The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 494

failed to fulfil their pledge God might treat them 118 the sacrifice had been treated, 8. Ahab in consequence was doomed to die. (l) This was signified to him by another prophet. He is by the Jews supposed to have been Micaia.h, and with some reason perhaps (compare eh. x.x.ii 8). (2) This prophet, u.fter the example of Nathan (2 Sam. xii.), made Ahab pronounce his own sentence (vers. 37-42). In tho doom of the prophet who, for disobedience to -the word of the Lord in not smit- ing his fellow, was destroyed by the lion, Ahab could also read his doom for not obeying the word of the Lord when he should have smitten Ben-hadad to death (vers. 35, 36). (3) The p~opb~cy came ~~- Ahab was slain fighting against the Syrians to recover Ra.moth m Gilead (eh. xxu. 35). And by the hands of the Syrians, under Hazae~, _the _children of Is1!-el suffered severely (se~ 2 Kings viii 12 ; x. 32, 33). (4) In anticipation of these things Ahab "went to Ins house heavy and displeased." Beavy at the tidings and displeased with the prophet. It would have been more to his advantage had he gone to the house of God in contrition for the sins of his wicked life.-J. A. M. EXTREMITY (vers. 1-11). God's goodness ° Vers, '1rrove 1-21.-Veiled Mercies. I. AHAB'S the froward is shown by His bringing them into circumstances where they may and know Him. The clouds they" so much dread are big with mercy." 1. The land is overrun and the capital besieged. The fruit of sin is difficulty and dis- 111.Ster. The land and the life which will not acknowledge God will know at last what it is to be bereft of His protecting care and the ministrations of His goodness. These are the eternal portion only of those whom they raise and bless. 2. His degrada- tion (vers. 2-4). In his own city he has to listen and assent to the terms that rob him at one stroke of all that is dearest and best. The foe has no mercy, and Ahab neither strength nor dignity. Those who forsake God, and shut themselves out from the experience of His truth and mercy, will prove the vanity of every other trust. 3. His helplessness {vers. 5-11). (1) Compliance with Ben-he.dad's first demands does not save him from further degradation. Those who rely only on the world's compassion lean on a reed which will break and pierce them. (2) Allah's defiance (ver. 11) was an appeal to chance. He had no clear conficlence that Ben-he.dad's threatenings woulcl come to nothing. Forgetfulness of God is weakness for the battle of life, and darkness amid its dangers. Are we remembering Him? Are we stirring ourselves np to lay hold on God ? II. Goo's HELP {vers. 12-21). 1. Its compassionateness. The help came un- sought, and when, indeed, there was no thought of seeking it. How often has He thus prevented us with the blessings of Hie goodness I 2. Its timeliness. The final attack was about to be made (ver. 12). The progress of the siege had no donbt alarmed Ahab, and led to negotiation. Now it needed but one more effort and the Syrian hosts would be surging through the streets of Sa,maria. Within the city there was only a terrible fear, or dull, defiant despair. But now, as the blow is about to fall, the shield of God sweeps in between. The Lord knows His time to help, and, by helping, to reveal Himself and bind us to ~im. 8. I_ta fulness. (1) Israel is glorified. The weakest part of the army achieves the victory. (2) Ahab is honoured (ver 14). The victory is gained under the leadership of the man whom God might have rigliteouely destroyed. (3) Tlie triumph is complete (vers. 20, 21), Ben-he.dad a fngitive, and hie army a prey. The glory of God is =nifested most of all in His mercy. We cannot contemplate our deli vemnce from danger and the fulness of our trilllllph in Christ without feeling upon our soul the recreative touch of the hand of God.-J. U. Vers. 22--48.-ReBisted Mercy. I. GOD MCJLTIPLIES HIS BENEFITS TO THE SINFUL (vers. 22-30). Ahab makes no public o,cknowledgment of God's mercy, nor, so far as appears, has it been suffered to change in any way his attitude towards Jehovah; yet God crowns him with loving-kindnesses. 1. Delivered from one danger, ho ii warned of another. " Go, strengthen thyself, and see what thou dost," &c. The enemy, baffled for the time, will return again. The intimation was a call not only to prepare his hosts aud strengtheu hie oities, but, beyo11d iill else, to eeek His face who on. u.1--48.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 1505