. Vers. 41-5~.-Two,Lif~ Stories. I. JEHOSHAPHAT's.. 1. He prolonged the good t11ftuence of hu, .fathers re~n. J udah's thought was still kept under the light of truth, and its life more fully led into the ways of God: he completed his father's refor~s. (ve~. 46) •. The continuance o_f God's work anywhere is as important as the o,'lgmation of 1t. 2. He was consu,tent. " He turned not aside from it." He did not merely begin well; over his whole reign there rested the Divine approval· he did "that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.'' The life which is eve; sinning, rep_enting, forge~ting, achieves nothing. It is like a plant uprooted and planted a~am, t.o be agam_ uproo~ed_, &c., and w½i~h, eve1;1 should it~ life be pre- sen-ed, will never bear fnnt. It 1s like "a backslidmg heifer,'' and with such a life the great Husbandman's work cannot be carried on. 3. There was failure as well a,s success in his career. "Nevertheless the high places were not taken away." He had endeavoured to remove them (2 Chron. xvii. 6). But "the people offered and b~t incense yet in the higl~ places.'' The mightiest efforts in t!Je great war- fare with darkness leave somethmg for other hands to do, and must till He come who alone can perfect all things. 4. He sought to be at peace with his brethren (ver. 44). He went further in this, indeed, than he ought to have done (2 Chron. xix. 2), but the desire for peace was laudable. 6. He humbled himself 1vnder God'a rebuke (compare vers. 48, 49 with 2 Chron. xx. 35-37). At first he had been be- guiled into fellowship with the itlolatrous king of Israel without reflecting upon the danger which lay in it for himself and his people. But when God had manifested His displeasure, nothing could make him renew the confederacy. The judgment might mistake, but the heart was loyal to God. II. AHAZIAH'S. 1. A. sinful life. " He did evil in the sight of the Lord.'' With such a life there was no possibility .,f blessing for his people. The roots of his use- fulness were destroyed. To do, we must first of all become. Our work cannot rise above the level of our life. 2. A. disastrous policy (vers. 52, 63). He continued the work of Israel's destruction. The departme made by Jeroboam and perfected by Ahab and Jezebel, he accepted in its full rejection of Jehovah. He did not go beyond them, he simply diJ "according to all that his father had done," but in doing this his sin was of the deepest dye. His father had been judged, but God was still braved, and Israel was led still nearer to destruction. ·we may only con- tinue what others have begun; but if we pay no heed to the proofs of God's anger, and take no thought of the inevitable results of the policy we pursue, our persistence may be one of the deepest crimes against God and man.-U. Ver. 34.-The Pierced Armour. This occurred during the third campaign of Ben-hada.d against Israel. Micaiah had forewarned Ahab against the danger he incurred, and was cast into prison for his pains. The warning was, however, taken sufficiently to heart to induce the king to disguise himself. Describe the expedient adopted, and its remarkable failure. Ahab was in many respects a typical sinner. He was an idolttter, a persecutor, impenitent, though sometimes touched; and in the plenitude of power he fell. We see here- I. A MAN ARMED AGAINST Goo. True he was fighting against the Syrians, but as he girded on his armour he remembered and defied the words of the prophet. His ominous prophecy should not l1e fulfilled, he would yet come back safe and victorious to pnt Micaiah to death, and with this determination he put Jehoshaphat in co=and, and clad himself with proof armour. In spilit, therefore, he was fighting not only against the hosts of Syria, but against the word of God. Hence let us depict one who is armed against God. Revorse the description St. Paul gives (Eph. vi.) of one armed by God. The impenitent sinner represented by Ahab defends himsel£ 1. By false hopes (Deut. xxix. 19, 20). These constitute his "helmet," which wards off true thoughts of self anll sin. He blindly trusts in Divine mercy, while sin is unrepented, forgetting that "a God all mercy is a God OH. XXII, 1-53.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 559
unjust" (Young). "There is none other name given under heaven whereby we may be saved," &c. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? " 2. By a hardened heart. Thie is hie "breastplate." A man impenitent is a man lost. Some are "past feeling," their consciences are "seared as with a hot iron," and God gives them over to their "hardness of heart," and to an "impenitent mind." "Who has hardened himself against God, and prospered?" ·we may become "hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." 3. By defiant wo-rda. There is a tongue which is set on fire of hell Adduce examples. Ahab defied Micaiah. 4. By an unbelieving 1nind. The king questioned the truth of the prophet's message. He had more confidence in his own past success and in his military skill than in the declaration of a man who knew something of God butnothing of war. Unbelief ever prevents the inflowing of Divine goodness. Jesus "could do no mighty wcrks because of their unbelief." 5. By a dumb spirit. No asking for pan.Ion, no cry for mercy rose from Ahab's he~t, or it would not have proved too late; for the Lord is "not willing that any should perish." II. A MAN STRICKEN BY Gon. The chance arrow of the Syi·ian archer fnlfillecl the Divine purpose. 1. By the arrow of conviction. God's word is sharp and powerful, and pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (1) It may be shot unwittingly, as the archer drew at a venture not knowing what he might hit. Let our words for God be pointed, and be winged by faith, and He will see that they hit the mark. (2) It mQ/1.J touch the one vulnerable spot. That arrow pierced "between the joints of ai=our '' otherwise proof. So David's stone would have fallen powerless on the greavee or the breastplate of the giant of Gath. God, who knows our hearts, tries every avenue. Through our reason, through our affections, through our conscience, His word seeks to find its way. 2. By the arrow of j-udgment. (1) It was foretolcl (ver. 28). Ahab ran the risk. So do they who continue in sin after bearing of " o. certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (2) It was inevitable. All disguise and precaution were un- availing. The justice of God sooner or Inter reaches the right mo.n. (3) It was terrible. The weak, sensuous man, whose promise had sometimes been so fair, fell in a moment from kingship, from life, and from hope. " He that being reproved hardeneth hie neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without often remedy."-A. R. HOMILETICAL INDEX TO
THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.