The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 362

of an angry Providence. They that take the sword take the blade with the haft, The wars of these ever-changing dynasties left little room for repose. (3) How difficult for men to learn that worldly ambition and vexation are sisters; that abiding happiness is found only in the ways of God I III. THE END OF THE WICKED IS DESTRUCTION. 1. This ia W'1'itten in history. (1) It is recorded in the history of these kings. Jeroboam in person died upon his bed, but in his family his light was extinguished in blood. Baaeha. in like manner died on his bed, but in his family he too perished by the sword. (2) These examples are but samples of history at larg&-sacred, secular. 2. It ia al$o written in prophecy. (1) We meet with it in the alternatives to the conditions of salvation. (2) This destruction follows the spirit into the invisible world, and is a "much sorer punishment" than that which terminates in natural death. (3) The jndg- ments upon the wicked recorded in history are but figures of the more terrible doom threatened in prophecy.-J. A. M. Vera. 25-84.-God's threateningsfind at laat a complete fulfilment. I. THE LAST STEP IN A CAREER OF REBELLION AND FOLLY. Nadab might have been warned. His way to the throne was opened up by God's judgment in the removal of Abijah. He must have heard of the Divine threatenings; he might have seen the evil results of his father's sin. But in the face of all these things ha adopted the sinful policy of his father. 1. "He did evil in the sight of the Lord." His heart and life were estranged from God and righteousness. This is the ex- planation of all that follows. Contempt of the claims of revelation, and rebellion aguinst God are but the revelation to men of a heart and life which have already grieved and provoked God. 2. He continued in a path already dark with the frown of God: "and walked in the way of his father." The son who continues in his father's sin may incur thereby a deeper guilt than his. The iniquity of it may not have been at first so fully manifested. It might have been considered and abandoned in the shadow of the father's dea.th. As the ages roll on sins manifest themselves, and the nation which will not tum from them seals itself for destruction. Are there sins with us the evil of which we know to-day a.a we did not know before? Then the guilt of their retention is greater than that of their first commission. 8. He resolutely pursued a path which meant destruction, not for himself on'fly, but for an entire people: " and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin." It was nothing less than an attempt to rob God of His chosen people, a.nd them of Him, in order that the house of Jeroboam might reign in safety. The terrible selfishness and the murderous heart of sin I II. THE JUDGMENT. 1. He was smitten in the midst of his army. The host of his warriors could not save him. There is no place where God's hand cannot reach us. 2. He was slain, not by the Philistines, but by one of his own servants. Treachery and rebellion were visited with fitting punishment. The strict justice of the Divine vengeance. His judgments are repayments: "I will repay." 3. The I!ivine threatening literally fulfilled (ver. 29). God's words against sin are not lightly spoken. The end is hid from us, but His eye is resting, while He speo.ks, upon the woe.-J. U. Ch. xv. 38-xvi. 7.-Uwrighteoua Zeal. I. SMITERS OF THE SINFUL ARE NOT NECES• SARILY RIGHTEOUS (eh. xv. 88, 44). 1. Baasha's crime. Behind the slaughter of his master and his master's house lay the threatening of God. The Divine decree seemed to legalize the crime. But God's command did not coma to him, nor was he moved by righteous indignation against the sins of the house of Jeroboam. He served his own passions, and it was sin to him before God, " because he killed him.'' The llll:quity of those who rush in to smite wrong and hypocritically veil their ho.tred and spite and greed under the plea of zeo.l for God and righteousness (Rom. ii. 1), 2. His evil life. "He did evil in the sight of the Lord.'' State reforms are im- possible for men whose own hen.rt refuses God's yoke. Our work oan never rise higher the.n the level of our life. There is also a spiritual law of gravitation : the streams of 0111' i.mluen11e oe.n only flow downward. 8. His hurtful reign. He SGS THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [OH, XV, 25-XVL 28,