The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 363

"walkecl in the way of Jeroboam," &c. He may have condemned Jeroboo.m's sin in rega.rcl to the calves, &c. ; but when begirt with the same state exigencies he ('Ontinued the course he himself had punished with death. It is eo.sy to condemn the sins of others. God has nobler work for us: it is, when sunounded by their temptations to triumph over them, and to serve not by words only but by deeds. II. Gon's MESSAGE TO B.usRA (eh. xvi. 1-7). 1. His exaltatio1i WM of God. " I e:mltecl thee out of the dust.'' The throne was not secured by his wickedness. The Lord had stilled opposition and given him success. 2. It WM great and u.iilooked for. His tribe had no claim to the throne, and his own place among hie people was a mean one. But God had, step by step, advanced him and was now enabling him to reign in peace. The Lord's help is not withheld from those who do not know and do not serve Him. " Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee _to repentance?" (Rom: ii. 4.) 8. The retwrn made to God. He had changed nothing. Israel was still bemg led down the path of darkness and judgment, " to provoke Me to anger with their sins." Every higher interest was sacrificed to the policy of keeping the ten tribes separated from the other two. Statesmen out of office condemn that which, when in office, they are afraid to change. And how many are there who are neglecting the trusts God has committed to them. Once they said. "If we had only place or wealth, &c., God would be served and men blessed." These have been given and what has been done? Has the vow been performed? 4. Baasha's _punishment worse than Jeroboam's. "I will take away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house" (see ver. 11, "Neither of his kindred nor of his friends"). The Divine justice is shown in the differing penalties of sin.- J. u. Vers. 1-7.-Jehu'a Prophecy. Jehu was a prophet and the son of a prophet. Of his father Hanani we read in 2 Chron. xvi. 7-10, where it is recorded to his honour that he suffered imprisonment for the fidelity of his testimony against A.ea. This son was worthy of such a father. His testimony before Baasha, a man of desperate resolution and unscrupulous irreligion, was admirably courageous. We hear of him again after an interval of forty years (see 2 Chron. xix. 2; x:x, 84). In his prophecy here-- I. HE RECITES THE CRIMES OF BAASRA, These were-1. That he" walked in the way of Jeroboam." This implies (1) that he was influenced by a like ambition. An ambition to be great in the eyes of men-to be a king. (See eh. xi. 87.) (2) That to compass this he resorted to unscrupulous measures. He rebelled against his king. He rebelled against his God. 2. That he made the ;people of the Lord to sin. (1) To make any people, or person, to sin is a great cnme. And who can sin only to himself? Directly or indirectly sin must exert an influence beyond. (2) To make God's covenanted people to sin is a higher crime. The oath upon them is violated. The salt of the earth, too, loses its savour, and the world is left to putrefy. (3) To make God's people to sin, not as by accident, but of set pur- pose, is the highest crime. This Baasha did in upholding Jeroboam's calves-the "work" of men's "hands" (ver. 7). He did this fearing, as Jeroboam had feared, that if the people went to Jerusalem to worship they might repent of their rebellion e_17ainst the house of David. For the same reason Baasha opposed the reformation ~der Asa, and to this end set about the building of Ramah (see 2 Chron. xvi. 1). 3. That he thereby provoked the anger of the Lord against them. (1) This ex- pressed itself in the incessant wars by which they were shaken " as a reed is shaken in the water" (eh. xiv. 15). (2) This is laid at the door of Baasha. His house is implicated with him. Jehu, therefore, had a message also to his house (ver. 7). 4. And because he killed Jeroboam. (1) This, however, he did not, in person. Jeroboam died on his bed (eh. xiv. 20). (2) But, in his house, he slew him (oh. xv. 27-29). A man lives in his posterity; when his posterity are destroyed or exterminated, he is extinct. (8) Perhaps the words "because he killed him" might be fairly rendered" because he killed it,'' viz., the house of Jeroboam. This any- how is the meaning (see eh. xv. 27, 29). The notion that he killed Jehu is inooD• OR, XV, 25-XVI, 28.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 869