Vers. 4-6.-Spiritual Vision. When the season of retributions set in upon Jeroboam, and his son Abijah was smitten with sickness, he sent to the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite to inquire of the word of J ehoTah, what should become of the child. He was unwillinl? it should be publicly known that, in such au emergency, he had recourse to the prophet of the Lord rather than to his calves (compare 2 Kings i. 2). He accordingly entrusted this delicate business to his wife, and enjoined that she should disguise herself. The text evinces how futile were these expedients. Note- I. SIN SEEKS DISGUISES. 1. Truth need-s none. (1) It is naturally open. "He that doeth truth cometh to the light." (2) It has nothing to be ashamed of. It is self-consistent, harmonious, lovely. (8) It ought to be displayed; its influence is ele.-ating (Phil. ii. 15, 16). The saint who hides his light wrongs his racEr. (4) Churches are constituted that Christians should, to the best advantage, witness for Christ. They are the candlesticks (see Matt. v. 14--16; Rev. i. 20) Note: Christians should discourage the eccentricity that would lead them away from the Churches. 2. It is otherwise with sin. (1) It is naturally close. The sinner has as instinctive an averEion to the light as the owl and the bat, his types. (2) It has everything to be 1J,shamed of. It is self-contradictory, discordant, frightfully and monstrously ugly. (3) It ought, by the impenitent sinner, to be concealed. :For he could only desire to disclose it in order to infect and demoralize others. (4) But the true should drag it to the light, that its deformity might be seen, abhorred, and execrated. II. Gon SEES THROUGH ALL DISGUISES. 1. Natwre itself teaches this. (1) He that formed the eye, can He not see? (Exod. iv. 10-12; Pea. xciv. 9.) (2) He that formed the mind, can He not perceive? (1 Chron. xxviii. 9; Psa. vii. 9; Prov. xv. 11; Rev. ii 28.) 2. It u evinced, in the visions of prophecy. (1) How far- reaching are those visions I The end was seen from the beginning. The instal- ments fulfilled certify the remainder. (2) How deep their insight into the secret workings of the heart! The secret ambition of Jeroboam, when he was yet the servant of Solomon, was read by Ahijah (eh. xi 37). Now he sees through the disguise of the queen and reads its motives. 8. This should be considered. (1) How foolish are disguises where God is concerned I And where is God not con- cerned? (2) Those who would deceive God only deceive themselves. (8) What disclosures will the day of judgment make ! (1 Cor. iii. 18; iv. 5.) What a day of trembling to the hypocrite I . III. Gon CAN OPEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND. 1. Literally. (1) Miracles upon tbe sight were occasionally wrought in ancient times (Gen. xix. 11 ; 2 Kings vi. 18). (2) Many 6UCh were wrought by Christ. 2. Spiritually. (1) The prophets were gifted with spiritual vision. They were therefore called seers. Their prophecies were called visions. (2) Such vision had Ahijah. Hie natural eight had now failed him (ver. 4), yet he saw Jeroboam's queen before she came into his presence, saw through her disguises, and discerned the purpose of her visit. (8) Spiritual vision is not exclusively the privilege of prophets. (a) God gives this to the sinner when He discovers to him the exceeding sinfulness of sin. God stripe him of the disguises by which he would deceive himself, and exhibits his own life-likeness to hie con- i;cience. (b) God gives it to believers, when He witnesses Hie pardon and their adoption, to their spirits. (See Acts nvi 17, 18; Eph. i 18.) Have your eyes bel)n opened l' Pray God that Satan may never succeed in throwing hie duet into them.-J. A. M.
Vere. 7-11.-HMd Tidings. Buch is tho character given by the prophet to the matter of the text (ver. 6). What we translate "heQ,'l}y tidings" is, in the Hebrew, as in the margin, hcwa. The uses of the word (M~P) in several places suggest CB, XIV, 1-20.) TIIE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 828