The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 301

1. In the case of Jeroboam's house. For the family of the deceiver waa the first to suffer. As in the ca.se of the man of God, "swift retribution" followed upon sin. And wha.t retribution I Ti1e death and uestrnction of the race. He himself wns smitten of God. His seed was suddenly cut oIT. 'rhe sword of Baasha. was as swift as the lion's paw. Only one of his children "came to the gmve." The rest were devoured of beasts 11,nd birds. {Cf. eh. xiv. 11 with eh. xiii. 28.) 2. In the case of his intrusive priests. If they escaped a. violent death, their remains experienced disgrace worse than death (ver. 2). Here prophet and priests stand in contrast. The respect accorded to his ashes was denied to theirs. 8. In the case of the entire people. For the captivity, foretold in eh. xiv. 15, wns the death of the kingdom, and the death-knell of the people. The ten tribes soon lost their corporate existence. And what agonies preceded that dissolution ! (See J er. Iii.; Lam. passim; Pss. lxxiy., cxxxvii.) The people to death, the land to lions I (2 Kings xvii. 25.) Could the analogy be much closer ? But indeed the analogy does not end there. De te fabula narratur. The Chris- tian Church has inherited the place, the privileges, the responsibilities of the Jewish people. If that Church, or if the individual Christian be unfaithfal or disobedient, let them see their own fate glassed and pourtrayed in that of the disobedient prophet. "If God spared not the natural branches," &c. "I will remove thy candlestick out of his place." 11 Shame and everlasting contempt." The Two Prophet:. We ha.ve already considered the principal lesson which this strange history had for that time. Let us now indicate some of the lessons which it has for all time. The text, to bonow Bishop Ridley's phrase, 11 shall lead us by the hand ; " we will record them as we find them set down in the story. And first let us contemplate the OLD PROPHET. Observe- !. It was the false prophet that was old. Age should bring wisdom (Job. =ii. 7; eh. xii. 7), and piety. But see Homiletics, p. 225. The old king (eh. :ri. 4) and the old prophet alike remind us that ther~ is " no sinner like an old sinner." 2. It was only the false teacher that was styled a prophet. Probably because he alone had been taught in the schools. He was, so to speak, in the prophetical succession. The man of God was an irregular, though not self-constituted mes- senger. But observe, when God employs an irregular, He authenticates his mission with 11, sign. And consider, too, ·the unworthiness of ministers argues nothing against the office or the succession. See Art. XXVI. 3. The old prophet was in Bethel. 11 Where Satan's seat is" (Rev. ii. 8). But God had not fixed the bounds of his habitation. What wonder if, like him who "pitched his teut toward Sodom" (Gen. xiii. 12), be fell into temptation ancl sin? TI.to old prophet, in his way, has II lifted up his oyes and beheld the plain of the Jordan, that it was woll watered everywhere." He ha.a remained here to worship the rising sun. Conscience bade him go. Convenience made him stay. 4. The old prophet tries to serve two masters. Though J eroboron sets up molten images, a sanctuary, 11, priesthood, he raises no protest. But when Jero- boam burns incense and sacrifices, he does not sanction the proceeding by his presence. But he compromises the matter by sending his sons. " Video meliora. proboque, Deteriora sequor." "He that wa.vereth is like 11, wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James i. 6). The temporiser soon finds difficulties in his path. Those who try to gain both worlds generally contrive to lose both. After the conduct of ver. 18, he could not respeot himself; and after the prophecy of var. 32, he could expect no advancement from the king. 5. The old prophet stoops to lies. And yet he was a true prophet. A preacher of righteousness, yet he practised deceit. Baalam has been cullocl II a. strange mixture of a man.'' This prophet's chc.ructor and conduct were equally st.rauge. But, alas I it is a common thing to find men's example differing widely from their precept; to find insight without holiness, light without love. Prophetic gifts do not imply piety. It is no new thing for God's ministers to fall into sin. 6. The old prrphet slays a man of God .. It was his tongue, not the lion's pa.w, J'eo.lly slew a mn.o more righteous and better than he. A prophet is the instru,.  304 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS, [ou. xnr. 11-84.