The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 370

Vera. 30-33.-Moral Ruin t"ht-ough Moral Weakness. This was the taming- point in the history of the kingdom of Israel. Till now the people ho.d professedly worshipped Jehovah under the symbol of the calf. Now idolatry of a grosser kind was avowedly set up o.s the no.tional religion, on a scale of greo.t magnificence. The t~xt,. therefore, is worthy of our study as the record of an event of deep historic s1gi;ificance, but we propose to consider it as 11, suggestive example of the way in winch e. mo.n of moral weakness may be betrayed into the worst deprnvity, to the undoing of himself o.nd others. We learn the following lessons from Aho.b's life of which o. summary is given here : ' I. TrrAT A FOOLISH CHOICE MAY RESULT IN LASTING DISIIO:!fOUR. Ahab's marriage was the cause of his ruin. Jezebel, his wife, wo.s the do.n~hter of Etbbe.o.l, who had been the high priest of Aste.rte, but wo.s led by his e.wbition and unscrupulousness to usurp his brother's throne. Her parentage and her surroundings would have 876 THE FlRST BOO:ti OF KINGS. loil. xvt. 29-1:14. been e. eu.fficient warning to a prudent king. Bnt besides these Ahe.b had. the Divine law before him (Exod. xxxiv. 16), which distinctly forbade union with the Ce.naanit,es. Such a marriage was unprecedented in the kingdom of Isre.el, and was the more fe.tal because of the character of the queen, the Lady Macbeth of Scripture. She was reckless and licentious, fanatical and cruel, with a temper ae vindictive as her will was resolute. Her husband beca.me a mere tool in her hands. He could not foresee all the issues of his choice, but he knew the choice was sinful. Show from this-illustrating by example-I. How one wrong step leads to another. This marriage to the establishment of idolatry. Indicate the nature of the false religion set up. 2. How companionship influences character. The stronger moulding the weaker. "A companion of fools shall be destroyed." 8. Bow personal fascina• t.on may cause men to swerve from rectitude. J ezebel's fascinating power was regarded as witchery and became proverbial (Rev. ii. 20). 4. How young people should be warned against unholy alliances. Marriage makes or mars character, hope, and blessedness (2 Cor. vi. 14). "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." II. THAT EASY GOOD NATURE MAY PROVE THE SOURCE OF DEEP DEGRADATION. Ahab was not destitute of good feelings and right impulses. Had he been firm instead of pliable, and resolutely refused to gratify the queen by the establishment of idolatry, be migiit, with God's help, have neutralized the effect of the false step he had taken. But he was of a yielding nature, while she was resolute ; and so, like Samson, be lost his kingliness. Point out the special dangers of those who are kindly and genial. Their unwillingness to disoblige, their wish to be popular, their dread of derision, their love of ease and pleaBllre, &c., may have fatal issues. III. THAT BRILLIANT TALENTS WILL NOT COMPENSATE FOR MORAL WEAKNESS. 'I.'his king was gifted with military skill, with artistic taste, &c., but these could not help him in the hour of spiritual con:fl.ict. Give examples from history of the careers of clever but unprincipled men, their meteoric success, their future punishment, here or hereafter; e.g., Napoleon I. Many men of genius have been ruined by drunken- ness, and often high education has served only to alter the form and increase the influence of the sin. The clever forger is worse than the common thief; the viciousness of a leader of society does more injury than the licentiousness of an ignorant peasant. IV. THAT ABCHITECTUB.AL SPLENDOURS AND MILITARY VICTORIES ABE NOT PROOFS OF NATIONAL PROSPERITY. Describe Ahab's magnificent buildings, his ivory house, his daring restoration and fortification of Jericho, his palace and park in Jezre~l, which became to Samaria what Versailles once was to Paris. Show how often m history such costly expenditure has been e. sign of decay. Extravagance and ln.xurioUBness are omens of ruin to e. people. "The Decline and Fall" of ~he Roman Empire is an abiding illust-ration of this. Nor will successful wars give Btability to a kingdom. Ahab's victories were great military achievement~, but of what avail to him and to his house? "The throne must be established in righteo'Ua• flC88.'' v. THAT AMPLE POSSESSIONS DO NOT CONTENT AN UNQUIET HEART. In J ezreel, the perfection of taste, Ahab was wretched, because he wanted Naboth's vineyard. (Read that story.) It is not in the power of earthly things to satisfy a hungering l!Oul. The richest man is not content if he has only his riches, nor wm any ad<lition to them give him satisfaction. " Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth '' (Luke xii. Hi). "Blessed are they that hunger and thirRt after righteousness, for they shall be filled." God "satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.'' VI. THAT PABTIAL REPENTANCE DOES NOT AVERT GoD'S PUNISHMENT OF SIN. Ahab "put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly," when he heard Elijah's final threat; but, though this first sign of penitence was graciously encouraged by a promise, the change went no further. He ~rea_ded J:,::hment, but his heart did not turn from sin, and therefor~, though h~ ~1sgwse~ elf in the battle, the arrow "shot at a venture " was wrnged by D1vme retri•  08, xvt. 29-84.] TIIE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 877