The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 266

Vers. 5-12.-0ur friends and tkei,r fa,t,e, etc. These verses offer us a cluster of truths which we may gather. I. THAT OUR FATE IS COMMONLY BOID."D tJP WITH THAT OF OUR FRIENDS. .Ahaziah "went with Jehoram the son of Ahab" (ver. 5); and, allying himself with him in war, he visited him as a friend when he was at his home at Jezreel. But this friendship with God's enemies led him to his destruction; his coming to Jehoram was" of God• (ver. 7); it was the way ta.ken by Divine Providence to bring upon him the penalty of his guilt. For he perished with his friend on the same day and at the same hand (vers. 8, 9). When we are determining upon our alliances and our friendships, it is well not only to consider the station, the income, the reputation in society, of those who invite us to their confidence, but also to inquire concerning their probablB whither- ward. In what directien are they moving? Toward what goal a.re their faces turned? What will their end be? Are they on an upward or on a downward course? For nothing is more likely than that we shall share their fate, that we shall become what they are becoming. Il. THAT THE INFLUENCE OF A GOOD MAN GOES FAB BEYOND HIS OWN GENERATION. "They buried him, Because (they said) he is the son of Jehoshaphat," etc. (ver. 9). He was Jehoshaphat'e grandson; but though they had to go back two generations, the memory and the moral impression of the good king had not faded-at any rate, had not been effaced. " The memory of the just " abides; it is fragrant after many years have gone ; and the influence of the holy lasts when the memory has disappeared. Knowledge in the memory, peace in the mind, soundness in the soul, beauty and use- fulness in the life,-these are the fruits of the good man's life, though they a.re not traced to his hand and not referred to his working; they a.re influences which spread and widen as the years go on. fil THAT IF WE PLACE OURSELVES UNDER THE DOIIIINION OF EVU., WE DO NOT KNOW TO WIIA.T DEPI'H WE MAY DESCEl!."D. We have here a woman, who was brought up in a civilized court, and who had the opportunity of acquainting herself with the Law of the Lord, causing all her own grandsons to be murdered, in order that she might have the helm of the state in her own hands I To what a bottomless depth of moral degradation can a woman sink, when she gives herself up to the power of evii I And we do not, any of us, know the lengths of wrong-doing, the depths of iniquity, to which we may go, if we once yield to that strong tempt.ation-impurity, avarice, indulgence in strong drink, the intoxication of applause, or whatever it may be-which is assailing and even threatening us. Shon the first step in an evil course, for the slope becomes steeper as we go further, and it leads down to a deep and dark gulf of shame and ruin. IV. THAT WOMANLY KINDNESS RAS A. LARGE OONTBIBUTION TO BRING TO THE 0AUBB AND KINGDOM OF GoD. It was a very great service, fruitful of large results, which Jehosbabeath now rendered (ver. 11). It was a very valuable service that womanly kindness and fidelity rendered to our Lord when he lived and when he died for us. The Apostle Paul had to thank womanly kindness for succour in t~e course of his career. Pity, with the hand of help it stretches forth, is a handmaid of piety, a valued servant in the king's household. V. THAT IN THE HOUSE OF TBE LORD WE MAY FIND A. HIDING-PLACE FOB OUBBELVEB. (VP.r. 12.) His aunt hid the infant Joash in the house of God (ver.12). :Ma.ny times,  ou. xxn. 1-12.] THE SEOOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 267