The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 202

opportunity lost, with the reason of it. The Syrians might have been crushed, whereas they hs.d escaped, because, instead of relying on Jehovah, he, Asa, had relied upon Benhadnd (ver. 7). Compare Elisha's language to Joash of Israel (2 Kings xiii. 19). Nothing commoner than for men to be blind to their own best interests; to be neglect- ful of the opportunities Providence sets before them for advancing these; and to call in the aid C!f enemies rather than of friends-of their worst enemy, the devil, rather than of their best friend, Jehovah-when they find themselves placed in some critical situation. (2) A great victory recalled, with the secret of it. The mighty host of the Ethiopians and the Libyans had been defeated; their horsemen and chariots routed by Juda.h's spearmen and bowmen, and that, as Asa knew, not by their own prowess or by his generalship, but because, in answer to prayer, Jehovah had entered the field upon his side (ver. 8). It is strange how easily and quickly men forget Divine interpositions on their behalf, and how readily, almost how naturally, they put these to their own credit rather than to God's. "Time hath, my lord, a wallet on his back~• (Shakespeare, 'Troilus and Cressida,' act iii. so. 3). No example better to be followed by a Christian tha.n that of David (Ps. ciii. 2). A good memory would often save a Christian from foolish blunders. (3) A great doctrine stated, with the lesson of it. Asa should have known that the eyes of the Lord were ever running to and fro through- out the earth, to show himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts were perfect before him, and that all he had to do was to see that his heart was perfect before God, and to show the same by trusting in him (ver. 9). See homily on "The eyes of the Lord." (4) A great sin committed, with the disastrous result of it. In turning his back upou Jehovah and repairing to Benhadacl, he, Asa, had acted foolishly (ver. 9). He had not only blundered, perpetrated an error in judgment, but done what was inherently wicked; and, as a consequence both of his blunder and of his sin, he "would have wars "-which he had in the continued hostility of the northern kingdom. Observe the double aspect of sin, as an act of folly and a deed of wickedness, and the double aspect of retribution, as at once the natural outcome or result of human folly and the positive infliction of a judicial sentence. II. THE ~ING's ANSWER TO THE PBOPRET. (Ver. 10.) 1. He was angry with the prophet. Good men as well as bad may fall into danger, but in both it is siu. If Asa's "heart was perfect all his days," it is clear his life was not. He was "wroth with the seer." Anger is a work of the flesh (Gal. v. 20), the passion of a foolish heart (Eccles. viL 9), and the foam of an unbridled tongue (Prov. xxv. 28; Hos. vii. 16). Outrageous in any (Prov. xxviL 4), it is unbecoming in all, but especially in kings, and not allow- able in Christians (Col. iii. 8). Asa was angry with Hanani because Hanani told him of his fault. Even good men require large grace before they can say, "Let the righteous smite me," etc. (Ps. cxli. 5). Yet the rebukes of the righteous should be received submissively (Lev. xiL 17) and with grateful affection (Prov. ix. 8). He who so welcomes them shall be honoured (Prov. xiii. 18); get understanding (Prov. xv. 32); exhibit prudence (Prov. xv. 5); and abide among the wise (Prov. xv. 31). 2. He put the prophet in a prison-house; literally, "in a house of stocks," the " stock " being "an instrument of torture, by which the body was forced into an unnatural, twisted position, the victim, perhaps, being bent double, with the hands and feet fastened together" (Keil). Into some such place of confinement Jeremiah was thrust (Jer. xx. 2; cf. xxix. 26), and Paul and Silas (.Acts xvi. 24). "The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion" (Prov. :xiL 12). If, in Hanani's case, it did not turn out "messengers of death" (Prov. xvi. 14), it was because Asa was at bottom a good man, whose hand as well as heart were in the keeping of the Lord (Ps. lxxvi. 10). 3. He oppressed those who took the prophet's side. 'fhese were, doubtless, the piollll section of the people who bad not approved of the Syrian alliance. It is seldom that a wicked policy can be entered on by kings or parliaments (at least in a Christian land) without some voice or voices being raised against it. Unhappily, these have often to share obloquy and oppression, as Hanani's supporters did. Yet nothing is more calamitous for a country than to see the best people in it persecuted by its rulers for protesting against the,r crooked ways. When a policy cannot be defended or carried through without imprison- ing those who are opposed to it, that policy is wrong I LESSONS. 1. 'l'be certainty that God sees everything that is done beneath the sun, 2. The goodness of God in reproving wrong-doers. 3. The folly of leaning upon an arm en. xv1. 1-14.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 203