Pharaoh, Elijah before Ahab, John the Baptist before Herod, Peter and John before the Sanhedrim, Pa.nl before Felix. From church history, too, such examples as that of Ambrose, John Knox, &c., may be cited. Show how requisite courage is now to genuine :fidelity to conviction, amongst sceptical or sinful associations. III. His CREDENTIALS, A sign was given there and then. The altar was cleft in twain, and the ashes were poured out. For the significance of the latter see Levit. xvi. 8, 4. Point out the credibility of supernatural signs as atteijting supernatural revelations. Refer to the miracles of Christ, of which He said, "Believe me for the very works' sake." See also Mark xvi. 20; Acts ii. 48. In- dicate the na,ture of the credentials which the world may fairly demand of Chris- tian men in the present day; a.nd show how far we fail in giving these, and the call68s of our failure. IV. Hrs SAFETY, Amidst all the perils encircling him he was" kept by the power of God." The hand that would have slain him was withered ; the man who cursed his meSBage besought hie prayers. " Man is immortal till hie work is done." When God's servants die, it is because they have fulfilled the purpose of their lives, They have many enemies, but God can disable all their foes. The path of duty is the path of safety. Illustrate this from ihe records of the Christian Church; Luther at Worms, &c. 1. Learn to lieten for God's message. He would make you Hie "voice." 2. Learn to dare a,nything in God,' s name. The rarity of Christinn chive.lry. a. Learn to trust in God's protection, "He that dwelleth in the seoret ple.ce of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." 4. Le(l//'11, to pra,y even for yowr persecutcrrs. Compare ver, 6 with Matt, v. 44.-A. R. os. xm. 1-10.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 298