The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 233

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-Friendship with man and faithfulness to God. The Apostle John fleeing from the baths because he saw the enemy of Christ entering, is a familiar picture. But how far are we to carry such unwillingness to be associated with the ungodly or the unbelieving r Jehoshaphat is here strongly rebuked for his intimacy with Ahab and the help he had been giving that wicked monarch. Let us consider- I. How FAR oua FREEDOM EXTENDS. It surely extends to: 1. The interchange of common courtesies. "Be courteous II is a maxim that will apply to every one. "Civility brings no conclusions," and may be shown to all people, without implying any sanction of their heresies or immoralities. 2. Fidelity in service and equity in negotiation. It was once thought right to take advantage of a man if he were a Jew or an infidel. But unrighteousness can never be anything but hateful to God and injurious to man, and justice and fair-dealing can never be otherwise than commend- able. Moreover, the Christian servant or slave was urged by the apostle to show a right spirit "not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward" (1 Pet. ii. 18). 3. Succour to those who are in need. Pity for those who are in distress, and the helping hand stretched out to those that are" ready to perish," can never be contrary to the mind and the will of Jesus Christ. 4. Alliance for the promotion of a good common end. Here it may be objected that this would justify Jehoshaphat in his "offensive alliance II with Ahab, as they were seeking the lawful common object of crippling Syria. But it must be remembered that by helping to sustain the kingdom of Israel Jehoshaphat was perpetuating the division between the twelve tribes, the dismemberment of the country; and he was sustaining a power which was recreant to its high mission, and was positively and seriously hostile to sacred truth, to the kingdom of God. We may lawfully associate with ungodly men as fellow-citizens who are united in such rightful objects as saving life, as promoting health, as providing food, as extending trade and commerce. In so doing we are not in any way com- promising principle or sustaining wrong; we are not "helping the ungodly" or "loving them that hate the Lord." II. WHERE THE LINE OF PROHIBITION IS DRAWN. We have clearly no right to ally ourselves with sinful men when by so doing: 1. We advance the cause of unrighteous- ness or ungodliness. Better sacrifice anything we have at heart, better leave our personal preferences or our temporal interests entirely disregarded, than do that which will give an impetus to the cause of infidelity or immorality. In such a ca.se we should certainly draw down God's displeasure; we need no prophet to say to us, "Theroforo is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.'' 2. ·when we show ourselves indilfor~nt to the honour of our Divine Saviour. Jehoshaphat's ostentatious companion-  THE SECOND DOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oa. xtx.1-11.