The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 304

will he withstand a prophet? (Jer. xxiii. 19; Amos ii. 11.) (3) The spirit of lies (nr. 18). Now is Satan transformed into an angel of light. Could the old prophet hn,e been himself thus deceived? He deceived the man of Go<l. Beware of the devil of hospitality. Perhaps the man of God the more readily yielded being weak with fatigue and fasting (compare Matt. iv. 2-4). No example, save that of Jesus, may be followed implicitly.-J. A. M. Vers. 20-22.-The Voice of Reproof. No man of God will deliberately sin against God (,John viii. 44; 1 John iii. 9; v. 18). But the good are liable to be surprised or deceived into transgression (James i. 13-15; 1 John ii. 1, 2). We must be ever on our guard against the " wiles'' and "depths II of Satan. For lack of vigilance this man of God fell into the snare, and we see here how he was repro,ed. I. HE SINNED AGAINST THE WORD OF JEHOVAH. 1. This is evident upon the face of the narrative. (1) He came out of Judah "by the word of Jehovah." Cried • against the altar at Bethel "in the word of Jehovah." Gaye the sign upon the altar " by the word of Jehovah" (vers. 1, 2, 5). (2) He professed that his instructions not to eat in Mount Ephraim, but to return to Judah by another roaJ, were by the same word. Professed to the king (ver. 9); to the old prophet (ver. 17). 2. But could not God revoke or modify Hi.sword! (1) Certainly. He did so to Abraham (see Gen. :nii. 11, 12). What had been might be. (2) Upon the recognition of this principle the old prophet proceeded, and so far was the man of God from dis- puting it that he was taken in the snare (vers. 18, 19). 3. Wherein, then, was his fault J The revocation here came not with the evidence of the co=and. The command was immediately from " the mouth of the Lord" (ver. 21). The revoca• tion came immediately from the mouth of the old prophet. Note: We are respon- sible for the proper use of reason in religion. (2) Faith in the word of the Lord must be implicit. The Bible is that word. The evidence that it is such is con- cl=ive-externnl, internal, collateral (3) Other voices must not be allowed to re11lace this. The voice of "nature," of "reason," of the "Church." We listen implicitly to these at our peril II. BY THE WORD OF JEHOVAH HE WAS REPROVED. 1. This canne to the man of God himself. (1) The reading of the text would lead us to conclude that it came to the old prophet. The words l:l'l!lil ,~~ here rendered, "who brought him back," are in verse 23 construed, "whom he had brought back," and might be so construed here. J osepho.s asserts that the word of the Lord here came to the man of God; and so does the Arabic. In the 26th verse we are assured by the old prophet that this word of the Lord came to the man of God. (2) According to this view it was "Jehovah" who " cried unto the man of God," viz., from heaven as He called to A.braham (Gen. xxii. 11). So, coming to himself, as the command did in the first instance, he had not to weigh contradictory testimonies from the old prophet, but was left without a doubt. God brings home sin with demonstra- tion. 2. It came to him in the ripeness of his transgression. (1) "As they sat at table.'' Conscience reproYes the sinner in the very act of sin. This is the voice of God in the soul. But here was an external voice to which the internal voice responded.. Conscience responds to the word or law of God. (2) It came to all who were at the table. To the old prophet as well as to the man of God. His conscience, too, would respond to the voice of God. To the sons of the old prophet, if present, there would also be a voice. What will our emotions be when in the day of judgment all the mischief to which we have been accessories will be discovered? 3. It was terribly severe. (1) He is doomed to die. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." We all die in conse- quence of sin entailed. But here is an actual "sin unto death" (1 John v. 16). (2) He is doomed to die abroad. The mention of his carcase not coming to the sepulchre of his fathers implied a violent death away from home. Possibly the manner of his death may have been made known to him (compare ver. 26; eh. xx. 86). The Vl"ord of God is not violated with impunity. What will be the case oJ those who seldom take pa.ms to consult it ?-J. A, M. CB, XIII, 11-84.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 807