The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 513

into sin, And it o.dmonishes us not to presume upon any dogma of infallible final persevero.nce, but, by the help of God, to " work out our own salvation with fear and trembling." II. THAT THERE IB MERCY FOR THE PENITENT. 1. God observed the repentance of Ahab. (1) He observed it before man had. He saw its first motions in the depths of his head. He saw the prodigal "while yet e. great way off" (Luke xv. 20). (2) Doubtless lie graciously encouraged these motions so that they ripened into confession. A.nd does not the goodness of God still lead men to repentance, even the vilest? 2. He called the attention of Elijah to it. (1) To the prophet he said, " Seest thou how .Ahab humbleth himself before me." This was an encouragement to the man of God. His labour was not in vain. Ahab required some moral courage to humble himself before Jehovah in the presence of Jezebel. (2) God in His goodness directs His servants to those who are penitent that they may minister words of encouragement to them. Ananias was sent to Saul (Acts ix. 11). 3. He extended His mercy to the suppliant. (1) "Because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days : but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.'' The mercy is not a reversal of the mischief, neither was the repentance. The mischief is done, and cannot be reversed. Early piety is therefore earnestly to be desired that the mischief of an evil life may be avoided. (2) It was a substantial benefit nevertheless. (a) To .Ahab personally. It was something to be spared the pain of witnessing the judgments of God upon his wicked house ; but, what is still more considerable, this mercy contained a promise respecting the world to come; for, and especially in prophecy, things visible are signs or portents of things spiritual. (b) It was also a benefit to his nation. For after this, probably, oame the war with Ben-hadad, in which God interposed in a ve.ry remarkable manner on behalf of His people. In the Septua- gint, which translation was made from much older copies of the Hebrew Bible than any now extant, this chapter and that here before it change places; and the order in the Septuagint is also followed by Josephus. (3) This fact is very important, for it shows also where the backsliding of .Ahab commenced. It was evidently in the false mercy which he showed to Ben-hadad. After this relapse God forsook him and handed him over to evil spirits and lying prophets, who wrought his ruin. "He that endureth to the end shall be saved."-J. A. M. Vera. 1-24.-The Progress of Sin. This chapter desoribes one of the blackest crimes whioh ever blotted the page of history. The description is so graphic that we seem eye-witnesses of the tragedy, and so suggestive that we can understand the motives and feelings of the principal aotors. Ne.both has been blamed sometimes for refusing what appeared a reasonable request-that he woul,l sell a piece of land to his rightful king at a fair price. It is evident, however, that he was not only acting within his right, but that he could not have assented to the proposal without breaking the Divine law given by Moses. The paternal inheritance might only be sold in extreme poverty, and then on the condition that it might be redeemeil at any time; and, if not previously redeemed by purchase, it revorted to the original owner at the year of jubilee (Levit. xxv. 13-28). With Naboth it was not the dictate of ch1;ll'lishness, but of conscience, to refuse the proposal of the king. Nor was Ahab's f!Uilt the less because the crime was suggested by Jezebel He Inight ho deficient ~ n~rve and inventiveness, but he was not in iniquity. Let us trace him in this h_1s ~1de01ll1 do'Ynfall, that none of us may be " hardened by the deceitfulness of sm. Our subJect is the PROGRESS OF SIN. We see here- I. Pos~ESSIONS LEADING TO COVETOUSNESS. His stately palace and park at J ezreel did not content him. With greedy oye he looked on this tiny plot of free- hol~, and resolved ~ have it. It is not in the power of materiu.l possessions to ~atisfy man. The nch man must be richer still; the large kingdom must ox tend itself yet further ; the great business must crush the small competitors, &c. How often this leads to wrongs wrought on the poorer and weaker I "The love of money is the root of all evil." " Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance· of things that he posseeseth." 62G THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [en. xxr. 1-29.