The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 492

Israel the Syrians would not have been routed. In all our spiritual confliots let us fight under the banner of Jehovah. (2) It has its lessons of ea;perience. (a) Ben- hadad's counsellors lay emphasis here-" And do this thing, Take the kings away, e.ery man out of his place.'' 'Why remove the kings ? Because in the last war they were " d1inking themselves drunk" when they should have been at their posts, and the army, without officers, became confused and demoralized. Trust not the kings again (see Pss. ex.viii. 9; cxlvi. 3). (b) "Put captains in their rooms." Let the army be commanded by men of ability and experience. Pageants nre of no use in times of exigency. 2. But its sagacity i,a mingled with, fully. (1) Because the motives of the wicked are vicious. (a) In his former war Ben- hadad's impulse was pride. The insolence of his demands evidenced this (vers. 8, 6). But what wisdom is there in pride? (b) Though mortified by defeat, that pride remained, and was now moved by the spirit of revenge : " Surely we shall be stronger than they." But what wisdom is there in resentment? (c) Beyond these base feelings the desire for plunder seems to have moved the Syrian. But where is the wisdom in a king becoming a common robber? (2) Becanee they put them- selves into conflict with the Almighty. (a) The Syrians formed an unworthy idea of the Elohim of Israel when they localized and limited Him to the hills. Palestine is a hilly country, and its cities and high places were genern.lly on hills; nnd probably in the hill country of Samaria the cn.valry and chariots of Syria were of little service. (See Pea. xv. 1; xxiv. 3; lxxxvii. 1; cxxi.1.) (b) In the proposal to give Israel battle in the plains the Syrians now set Jehovah at defin.nce. II. THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS THE WISDOM OF TRUTH. 1. It is Jar-reaching. (1) God sees the end from the beginning. We should therefore seek His counsel and guidance. (2) He forewarns His people. He sent His prophet to the king of Israel to inform him that the king of Syria would come up against him at the return of the year. He forewarns us of the things of eternity. 2. It is prudent. (1) The prophet advised Ahab to prepare for the event. " Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest." We should ever depor~ ourselves as in the presence of spiritual foes. (2) God helps those who help themselves. 8. It is un- erring. (1) Events foreshown by God will surely come to pass. (2) According to the advice of the prophet, "at the return of the year," viz., "at the time when kings go forth to battle " (see 2 Sam. xi. 1; 1 Chron. xx. 1), probably answering to our March, which has its na.me from Mara, the god of war, Ben-hndad " went up to Aphek to fight against Israel." There were several cities of this name: one in the tribe of Asher (Josh. xix. 30); another in Judah (1 Sam. 1v. 1); a third in Syria (2 Kings xiii. 17). The last is probably that referred to here. 4. It is profitable. (I) This follows from its other qualities. The guidance which is "prudent," "fax.reaching," and "unerring" must be "profitable.•• (2) But further, those who follow that guidance so commend themselves to God that He directly interposes in their behalf. There was a faithful " seven thousand '' in Israel (eh. xix. 18). (3) If in conflict with those who prefer a worldly policy, they not only have God on their side, but they have Him with them against their enemy. (4) God helped Ahab ago.inst Ben-hadad, not that Ahab deserved it, but that Ben-he.dad had to be punished (ver. 28. See also Ezek. xxxvi. 22). The " two little flocks of kids" could not have slain in one day "one hundred thousand men " unless God had helped them. The hand of God also was in the falling of that wall by which "seven and twenty thousand" perished. Let 1lfl faithfully pursue the policy of right. Let us never permit the expediency of a moment to swerve us from this. Truth o.bides.-J. A. M. Vers. 30-43.-False Mercy. The first army with which Ben-hadad invaded Israel was defeated with "great slaughter,'' and the king saved himself by flight. The defeat of the second was even more complete, when 127,000 men were de- stroyed and the king had to surrender at discretion. But Ahab, for hie false meror in sparing the life of Ben-hada.d, brought judgment upon himself and upon hie people. I. MERCY 18 E'ALSE WBEli lT OPPOSES THE RIGilTEOUBNEBS OE' Gon. 1. Th,a,I (lit. XX. 1-48.] 'l'ItE F1RST BOOK OF KINGS. I08