Comments on the Second Book of Kings-H Rossier.doc

8/9/2019 Comments on the Second Book of Kings-H Rossier.doc

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Comments on the Second Book of Kings

(ch.8-25)

by Henri Rossier

http!!""".bib#ecentre.org

CONTENTS

Introduction

2 Kings $-%#i&'h 'nd h'i'h

2 Kings 2-%#i&'h 'nd %#ish'

2 Kings 2: 1-12 The Ascension of Elijah

Elijah, a T!e of Christ

Elisha, the Ser"ant

2 Kings 2: 1#-2$ Elisha, or Christ in the S!irit

2 Kings * - 8 $5-%#ish'

2 Kings # %ehora& and the 'ar Against (oa)

2 Kings *: 1-+ The ro!hets 'ido.

2 Kings *: /-#+ The Shuna&&ite

2 Kings *: #/*1 0eath in the ot

2 Kings *: *2-** The (an of aal-shalishah

2 Kings $ Naa&an

2 Kings : 1-+ The Sons of the ro!hets and the %ordan

2 Kings : /-2# 0othan

2 Kings : 2*-+:23 The Siege of Sa&aria


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2 Kings /: 1- The Shuna&&ite Again

2 Kings /: +-1$ en-4adad and 4a5ael

2 Kings 8 $+ - $, $-Kings of sr'e# 'nd of /0d'h

2 Kings /: 1-26 %ehora&, King of %udah, and 4is Son, Aha5iah

2 Kings 6 %ehu, King of Israel

2 Kings 13 %ehu 7continued8

2 Kings 11 Athaliah

2 Kings 12 %oash, King of %udah

2 Kings 1#: 1-6 %ehoaha5, Son of %ehu, King of Israel

2 Kings 1#: 13-2$ %oash, King of Israel, and Elisha

2 Kings 1*: 1-22 %oash, King of Israel-A&a5iah, King of %udah

2 Kings 1*: 2#-26 %ero)oa& II, King of Israel

2 Kings 1$: 1-+ A5ariah or 955iah, King of %udah

2 Kings 1$: /-12 echariah, King of Israel

2 Kings 1$: 1#-22 Shallu& and (enahe&, Kings of Israel

2 Kings 1$: 2#-#1 e;ahiah and e;ah, Kings of Israel

2 Kings 1$: #2-#/ %otha&, King of %udah

2 Kings 1 Aha5, King of %udah

2 Kings 1+: 1- 4oshea, King of Israel

2 Kings 1+: +-*1 The 0i"ine


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The


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readers that one of the great di"isions of the Old Testa&ent, Bthe ro!hets,B included

)esides the )oo;s of the !ro!hets !ro!er with exception of Daniel and Lamentations, all

the )oo;s fro& %oshua through the )oo;s of Kings ece!t for the )oo; of


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of Israel in contrast to those of %udah@ In studing 1 Kings .e ha"e )een a)le to ascertain

the character of Elijahs &inistr, .hich a)o"e all .as a &inistr of &iracles@ 'e shall

ha"e occasion to notice this e"en &ore full in the life of Elisha, the second great !ro!hetof Israel@ The acti"it of these &en of ?od consisted &uch &ore of deeds than of .ords@

On the contrar, that of the !ro!hets of %udah is altogether different@ The s!ea;, and onl

rarel !erfor& a &iracle, such as that of the sun dial of Aha5 7Isa@ #/: /8@ This contrasts!rings fro& the fact that the !u)lic !rofession of the .orshi! of %eho"ah .as still

ac;no.ledged in %udah, and su)sisted in s!ite of idolatrous inter&itureD thus it did not

need &iracles to )e accredited@

This leads us to res!ond to the Guestion that is often as;ed, .h one no longer sees&iracles in Christendo& toda@ The reason is the sa&e@ As long as it has not )een s!ued

out of the >ords &outh, the &iracles intended to strengthen the hearts of the faithful

gra!!ling .ith a!ostas shall not ta;e !lace, nor those intended to "indicate the characterof the true ?od )efore &en .ho ha"e renounced 4i&@

It .as other.ise at the )eginning of the Churchs histor@ Nu&erous &iracles too; !lace,.hether a&ong the %e.s .ho had rejected their (essiah, in order to !ro"e the di"init of

the Sa"ior to the&, or .hether a&ong the idolatrous ?entiles, in order to accredit the !reaching of the ?od .ho .as un;no.n to the&@ ?od )ore .itness .ith 4is ser"ants

B)oth ) signs and .onders, and "arious acts of !o.er, and distri)utions of the 4ol

?host, according to his .illB 74e)@ 2: *8@

Catholicis& !retends to &iracles, just as in a &easure also the rotestantis& of our das !retends to &iraculous gifts@ In fact, that .hich the first !resents to us are false &iracles

intended to )lind the si&!le, .hereas the second see;s to accredit itself ) an a!!earance

of di"ine !o.er .hen a!ostas has alread &ade itself ;no.n in its )oso& on e"er

hand@

After the ra!ture of the saints, the &iracles of the age to co&e shall )e &ade &anifest,

.hether a&ong the %e.s or )efore the nations, ) &eans of the re&nant, as .e see in


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5in"s 6: 789;

-ehoram, 5in" of -)dah, and his &on, i)nah .as a cit of %udah, a !riestl cit )elonging to the sons ofAaron 7%oshua 21: 1#D 1 Chr@ : $+8@ 'hat a sha&e for %ehora&H In his o.n ;ingdo& one

of the &orall &ost i&!ortant cities detached itself fro& hi&@ The reason is gi"en in 2

Chronicles 21: 13-11@ The sons of Aaron could not associate the&sel"es .ith one .hoBhad forsa;en %eho"ah the ?od of his fathers,B and .ho urged %udah into this !ath ) his

high !laces and fornications@ So&e testi&on .as then still left in %udah, and this

testi&on .as to %ehora&s sha&e@ The >ord se!arated fro& hi& a !art of the !riesthood,


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that .hich alone could et &aintain %ehora&s relationshi! .ith 4i&self@ 'hen .e co&e

to our stud in Chronicles, .e .ill consider the judg&ent of this i&!ious ;ing in greater

detail@

Aha5iah the son of %ehora& of %udah, )egan to reign in the t.elfth ear of %ehora& of

Israel 72 Kings /: 2$8@ 4is &other .as Athaliah, daughter of O&ri, a co&&on .a ofs!ea;ing a&ong the %e.sD for she .as in fact the granddaughter of the head of this

dnast, O&ri, the daughter of Aha), and the .ife of %ehora& of %udah 7"@ 1/8@ She .asthus the sister of %ehora& of Israel@ Aha5iah hi&self .as the son-in-la. of the house of

Aha)@ As %ehosha!hat his grandfather had &ade an alliance .ith Aha) in order to reta;e


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he arri"es, and this fa&il feast reunites the& for a co&&on &eal@ After that, Sa&uel

rises u! in !eace and goes to ater 4e .ill a!!ro"e 72 Kings 13: #38 the .a %ehu carried out his

tas;, )ut .ithout co&&union .ith hi&D for all the .hile 4e is s!ea;ing thus 4e isa!!ro"ing neither the &an nor his &oti"es, as .e shall ha"e occasion to note &ore than

once in these cha!ters@

If the !ro!het Elisha had .e!t )efore 4a5ael, .hat .ould he ha"e done )efore %ehuF 4e

also gi"es as )rief as !ossi)le a co&&ission: BThus said %eho"ah: I ha"e anointed thee;ing o"er IsraelB 72 Kings 6: #8@ A !ro!het hi&self, he lea"es u! to this son of the

!ro!hets .ithout dictating the .ords to hi&, the concern for .hat he .ill ha"e to add to it

) the S!irit@

This oung &an re"eals to %ehu the uns!aring judg&ent u!on the house of Aha)@ The

&oti"e for this judg&ent .as the .a in .hich this ;ing, urged on ) %e5e)el, had treatedthe ser"ants of the >ord and 4is !ro!hets@ In fact, there .ill e"er co&e the ti&e .hen the

>ord .ill call to &ind that .hich has earlier )een done to B4is )rethren,B .hether inIsrael or in the Christian asse&)l@

The fact that the oung !ro!het adds all this detail to the .ords of Elisha is "er

characteristic of this latters career and &oral essence@ Not once, ece!t at ethel 7and .e

ha"e sho.n the reason for this8, does he !ronounce judg&ent hi&self, though he &ust !ass through a scene .here all is judg&ent on ?ods !art@ This judg&ent &ust !ut an end

to the dnast of O&ri in order to fulfill the sentence !ronounced u!on Aha)@ =or the

sa&e reason, the >ord had alread !ut an end to the house of %ero)oa&, the son of Ne)at

71 Kings 1$: 2/-#38, and to that of aasha 71 Kings 1: 1-*8, each ti&e re!eating thedreadful .ord: 4i& that dieth @ @ @ in the cit shall the dogs eat, and hi& that dieth in the

field shall the fo.l of the hea"ens eatB 71 Kings 1*: 11D 1 Kings 1: *D 1 Kings 21: 2*8@

The oung &an flees according to the co&&and gi"en ) the !ro!het@ 4e did not ha"e toretract that .hich has )een decreed, has no e!lanation to gi"e, no .arning, as had )een

the case for Aha) 71 Kings 21: 2+-268D judg&ent .as at the door and to )e eecuted

i&&ediatel@

%ehora& of Israel 7""@ 11-1$8, .ounded in )attle, had just left


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just !roclai&ed ?ods &ind, )eing full a.are of the reason for it, .as called a fool or

i&)ecile ) the&F

In our das .e can often o)ser"e the sa&e ano&al@ The Christian, ha"ing ;no.ledge ofthe thoughts of ?od, can announce the& to &en in their fullness and in detail, these

e"ents for .hich the .orld .ill )e the Bheater@ Those .ho are .ise call the& fools, untilthat da .hen their ees .ill )e o!ened-)ut too late-to ac;no.ledge the truth of .hat has

)een announced to the&@

>et us note that %ehu does not cons!ire against %ehora& until after he has )een

!roclai&ed ;ing 4e then i&&ediatel ta;es &easures so that the ;ing of %i5reel should

not recei"e an ne.s of .hat had ta;en !lace 7"@ 1$8@ %ehus character &ade u! of greati&!etuosit joined together .ith &uch !rudence, decisi"eness, and understanding of

hu&an nature, offers a&!le &aterial for stud@ >et us note this trait: BIf it )e our will, let

not a fugiti"e esca!e out of the cit to go to tell it in %i5reelB 7"@ 1$8@ 4e artfull engages

his acco&!lices in a collecti"e res!onsi)ilit, in order that in case of failure e"erthing

cannot )e laid to his charge@ That .hich follo.s .ill gi"e us a second ea&!le@ ut it isin this that .e &a also ascertain his lac; of !iet and of de!endence u!on ?od, and his

a&)ition .hich ta;es ad"antage of the .ord of %eho"ah to assure hi&self of full !o.er@4e is thin;ing onl of hi&self, of his o.n interests, and of the gratification of his

!assionsD he eercises judg&ent to assure hi&self of )enefits, and co"ers all this egois&

.ith a cloa; .hich he calls B5eal for %eho"ah@B

0uring the inter"al, Aha5iah had co&e do.n to %ehora& to e!ress his s&!athconcerning his .ounds@ 0es!ite its a!!earance of ur)anit and cordialit, this liaison .as

odious to the >ord@ The la&! that had )een &aintained u! to no. in 0a"ids house, .as

a)out to )e etinguished unless ?od should occu! 4i&self .ith tri&&ing it@ ut his

relationshi! to a fa&il of an a!ostate race .as of &ore "alue to Aha5iah than the glorof the ?od of Israel@ Si&ilar conditions are often &et .ith in our das@ The fa&il of ?od

has, ho.e"er, nothing to gain ) such relationshi!s@ Each ti&e Israel gained an ad"antagethrough the friendshi! of the ;ing of %udah, .hat did it gi"e in echangeF The loss .as

al.as on the side of those .ho, in so&e fee)le &easure, still )ore the testi&on of the

true ?od@

%ehu goes to %i5reel@ BIs it !eaceFB This is the great Guestion raised@ %udg&ent is at thedoor, and %ehora& does not et ;no. .hether it is !eace or .rath that has co&e to hi&@

'hat use are his &essengers and the !recautions he ta;es to hi&F None of his ser"ants

returned to .arn hi& and ad"ise hi& to )e on his guard@ The !rudence of %ehu had

!ro"ided for this@ BTurn thee )ehind &e,B he tells the&- ecellent &eans to reach his ends.ithout !re&aturel a.a;ening the distrust of his ;ing ut ?od is controlling all things,

e"en those that are contrar to his character@ 4e is a ?od of truthD 4is .as are straight

and ne"er croo;ed@ 4e has said: BThere is no !eace @ @ @ to the .ic;edB, 4is sentence &ust )e eecuted@

B%ehu @ @ @ dri"es furiousl@B The ru&)ling of thunder announces the stor& to all ece!t to

%ehora&, as deaf to the a!!roach of the te&!est as he had )een to that of the grace so


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often !ronounced )efore hi&@ 4e does nothing to .ard off his fate@ 4e co&es .ith

Aha5iah to see; refuge at the foot of the tree u!on .hich the )lo. is to fall@ AlasH Such is

the lot of &en@ The seek for !eace outside the !eace that ?od offers to all, and findnothing )ut agitation, anguish, and finall the judg&ent of ?od@ Beace, !eace to hi& that

is afar off, and to hi& that is nigh, saith %eho"ahD and I .ill heal hi&@ ut the .ic;ed are

li;e the trou)led sea, .hich cannot rest, and .hose .aters cast u! &ire and dirt@ There isno !eace, saith & ?od, to the .ic;edB 7Isa@ $+: 16-218@ Also in that &o&ent .hen &en

.ill Bsa, eace, then sudden destruction .ill co&e u!on the&@ B'hat !eace,B ans.ered

%ehu, Bso long as the fornications of th &other %e5e)el and her sorceries are so &anFB%ehora& cries .hile fleeing, BTreacher, Aha5iahHB Not treacher, )ut judg&entH The

.ord of ?od to Elijah is fulfilled to the letter@ BAnd it shall co&e to !ass, that hi& that

esca!eth the s.ord of 4a5ael shall %ehu slaB 71 Kings 16: 1+8@ %ehu hi&self s&ites ;ing

%ehora&@ Then he recalls the !ro!hec of Elijah to Aha) 71 Kings 21: 16-2*8, not in theidentical .ords, )ut .ith the sa&e &eaning (isera)le ;ingH In .hat .as he trustingF In

his title and his roal dignit, as .e see ) his riding forth .hich leads to his ruinD in the

t.el"e long ears of his reign, no dou)t, 7and .ho .ould drea& of treacher after such a

long reign8D in the faithfulness of his su)jects and of those .ho surrounded hi&@ ainsu!!ortsH B4o. are the suddenl &ade desolateHB

And .ho has &ade all these circu&stances .or; together to this resultF 'ho caused

%ehora& to de!art fro& .hoFB And to t.o or

three eunuchs .ho nod to hi& fro& a)o"e he sas, BThro. her do.nH And the thre. her do.nD and so&e of her )lood .as s!rin;led on the .all, and on the horsesD and he

tra&!led on herB 7"@ ##8@ 4ere .e see ho. &uch %ehu is a stranger in his thoughts to the

honor and the glor of the >ord, all the .hile ;no.ing the di"ine decree and that he is its

eecutor@ One &ight ha"e e!ected that the .ord B'ho is for the >ordFB &ight ha"eco&e forth fro& his &outh, )ut ?od had little !lace in the thoughts of this "iolent and

a&)itious &an@ E"en that .hich had )een !ro!hesied ) Elijah concerning %e5e)el, a


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'hen the 'ord !ortras such characters for us, let us re&e&)er that ?od is far fro&

alwa#s e!ressing to us 4is a!!ro"al or disa!!ro"al of the instru&ents that ser"e his

!ur!oses@ 4e tells us of that in .hich %ehu discharged his tas; .ell, and goes no further,lea"ing the e"aluation of his conduct to our s!iritual judg&ent, in order that .e &a dra.

instruction for oursel"es@ >et the reader recall the histor of the judges and the &anner in

.hich the deeds of Israels li)erators are recalled to us there@ 'e &ight &ulti!l ea&!les ) ta;ing %aco)s histor and that of so &an others@ That ?od should use a %ehu or a

Sa&son to acco&!lish 4is judg&ents in no .ise signifies that there is livin" faith in these

&en, or that their hearts condition had 4is a!!ro"al@ Sa&son and ara; are na&ed in4e)re.s 11, )ecause in this cha!ter it is not a &atter of faith in itself, )ut of the activit#

of faith, .hich is another thing Their conduct, I re!eat, is discerned s!irituall, and that is

.h the .orld does not understand anthing of these ea&!les gi"en us ) the 'ord@ In

other cases, es!eciall that of a kin", ?od usuall tells us ho. 4e feels@ In hi& 4e judgesthe state of the things of .hich he is the res!onsi)le re!resentati"eD if ?od .ould not do

this, the righteousness of 4is judg&ents could .ell )e Guestioned, if it .ere left u! to our

falli)le e"aluation of the&@

This re&ar; has a "er !ractical a!!lication in %ehus case, .ho at the sa&e ti&e is )oth

the instru&ent of ?ods .rath against the house of Aha) and he to .ho& the reign is

entrusted@ On the one hand he recei"es the testi&on of the >ords a!!ro"al for ha"ing

eecuted that .hich .as right in 4is ees 7"@ #38, and that .ithout an reser"ation as tohis &oral characterD on the other hand, in the follo.ing "erse 7"@ #18 his conduct as ;ing

is se"erel )la&ed ) the >ord@ 'ith regard to the &assacre of %i5reel, .e find in 4osea

1: *-$ .hat ?od thin;s of it and .hat its conseGuences are: B=or et a little .hile, and I.ill "isit the )lood of %i5reel u!on the house of %ehu, and .ill cause the ;ingdo& of the

house of Israel to cease@ And it shall co&e to !ass in that da, that I .ill )rea; the )o. of

Israel in the "alle of %i5reel@

Near the she!herds &eeting-!lace, the )rothers of Aha5iah, ;ing of %udah 7""@ 12-1*8,undergo the sa&e fate he also had &et@ In co&!aring 2 Kings 6: 2+-26 .ith 2 Chronicles

22: +-6, .e learn that )efore )eing s&itten near (egiddo, Aha5iah had fled to Sa&aria

for refuge and had not et )een forced fro& his retreat .hen his )rothers ca&e to "isit thesons of the ;ing It .as not until after the eter&ination of his )rethren that Aha5iah .as

)rought to %ehu and suffered Bfro& ?odB this Bco&!lete ruinB at the ascent of ?ur, onl

to flee to (egiddo to die there, and then to )e carried to %erusale& and )e )uried there@

If %ehus action had not )een ordered of the >ord, it is no less true that ?od had decreedit@ This !assage affords us a serious lesson@ To all oneself, as did Aha5iah, to a .orld

o"er .hich di"ine .rath is sus!ended, is to e!ose oneself to the sudden ruin .hich .ill

o"erta;e it@ ut those .ho .ithout thought for the holiness of ?od go, )e it )ut tostrengthen the )onds of friendshi! .ith the sa&e .orld, suffer a si&ilar fate@ Aha5iahs

)rothers suffer fatal conseGuences@ There cannot, there &ust not )e, for those .ho& ?od

calls to lead 4is !eo!le, an fello.shi! .hatsoe"er .ith that .hich 4e conde&ns@

In contrast, .e find a stri;ing ea&!le of se!aration fro& e"il in %ehonada) the son of


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Kenites, .ho had entered into Canaan .ith Israel@ The .ere di"ided into se"eral

)ranches: the least of these in the etre&e north at Kedesh in Na!htali 7%udges *: 118, the

strongest in the desert of %udah to the south of Arad 7%udges 1: 18, and lastl, a third )ranch, su)di"ided into se"eral fa&ilies in the "icinit of %a)e5, .hich )elonged to %udah

71 Chr@ 2: $$8@ 'e do not ;no. .hat led %ehonada) fro& the ;ingdo& of %udah to that of

Israel@ 'as he !art of those follo.ing Aha5iahs )rethren, as %ehus a)ru!t Guestion &ightsuggestF 'hate"er the case &a ha"e )een, he had no lin; .ith the e"il .hich

surrounded hi&@ 4is !rinci!les .ere those of a)solute se!aration to ?od as a true

Na5arite and, )eing una)le to teach these !rinci!les here in this corru!t s!here thatsurrounded hi&, he had at least taught the& in his fa&il and in his house@ The circle of

his testi&on .as a li&ited one in the !resence of the infidelit flo.ing li;e a rising tide

o"er the t.o houses of Israel, )ut it .as nonetheless a testi&on, and ?od a!!ro"ed it@

'e ;no. these details fro& %ere&iah #$@ %ehonada)s !rinci!les .ere those of e"er true Na5arite@ =irstl, to a)stain fro& .ine, .hich re!resents the intoicating co"eteousness of

the .orld@ Secondl, to refrain fro& )uilding a house, that is, to refrain fro& esta)lishing

oneself u!on the earth in a !er&anent .a@ Thirdl, to refrain fro& so.ing grain, as if

one .ere e!ecting so&ething, e"en if it .ere onl a ear of har"est@ =ourthl, to refrainfro& !lanting a "ineard, that is to sa, to refrain fro& culti"ating that .hich .ould

sooner or later lead to the a)andoning of ones Na5ariteshi!-and ho. &an )elie"ers ha"elost their Na5ariteshi! through failure to .atch o"er this !ointH =ifthl, to d.ell in tents,

as true sons of A)raha&, as !ilgri&s and sojourners in the land of !ro&ise@ %ehonada)

understood that this land gi"en to ?ods !eo!le .as in no .ise a !resent !ossession, aslong as the &oral ruin of the !eo!le eisted along .ith the &aterial disorder .hich .as

its conseGuence@ 4is faith .as still .aiting for a rest for the !eo!le of ?od@ 4e and his

sons testified to this ) their attitude@

'e are not told on .hat occasion %ehonada) had taught these co&&ands to his o.n, )ut

as the one and onl historical &ention of hi& that is &ade is found in our cha!ter, .e&a infer fro& this that the sight of the e"il and of the general ruin after the glorious

reigns of 0a"id and Solo&on had &ade hi& feel the necessit of a "er narro. .al;, and

of a return to Bthat .hich .as fro& the )eginning,B taught ) the !atriarchs, in contrast tothe lait .hich surrounded hi&@ (a .e also at this ti&e of the end )e true children of

%ehonada) the son of ordD his !rinci!les ha"e sho.n us this@ %ehus heart .as u!right .ithres!ect to %ehonada) to .ho& he confided his !lans, )ut could one sa that it .as u!right

in res!ect to ?odF That .hich follo.s .ill sho. us: BCo&e .ith &e, and see & 5eal for

%eho"ahB 7"@ 18@ Jet ne"ertheless, ho. greatl di"ided .as this 5ealH If 5eal for the >ordis .holehearted, the ser"ant of ?od )arel s!ea;s of it, )ut rather is dis!osed to eclai&,

BI a& an un!rofita)le ser"ant@B That %ehu .as 5ealous need not )e dou)ted, )ut in .hat

!ro!ortion .as this for the >ordF Saul of Tarsus .as an ardent 5ealot for the traditions ofhis fathersD concerning 5eal, he !ersecuted the Church, )elie"ing that he .as ser"ing ?od@


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aul said of the %e.s, his )rethren according to the flesh, that the had a B5eal for ?od,

)ut not according to ;no.ledge@B There .as &ore true 5eal, &ore understanding, &ore

!o.er in %ehonada)s hol se!aration than in the i&!etuous .al; of %ehu@ erse #1infor&s us a)out the "alue and &easure of the 5eal of this latter@

After ha"ing slain Ball that re&ained to Aha) in Sa&aria, until he had destroed hi&,according to the .ord of %eho"ah, .hich he s!o;e to ElijahB 7"@ 1+8, %ehu &o"es against

the !riests of aal@ 4ere too .e see hu&an caution, a lea"ing nothing to chance, joined.ith a craftiness .hich, ho.e"er, is not the do&inant trait of his character 7"@ 168@ In an

case, it is not the si&!le and courageous .al; of faith according to the truth@ 4o. greatl

%ehus attitude differs fro& that of Elijah .ho stood alone in unsha;ea)le confidence inthe >ord, o"er against the hostile !o.er of the ;ing, of all the !riests of aal, and of a

!eo!le halting B)et.een t.o o!inionsB standing alone against all, )ecause the ?od in

.ho& he trusted .as .ith hi&@ No su)tlet in this scene at the )roo; of KishonH Theauthorit of the !ro!hets .ord alone .as enough to destro all the !riests of the false

godH

It is not that %ehu did not a!!reciate the .ord of ?od s!o;en ) Elijah, )ut he .ent no

further@ eond the !ro!hets .ord concerning hi&self he had no real understanding ofthe thoughts of ?od@ 4e Guotes onl Elijah 72 Kings 6: 2$, #D 2 Kings 13: 1+8D he does

not ;no. anthing sa"e the judg&ents of ?od@ 4e does not e"en &ention Elisha, .hose

career he had )een a)le to follo. fro& its )eginning ?race has no hold u!on his heart@ Nothing is &ore dangerous than a !artial understanding of di"ine !rinci!les@ This al.as

leads to a false a!!lication of these !rinci!les and a )ad .al;@ %ehu thought he had

acco&!lished e"erthing ) his .or; of eter&ination, and did not understand that all the

5eal i&agina)le .as not .orth a single act of o)edience .hich .ould ha"e se!arated hi&fro& the religion of %ero)oa&, the son of Ne)at, ) .hich he &ade Israel to sin@

At the ti&e of the eter&ination of the !riests of aal, of their te&!le, and of their idol,

.hen %ehu assigned his ca!tain and his ser"ants their roles .ith such great strategic sense7""@ 1/-2+8, %ehonada) the son of ord fro& the corru!t and idolatrous &ass@

Toda, as then, the .or; .hich se!arates fro& the .orld and gathers together all thechildren of ?od, for these t.o functions are )ut one, has the full a!!ro)ation of the >ord,

.hate"er the .orld &a sa, or e"en those Christians .ho .ish to ;ee! u! relationshi!s

.ith the .orld@ It is also there that !o.er is found 7%er@ 1$: 238@ Elijah !ossessed theS!irit of ?od .ho effected a co&!lete se!aration fro& e"il in hi&, and .hose !o.er

ani&ated the !ro!het .ith a hol 5eal for the >ord@ %ehu had 5eal .ithout the S!irit, a

5eal using hu&an &eans to ans.er to ?ods co&&ands@ 'hat then .ill ha!!enF If ina!!earance the result, the eter&ination of the !riests of aal, is the sa&e .ith )oth


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Elijah and %ehu, it is co&!letel other.ise in realit@ Elijah, 7all the .hile he is )eing

disci!lined8 continues on his !ath.a in the !o.er of the S!irit, rese&)ling at the end of

his career the Christ, .ho& in t!e he re!resents, and he ends gloriousl, ta;en u! tohea"en ) the chariot and horse&en of Israel@ %ehu, fier eecutor of judg&ent u!on

others, does not eercise it in an .a u!on hi&self, and does not turn aside fro& e"il

and idolatr to ser"e ?od alone The cal"es of %ero)oa&, that national religionconsecrated ) usage, do not gi"e offense to hi&, for unGuestiona)l his !olitics and the

hu&an interests of his reign acco&&odate the&sel"es to the& !erfectl@ In s!ite of that,

.hat a fair a!!raisal on ?ods !artH 4e credits %ehu .ith the fact that he had Beecuted

.ell that .hich is right in & sightB in judging the house of Aha), and on this account

gi"es hi& a !osterit u!on the throne unto the fourth generation@

On the other hand, .hat righteousness and .hat !erfect holiness in ?od@ 4e uses 4a5ael,

4is rod, to s&ite %ehu@ BIn those das %eho"ah )egan to cut Israel shortD and 4a5ael s&otethe& in all the )orders of IsraelD fro& the %ordan east.ard, all the land of ?ilead, the

?adites, and the


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defend Bthat .hich .as fro& the )eginning@B 'e do not see; this 'ord in hu&an

arsenals, )ut in the te&!le of ?od@ It is hidden there in the &ost hol !lace, .here the

S!irit of ?od alone is a)le to re"eal it to us and &a;e us ta;e hold of it@

Then the )ring %oash out to the entrance of the house, into its court@ The ;ings son has

u!on hi&self the anointing oil .hich consecrates hi&D the cro.n, sign of his roaldignitD and Bthe testi&on,B the la., .hich the ;ing, seated u!on his throne, .as to co!

out for hi&self and fro& .hich he .as to learn to fear the >ord and to ;ee! 4is statutes70eut@ 1+: 1/-238@

In s!ite of the surrounding !o"ert and the in"asion of a!ostas, .hat, in fact, .as

.anting for this restorationF The te&!le of ?od, 4is ha)itation in the &idst of 4is o.n,

.as thereD the high !riest, the &ediator )et.een the >ord and the !eo!le, .as thereD the

son of 0a"id .as there, dou)tless recogni5ed onl ) so&e, )ut soon to )e acclai&ed )

all the !eo!leD the anointing, the 4ol S!irit, .as thereD and a fee)le re&nant acclai&ed

the anointed of the >ord and surrounded hi&, just as 0a"ids &ight &en had at one ti&e

surrounded the ;ing@

To Athaliah 7""@ 1#-18, the restoration of the ;ingshi! according to ?od .as a

cons!irac@ She cries, BCons!irac,B as %ehora& of Israel had cried, BTreason@B Neither

the one nor the other could assert their rights for a &o&ent@ %ehora& falls under the rodof ?od@ Athaliah cannot assert an clai& to these rights .hen the chosen of the >ord is

&ade &anifest@ So it .ill )e for Christs ene&ies )efore the judg&ent and )efore the

a!!earing of the glor of 4is ;ingdo&@ ut .hat jo for the heart of %ehoiada and hisfaithful .ifeH The had .aited !atientl through a full ccle of ears for the >ords ti&e

to &anifest 4is anointedD the did not allo. the&sel"es to )eco&e discouraged nor

!ressed ) i&!atience into using hu&an &eans to )ring a)out the triu&!h of the ;ings

cause@ 0uring these long ears, the had li"ed in secret .ith the !recious o)ject of theirho!e, and at last the .ere recei"ing the glorious result of their faith@ >et us i&itate their

!atience@ Our %oash is still in the secret !lace of the sanctuar@ >et us there learn fro& dato da and fro& ear to ear to ;no. 4i& )etter@ (a 4e increase in our ees@ Soon 4e

shall a!!ear, and all shall rejoice in this sightD )ut e"en toda so&e, li;e %ehoiada and his

.ife, )ecause the ha"e d.elt .ith 4i& .hile 4e .as not et "isi)le, .ill ha"e )een

sho.ing forth, .hile a.aiting 4is glor, the )right ras of 4is da.ning, li;e the &orningstar arisen in their heartsH

BAnd %ehoiada &ade a co"enant )et.een %eho"ah and the ;ing and the !eo!le, that the

should )e the !eo!le of %eho"ahD and )et.een the ;ing and the !eo!leB 7"@ 1+8@ A

co"enant su!!oses t.o !arties: here, under the la., the engage the&sel"es &utuall, the>ord on the one side, the ;ing and the !eo!le on the other@ It is as if the ;ing .ere

ans.ering for the !eo!le and the !eo!le for the ;ing, as for&ing )ut one .hole in relation

to the >ord@ ut this engage&ent is rendered et the &ore sole&n ) the co"enant )et.een the ;ing and the !eo!le@ The &utuall engage the&sel"es to follo. the sa&e

!ath@ BThen all the !eo!le of the land .ent into the house of aal, and )ro;e it do.n: his

altars and his i&ages the )ro;e in !ieces co&!letel, and sle. (attan the !riest of aal )efore the altarsB 7"@ 1/8@ It is a co&&unit of 5eal for ?od@ There is no need for the


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su)tlet and artifices of %ehu 72 Kings 13: 1/-2+8 to etir!ate aal fro& %udah@ One sees

here the !o.erful action of the S!irit of ?od in a !eo!le-&uch &ore )lessed, in su&, than

the action of a single indi"idual, e"en .hen in fact, he is acco&!lishing the .ill of ?od@%ehu had concei"ed his !lan ) hi&self alone and had confided its eecution to guards

and to ca!tains@ 4ere, the .hole !eo!le, laing clai& to their title as the !eo!le of the

>ord, inti&atel )ound to the ;ing .ho& ?od had gi"en the&, etir!ate aal, his houseand his .orshi!D and for a)out 1/3 ears, until the reign of ungodl (anasseh, this

a)o&ina)le idolatr disa!!ears fro& the house of %udah@

%ehu had asse&)led all the !eo!le to s!ea; to the& .ith su)tlet, dou)tless not ha"ing

confidence in their dis!osition@ 4ere the !eo!le act in virt)e of the covenant, and that is.here it &ust )egin@ %ehus 5eal had not reesta)lished the co"enant, though destroing

aal, and it goes no further than that@ The ancient idolatr, %ero)oa&s cal"es, eists for

hi&, .hereas the ne. idolatr has )een etir!ated@ It is al.as thus .hen the flesh has a !art in refor&@ It cannot re&ed that a)andoning of ?od .hich has characteri5ed it fro&

the )eginningD other.ise it .ould no longer )e the flesh@ The natural &an 7and this ta;es

!lace under our ees e"er da8, &a .ell etir!ate an idol, .hether it )e .ine or another "ice, onl to re!lace it .ith and to )ring all the &ore into relief the idolatr of self,

his o.n self-righteousness, and his .ant of conscience .ith regard to ?od, a ?od .ho&

he !retends, li;e %ehu, to ser"e .ith 5eal@

Athaliah is led into the ;ings house ) the .a of the horse-gate, there to )e !ut to death@%oash enters ) another gate, that of the couriers, that he &ight sit !eacefull u!on the

throne of 0a"id@ The !ath to this throne &ust not )e defiled ) )lood@ It .as not so for

%ehu .ith relation to %e5e)el@ 4er )lood .as s!rin;led u!on the .all and u!on the horses,

and %ehu, tra&!ling her underfoot, entered into the house to eat and to drin; 72 Kings 6:##-#*8@ All this scene, though decreed ) ?od, )reathes Bthe furB of hi& .ho is its

author@ In %udah, all ta;es !laces in sole&n cal& and in the consciousness of the !resenceof ?od, &aintained ) the high !riest@ It is .ith the >ord that souls ha"e to do, for 4i&that the act, 4is honor that the see;, for, .ithout these &oti"es there could ne"er )e

!urification or co&!lete restoration@ In %udah this !resence of ?od acting u!on the

conscience of the !eo!le )rings, after !urification, a )lessed result@ BAll the !eo!le of theland rejoiced, and the cit .as GuietB 7"@ 238@ %o and !eace are the !ortion of the souls

.ho, in order to !lease ?od and ser"e 4i&, ha"e se!arated the&sel"es fro& that .hich

dishonors 4i&@

5in"s 7

%oash, King of %udah

The condition of .hich .e ha"e s!o;en did not last@ The reign of %oash is a sad ea&!le,

gi"en us ) the 'ord, of a ha!! )eginning in the !o.er of the S!irit of ?od and an end

fro& .hich e"erthing the )eginning had !ro&ised disa!!ears@ .a of ece!tion,Chronicles e!oses to us the details of %oashs final unfaithfulness, .hereas Kings, no

dou)t to esta)lish the contrast )et.een the .orshi! of the true ?od reesta)lished in %udah

and the idolatrous religion of Israel, s!ea;s to us onl of the ha!! and )lessed )eginning


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of this reign@ >et us then )egin .ith this, )ut let us first of all ea&ine that .hich in

%oashs character could lead to co&!letel den the !rinci!les that characteri5ed the

)eginning of his career@

The first .ords of our account infor& us as to this: BAnd %oash did .hat .as right in the

sight of %eho"ah, all the das .herein %ehoiada the !riest instructed hi&B 7"@ 28@ %oash, )rought u! in the la. of the >ord fro& &ost tender ears, guarded .ith !ious care fro&

all out.ard te&!tation through the solicitude of %ehoiada and %ehoshe)a, gifted .ith a !liant character, distinguished &ore ) his su)&ission than ) his energ, su)&itting to

good influences as long as the !re"ailed, )ut in danger through lac; of B"irtueB of

ielding to e"il influences-%oash .as accusto&ed fro& childhood on to enjo arelationshi! .ith ?od through an inter&ediar .ithout feeling the need for direct

co&&union .ith the >ord@ Not that he lac;ed the s!irit of initiati"eD the course of !iet in

.hich he .as enlisted rendered hi& ca!a)le on occasion of re!ro"ing e"en the high !riesthi&self 7"@ +8D )ut he lac;ed the i&&ediate direction of the S!irit of ?od@

Children of Christians often offer this s!ectacle@ Their !arents faith guides their firstste!s, a thing .hich is legiti&ate and a!!ro"ed of ?od@ The later &anifest a genuine

faith, )ut not stri!!ed of its first ha)its, loo;ing to &en rather than to ?od 4i&self@ Theirconscience has ne"er )een dee!l eercised a)out &ans sinful state and his natural

distance fro& ?od@ The )elie"e that .hich the ha"e al.as )elie"edD ho.e"er one

cannot dou)t that the ha"e life@ Their conduct lea"es nothing to )e desired, and theha"e a real interest in the things of ?od@ The 'ord is not un;no.n to the&, and one sees

a %oash re&inding e"en the high !riest of the Btri)ute of (oses the ser"ant of %eho"ah

laid u!on the congregation of Israel, for the tent of testi&onB 72 Chr@ 2*: 8@ ut the hour

of their s!iritual e&anci!ation has not et sounded, .hen it should ha"e ta;en !lace longago@ Kno.ledge and real !iet do not &a;e u! for the lac; of a direct relationshi! of the

soul .ith the >ord@ The Christian &ust see; this )efore all else@ Thousands of godl soulsre&ain in a condition of childhood, de!ending first of all u!on their !arents, and lateru!on their s!iritual leaders, instead of de!ending u!on ?od and the 'ord@ >et the leader

disa!!ear, and their godliness disa!!ears .ith hi&D let hi& turn aside, and their soul turns

aside after hi&@ 4o.e"er a&ia)le certain traits of this !iet &a )e, let us )e ;e!t fro& it,es!eciall during the difficult ti&es that .e are !assing through@ >et us &editate often on

this .ord of the a!ostle, addressed to the Blittle childrenB: BAnd e ha"e the unction fro&

the hol one, and e ;no. all thingsB 71 %ohn 2: 23, 2-2+8@ Not that o)edience to leadersshould )e .anting Christians are to o)e their leaders and su)&it to the& )ecause Bthe

.atch o"er our soulsBD the a!ostle also charges the& to Bord@

%oash o)eed leaders indiscri&inatel, .hether %ehoiada or the !rinces-and that .as his

ruin@

>eaders &a change or failD Christ alone does not change: 4e is the sa&e esterda,toda, and fore"er@ 4e is Bthe great she!herd of the shee!@B It is to 4i& that .e &ust


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clea"e@ This is one of the sole&n instructions that the character and career of %oash offers

us@

=ro& the )eginning of his reign, one thing, a!!arentl secondar, foretold its decline:BOnl, the high !laces .ere not re&o"ed: the !eo!le still sacrificed and )urned incense

on the high !lacesB 7"@ #8@ =ro& Solo&ons reign on, the !resence of the high !laces .astolerated, for in the )eginning, )efore the erection of the te&!le, these had not necessaril

)een idolatrous@ Solo&on had sacrificed to ?od at the great high !lace of ?i)eon 71Kings #: 2-*8D )ut alread the !eo!le, encouraged ) the ;ings ea&!le, .ere seeing

so&ething else in this, and their su!erstitious or idolatrous thoughts rose u! .ith the

incense that .as )urned there@ Through these high !laces of ord, the !lace of ?ods !resence in the &idstof 4is !eo!le@ 'hen there is a re"i"al of godliness, this neglected o)ject reGuires a totall

ne. "alue@ ?ods children feel the need of gathering there .here the >ord has )een

!leased to &a;e 4is na&e to d.ell, and of honoring 4is !resence in the &idst of 4is o.n ) their acti"it, ) their de"otion, and ) all their conduct@


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BAnd %oash said to the !riests, All the &one of the hallo.ed things that is )rought into

the house of %eho"ah, the &one of e"er one that !asses the account, the &one at

.hich e"er &an is "alued, and all the &one that co&es into an &ans heart to )ringinto the house of %eho"ah, let the !riests ta;e it, e"er &an of his acGuaintanceD and let

the& re!air the )reaches of the house, .here"er an )reach is foundB 7""@ *-$8@

As .e ha"e said )efore, .e see here .ith %oash an eact ;no.ledge of the la. of the

>ord .hich had )een gi"en hi& at his coronation@ A goodl su& &ust ha"e )eene&!loed, according to the ;ings order, for the restoration of the sanctuar@ =irst of all,

.e ha"e Ball the &one of the hallo.ed things that is )rought into the house of %eho"ah@B

This included all the cases &entioned ) (oses of "oluntar gifts and gifts of Ba .illingheartB for the )uilding of the sanctuar 7E@ #$: $, 23-26D Nu&@ +8@ (one fro& the s!oil

&a )e included in this categor 7Nu&@ #1: 2$-$*8@ Atone&ent &one and ranso&

&one &ade u! the second categor 7E@ #3: 11-1D Nu&@ #: **-$18@ >astl, the &one at.hich e"er &an .as "alued at consisted of e"er "oluntar gift .hich .as not

!rescri)ed ) an la. or ordinance@ This .as gi"en at different ti&es, as so&e of the

!assages referred to sho. us@ To %oash the i&!ortant thing .as to go )ac; to Bthe tri)uteof (oses the ser"ant of ?od laid u!on Israel in the .ildernessB 72 Chr@ 2*: 68, and not to

turn aside fro& the .ord of the la., .hen it .as a &atter of honoring the house of ?od

and all that .as connected .ith it@ It is the sa&e in our da, No &ore than for %oash is it a

Guestion for us of )eginning to )uild the house, of re-erecting a ne. ChurchD it is onl a&atter of re!airing the )reaches, and for that ?od does not a)andon us to our o.n

initiati"e .hich .ould )ut add ne. )reaches to the ancient e"ils@ In the 'ord of ?od .e

too ha"e our tri)ute of (oses, the indication of .hat ?od is e!ecting of usD and if ourhearts are B.illing,B the .ill see; )ut one thing, the interests of Christ and of the house

of ?od u!on earth@

If %oash is full of 5eal at this &o&ent, he does not find this sa&e degree of 5eal in the !riesthood or e"en in godl %ehoiada .ho is its head@ The !riests .ere e&!loing fortheir o.n use the gifts the recei"ed fro& their acGuaintances 7""@ +-/8@ It .as not that

the did not ha"e the right to li"e fro& the things offered at the altar, )ut their o.n

interest .ere ta;ing !recedence in their hearts o"er those of the >ord and of 4is houseDtheir conduct sho.ed this@ The li"ed fro& their gifts, and the house of ?od retained its

)reaches@ %ehoiada hi&self let the& do so .ithout !rotesting =urther do.n 7"@ 1$8 .e see

that !eo!le .ithout an official character, fro& a&ong those .ho .ere set o"er the .or;do.n to the car!enters and &asons, Bdealt faithfull,B &uch &ore so than the !riests

the&sel"es@ (a .e ehort oursel"es, follo.ing the ea&!le of these &en, to sho. the

sa&e heart for the .or; and faithfulness in the ser"ice entrusted to us, in order to Badorn

the teaching .hich is of our Sa"ior ?od in all thingsB 7Titus 2: 138@

On the other hand, those .ho had the &one in hand to distri)ute to the .or;ers, did not

distrust the&, for the recogni5ed the selflessness )rought to light ) their entire conduct@

Thus a ha!! co&&union reigned a&ong all, and nothing ca&e in to hinder the orderl

ad"ance of the .or;@ Such a result is al.as !roduced .hen the interests of the house of?od, instead of )eing relegated to the )ac;ground, are considered as the chief thing@


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In s!ite of this, the needs of the !riests .ere not forgotten@ Certain su&s 7the &onies of

the tres!ass and sin offerings8 .ere not de!osited in the chest !laced at the entr of the

house of the >ord, and these re&ained set a!art for the !riesthood 7"@ 18@ Thuse"erthing .as !ro"ided for .ith order and &easure@

et.een "erses 1 and 1+, the account in 2 Chronicles 2*: 1+-22 is .o"en in, that is tosa, the fall of %oash .ho .ent as far as to &urder echariah, the son of %ehoiada@ 'hen

.e co&e to the )oo;s of Chronicles, there .ill )e ti&e to &editate u!on this last sad ear of such a lo"el reignD )ut this deed .as enough to destro the fruit of %oashs testi&on@

4a5ael, the ;ing of Sria, ?ods rod, co&es u! against %erusale& after ha"ing sei5ed

?ath, located at the foot of the &ountains of %udah and .hich for&ed the ;e to the landon the side of the land of the hilistines@ %oash, in order to !a his ranso& to 4a5ael, sent

hi& all the hallo.ed things of the house of ?od@ 'hat had )eco&e of his .onderful 5eal

for all that !ertained to %eho"ahF According to 2 Chronicles 2*: 2#-2+, this did not

!re"ent 4a5ael fro& !resenting hi&self at %erusale& .ith a s&all nu&)er of &en, to the

sha&e and disgrace of %oashs great ar&, no. .ithout strength )ecause he had forsa;enthe >ord, the ?od of his fathers@ All the !rinces of the !eo!le .ho had incited the ;ing to

e"il and had cons!ired against echariah are !ut to death@ Thus the .ord s!o;en ) thatding !ro!het .as fulfilled: B%eho"ah see and reGuire it@B %oash hi&self, left Bin great

diseasesB ) the ene&, is slain ) his ser"ants, an A&&onite and a (oa)ite,

unconscious instru&ents of di"ine justice, this also a"enging the )lood of the son of%ehoiada u!on the ;ing according to the .ord of the !ro!het@

5in"s 7@: 79;

%ehoaha5 son of %ehu, King of Israel

The >ord fulfilled 4is !ro&ise &ade to %ehu: BTh children of the fourth generation shall

sit on the throne of IsraelB 72 Kings 13-#38@ %ehoaha5 succeeded his father@ SecondChronicles, .hich gi"es the histor of the fa&il of 0a"id, &a;es no &ention of

%ehoaha5 )ecause there .ere no relationshi!s )et.een this ;ing and %udah@ 'hen such

relationshi!s did not eist, this )oo; !asses o"er those ;ings in silence@ %ehoaha5 did not

turn fro& the sins of %ero)oa& an &ore than did his father, and e"en the Asherah, idol of the hoenician goddess of lo"e, .hose i&!ure .orshi! had )een inaugurated ) Aha) at

Sa&aria 71 Kings 1: ##8 re&ained in Israels ca!ital@ Also ?ods rod, in the !ersons of

4a5ael and en-4adad his son, continued to )eat do.n the ten tri)es@

Ne"ertheless, .hat &erc in the heart of ?odH It is sufficient that %ehoaha5, .ithout hisheart )eing changed in an .a, )esought the >ord, for 4i& to ans.er, &o"ed ) the

&iser and o!!ression of Israel@ BAnd %ehoaha5 )esought %eho"ah, and %eho"ah

hear;ened to hi&D for he sa. the o!!ression of Israel, )ecause the ;ing of Sriao!!ressed the&B 72 Kings 1#: *8@ 4e ta;es account of the slightest &o"e&ent of an

unha!! soul to.ard 4i&self@ ?od is "er easil found@ 'ho henceforth &ight )e a)le to

sa that he had sought 4i& in "ain, .hen the &ost ungodl &an, should he )ut for aninstant turn to.ard 4i&, .ould recei"e an ans.erF BAnd %eho"ah ga"e Israel a savior, so


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that the .ent out fro& under the hand of the SriansD and the children of Israel d.elt in

their tents as )eforeB 7"@ $8@ This sa"ior a!!eared, as .e shall see, in the !erson of %oash,

the son and successor of %ehoaha5@ At last the !eo!le &ight enjo a little Guiet@ 4ad theattri)uted this fa"or to ?od, this )lessing .ould ha"e continued, )ut Bthe de!arted not

fro& the sins of the house of %ero)oa&, )ut B.al;ed thereinB 7"@ 8@ The re&ar; is

constantl &ade that the .orld gladl enjos ?ods fa"ors .ithout )eing the least )itcareful to ser"e hi&@

5in"s 7@: 7?9A

%oash, King of Israel, and Elisha

%oash, the son of %ehoaha5 and grandson of %ehu, reigned siteen ears, the first three

ears si&ultaneousl .ith %oash, ;ing of %udah, .hose reign lasted fort ears@ Not onldid he not turn aside fro& an of the sins of %ero)oa&, )ut Bhe .al;ed thereinB 7"@ 118,

the 'ord here indicating to us that he too; the& as his rule of conduct@ These ;ings of

Israel .ho one after another follo.ed the sa&e !ath had "er !o.erful and readildiscerned &oti"es for acting thus@ Indeed, their authorit and the !ossession of their

;ingdo& .ere, hu&anl s!ea;ing, )ound to a religion .hich se!arated the& fro& %udahs

.orshi! .ith its te&!le and %erusale& as its center@ To return to the .orshi! of %eho"ah

.ould ha"e )een to a)andon their do&inion, to su)&it the&sel"es to the fa&il of 0a"id,and to renounce their o.n roal !rerogati"es@ Their thoughts naturall had no connection

.ith those of ?od@ The >ords judg&ent had se!arated the ten tri)es fro& the house of

0a"id@ 4ad the re&ained faithful to the >ord, 4e .ould dou)tless ha"e taught the& the.a to co&)ine 4is .orshi! .ith their )eing de!ri"ed of the te&!le@ ut rather than that,

though se!arating the& in !ractical res!ects fro& %udah, 4e could ha"e ;e!t the& in

relationshi! religiousl .ith the te&!le at %erusale&@ This is all the &ore stri;ing in %oash

of Israels case, in that later ?od deli"ered into his hand the ;ing of %udah and %erusale&@If he had had an concern for %eho"ah .hate"er, occasion .as thus offered hi& to rene.

the religious )ond .ith the te&!le of ?od that had )een )ro;en ) %ero)oa&@ (uch laterstill, %osiah, this faithful ;ing of %udah, furnishes us .ith another ea&!le@ 'ithout

!retending to reco"er his roal !rerogati"es o"er E!hrai&, ) his 5eal he )eco&es the

restorer of the .orshi! of %eho"ah a&ong those of the ten tri)es .ho had esca!ed the

ca!ti"it 72 Kings 2#: 1$-238@

As for the !o.er of %oash of Israel, it .as great@ 4is reign .as i&!ortant, and he

acco&!lished &an things@ ut he li"ed .ithout ?od, and .hat is left of hi&F As .ith so

&an other rulers o"er &en, nothing re&ains as to hi& )ut this .ord: BThis &an .as

)orn thereB 7s@ /+: *8@

There .as ho.e"er a )right s!ot in the life of %oash of Israel 7""@ 1*-218, as in that of

%ehoaha5@ The latter, at a ti&e of o!!ression and &iser, )esought the >ord, .ho

ans.ered hi&@ %oash .ent to "isit Elisha .hen Elisha .as ding, and .e!t o"er his face@At this ti&e circu&stances .ere still as difficult for hi& as the had )een for his father@

4a5ael, and after hi& his son en-4adad, .ere &a;ing their o;e .eigh hea"il u!on

Israel@ The Bsa"ior of IsraelB had not et )een &anifested in the !erson of %oash@ Onl


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?ods grace could consecrate hi& for this .or;D )ut &ean.hile the !ro!het, dis!enser of

this grace, .as a)out to die@ 'ith hi& the last &eans of deli"erance for the !eo!le .ould

disa!!ear@ 'hat .ould )eco&e of Israel .ithout hi&F The ;ing la&ents, .ee!s o"er theface of Elisha, cring out: B( father, & fatherH the chariot of Israel and the horse&en

thereofHB


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that the )odies of saints .ho had fallen aslee! .ere raised to enter into the hol cit@

=ro& the &oral and s!iritual as!ect it is ) entering through faith into contact .ith a dead

Christ that .e ha"e eternal life and resurrection in the last da 7%ohn : $*8@ In 4is deaththe !o.er of death has )een conGuered for us, and the do&inion of hi& .ho held this

!o.er is )ro;en@ 4e .ho .as una)le not to .ant to die, has died that 4e &ight gi"e life@

4o.e"er, let us not forget the !ro!hetic character of this scene@ The end of Israels last

great !ro!het, the herald of grace, is not lin;ed u! .ith chariots and horse&en .hichcarr hi& to hea"enD it is lin;ed u! .ith a to&)@ BElisha died, and the )uried hi&@B After

his death the ene&s o!!ression is dis!laed in a (oa)ite incursion u!on Israels

territor@ The !oor !eo!le do not e"en ha"e leisure to )ur their dead, )ut the find these!ulchre of Elisha just in the nic; of ti&e to cast in a dead )od@ =ro& the &o&ent that

this dead )od, t!ical of Israel, is laid a&ong the dead and co&es into actual contact

.ith the dead !ro!het, fro& the &o&ent that he Btouched the )ones of Elisha, and here"i"ed, and stood u!on his feetB 7"@ 218@ So it .ill )e .ith Israel in the last dasD Israel

.ill find national life again and co&e forth fro& a&ong the dead fro& the &o&ent the

enter into relationshi! .ith 4i& .ho& the ha"e !ierced, and )elie"e in 4i&@ This .ill )e the last &iracle of grace .or;ed for this !eo!le, .hen it .ill ha"e )een de&onstrated

that the nations state is .ithout resource and ho!eless@ The histor of Elisha ends here@

In "erses 22 to 2$, the !ro!hets .ord to %oash is fulfilled@ 4a5ael had ta;en the cities of

Israel a.a fro& %ehoaha5D %oash reta;es the& fro& en-4adad, the son of 4a5ael, andBthree ti&es did %oash )eat hi&@B

5in"s 7+: 79

%oash, King of Israel-A&a5iah, King of %udah

A&a5iah, the son of %oash ;ing of %udah, )egan to reign in the second ear of %oash ;ing

of Israel@ 4e reigned fifteen ears si&ultaneousl .ith this ;ing and t.ent-nine ears inall at %erusale&@ At this !oint let us notice here in the histor in ;ings, the role of &others

in the conduct of their children@ 'hen these &others co&e fro& %udah and %erusale&, it

is rare to see their sons follo. the .orshi! of false gods@ Onl the four last ;ings of%udah, in the ti&e of its thorough decadence, esca!e this influence of their &others, .ho

.ere of the sa&e tri)e and .ere the&sel"es en"elo!ed, so to s!ea;, in this a!ostas@ It is

said of these ;ings, that the Bdid e"il in the sight of %eho"ah, according to all that his

father7s8 had done@B ut .e shall co&e )ac; to this re&ar; again@

The &other of %oash of %udah .as i)iah of eer-she)aD the &other of A&a5iah the son

of %oash .as %ehoaddan of %erusale&@ 'e shall &eet other such ea&!les@ Contrari.ise,

the influence of idolatrous &others or .i"es .as !ernicious for the ;ings@

The .ife of %ehora& of %udah .as Athaliah, the daughter of Aha) 72 Kings /: 1/8DAha5iah .as the son of Athaliah 72 Kings /: 28@ This o)ser"ation should &a;e Christian


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&others reali5e their res!onsi)ilit and ought to eercise the& to )ring u! their children

in the fear of the >ordD on the other hand it sho.s that the union of a Christian fa&il

head .ith a .o&an of the .orld is &orall disastrous for the children issuing fro& such aunion@

A&a5iah Bdid .hat .as right in the sight of %eho"ah, et not li;e 0a"id his father: he didaccording to all that %oash his father had doneB 7"@ #8@ To go"ern his conduct, A&a5iah

should ha"e gone )ac; to the origin of the ;ingshi! and to the conduct of 0a"id, ;ingaccording to ?ods heart@ No dou)t 0a"id had seriousl failed in his life and had had to

undergo se"ere disci!line on this accountD )ut 0a"ids heart had al.as )een u!right

.hen it had )een a &atter of the >ords ser"ice and of the throne of ?od in the &idst of4is !eo!le@ A&a5iah follo.ed the footste!s of his father %oash .hose life .as di"ided, as

.e ha"e seen, into t.o "er distinct !eriods, one of true godliness, the other of a decline

all the &ore &ar;ed in that its )eginnings had )een so )rilliant@

Ne"ertheless, this )eginning ) itself does not denote a heart de"oted unreser"edl to the

ser"ice of the >ord@ A stra. in a !iece of cast iron is enough to cause it to )rea; .hen theright occasion !resents itself@ This stra. .as the &aintenance of the high !laces@ 'e ha"e

alread s!o;en of this su)ject, and .e return to it to o)ser"e that, a!art fro& the t.oece!tions alread &entioned, this .ord BOnl, the high !laces .ere not re&o"edB is li;e

a refrain acco&!aning the histor of the faithful ;ings of %udahD .hereas another refrain,

B4e de!arted not fro& the sins of %ero)oa& the son of Ne)at, .ho &ade Israel to sin,Bdesignates the ;ings of Israel@ These ;ings ordered their conduct in &atters religious

according to that of the head of their roal house, .ho .as an idolater@ The ;ings of

%udah, instead of go"erning the&sel"es according to 0a"id their father, .ere generall

content to see; their !oint of de!arture in the reign of Solo&on, .ho had not a)olishedthe high !laces@ ut it is al.as "er dangerous to acco&&odate oneself to a sste&

.hich, e"en .hen )oasting of great antiGuit, does not see; the &ind of ?od as itssource@ This is also the histor of the res!onsi)le Church@ Instead of lin;ing u! hertesti&on .ith Bthat .hich .as fro& the )eginning,B she found her starting-!oint in the

custo&s, traditions, and !rinci!les that characteri5ed her .hen she .as alread in decline@

%oash tolerated the !eo!les incense-)urning u!on the high !lacesD he hi&self, no dou)t,did not !artici!ate in these idolatrous custo&s, )ut he .as no less guilt@ To tolerate e"il

in the !eo!le .ho& ?od had entrusted to hi& .as the eGui"alent of co&&itting it

hi&self@

A second !oint is to A&a5iahs !raise: BAnd it ca&e to !ass .hen the ;ingdo& .asesta)lished in his hand, that he sle. his ser"ants .ho had s&itten the ;ing his fatherB 7"@

$8@ 4e did not let e"il go un!unished in the s!here of his res!onsi)ilit@ At least in this

res!ect he understood, li;e Solo&on at his accession to the throne, that to tolerate cri&eand e"il .as to &a;e hi&self lia)le for it@ This Guestion of lia)ilit is little understood

toda@ (ost Christians feel that the are not guilt in tolerating e"il in the s!here to

.hich the )elong, that their res!onsi)ilit is ta;en care of if the a)stain fro& e"il

!ersonall@ This is a serious error, .hich sooner or later )ears its sad fruitsH B4oliness )eco&eth th house, O %eho"ah, for e"erB 7s@ 6#: $8-not onl the Christian indi"iduall@

The ruin and final a!ostas of Christendo& !las a large !art in the &isunderstanding of


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this truth@ In this at least, A&a5iah .as faithful, so&e.hat counter)alancing his lac; of

"igilance .ith res!ect to the high !laces@

But, it is added, Bthe children of those that s&ote hi& he did not !ut to deathD accordingto that .hich is .ritten in the )oo; of the la. of (oses .herein %eho"ah co&&anded

saing, The fathers shall not )e !ut to death for the children, neither shall the children )e !ut to death for the fathersD )ut e"er &an shall )e !ut to death for his o.n sinB 7"@ 8@

There again, A&a5iah sho.s an intelligent res!ect for the 'ord of ?od@ Thisco&&and&ent of the >ord had )een gi"en in 0euterono& 2*: 1 and A&a5iah

go"erned hi&self ) it .ith the o)edient heart reGuired of all those .ho hear and read 4is

'ord@

et.een "erses and + .e ha"e an intentional hiatus filled in ) 2 Chronicles 2$: $-1@

'e shall follo. our custo& of not, ece!t in !assing, encroaching u!on that .hich this

latter )oo; !resents, for ) this o&ission the 'ord )rings out the sin of the ;ings of

Israel, ) o!!osing it to that .hich .as righteous and godl in the conduct of the ;ings of

%udah@ Ne"ertheless, the account in Chronicles gi"es us to understand the e"ent related in"erses + to 1* of our cha!ter@ A&a5iah, for a ti&e dis!osed to use troo!s of Israel .ho&

he had hired to fight Edo&, and .arned ) the !ro!het that B%eho"ah is not .ith Israel,Bgi"es u! his !roject .hich had alread )een eecuted in !art and sends this contingent

)ac; to their ho&es@ 'ith onl his o.n ar& and in de!endence u!on the >ord, he

underta;es the ca&!aign against Edo&, and .ins a )rilliant "ictor@ The troo!s of Israelthat had )een dis&issed fall u!on the cities of %udah, s&iting three thousand &en and

ta;ing &uch s!oil@ ut, as the !ro!het had said to A&a5iah, the >ord .as a)le to gi"e

hi& &uch &ore than the .ages gi"en to the &en of E!hrai&@ If he &ust in so&e &easure

incur the conseGuences of his un)elief in hiring the& .ithout ha"ing consulted the >ord,he can on the other hand count u!on the )lessing that follo.s o)edience@

This cala&it, casting a !all u!on his "ictor o"er Edo&, does not dri"e the ;ing to the

>ord@ E"en his "ictor )eco&es an occasion of stu&)ling for hi&@ 4e )rings the gods ofthe Edo&ites to %udah and )o.s do.n )efore the& .ithout listening to the !rotests of a

ne. !ro!het@

4is !ride as a "ictorious ;ing )eing .ounded, and incensed ) the hu&iliation .hich the

troo!s of E!hrai& had inflicted u!on hi&, A&a5iah !ro"o;es %oash the son of %ehoaha5,;ing of Israel@ 4e collides .ith a !ride e"en greater than his o.n@ %oash ans.ers hi& ) a

"er trans!arent !ara)le: %ehora& of %udah, the thorn-)ush of >e)anon, hus)and of

Athaliah the daughter of Aha), had sent to %ehora& of Israel, the cedar of >e)anon,

as;ing hi& for a .ife fro& the house of Aha) for his son Aha5iah@ %ehu, the .ild )east in>e)anon, had trodden underfoot Aha5iah, the ;ing of %udah @ @ @ And no. his successor,

instead of hu&)ling hi&self, .as gloring in his "ictor o"er Edo&H 4ere .e see %oashs

irritation )rea; forth, seeing his &ilitar forces des!ised .hile %udah alone had )eensufficient to conGuer Edo&@

A&a5iah does not listen to this .arning, and Bit .as of ?od,B Chronicles tell us 72 Chr@

2$: 238, Bthat he &ight deli"er the& into the ene&s hand, )ecause the had sought after


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the gods of Edo&@B %udah is )eaten, A&a5iah ta;en !risoner, %erusale& )ro;en do.n, all

the treasures of the ;ing and of the te&!le ta;en a.a as s!oil along .ith hostages 7""@

12-1*8@ A&a5iah &eets his ?od, .ho& he had !rofessed to ser"e and honor, as aconsu&ing fire fro& that &o&ent .hen he forsa;es 4i& to ser"e other gods@

This sa&e unfaithfulness is the cause of A&a5iahs tragic death@ Our cha!ter si&!lrecounts that the cons!ired against hi& at %erusale& and that he fled to >achish, that

the sent after hi& to sla hi&, and that the )rought hi& on horses to )ur hi& .ith hisfathers in the cit of 0a"id@ ut Chronicles gi"es us the sole&n reason for this dra&a:

B=ro& the ti&e that A&a5iah turned aside fro& follo.ing %eho"ah, the &ade a

cons!irac against hi&@B

In the &eanti&e 7""@ 1$-18, %oash of Israel, the son of %ehoaha5, died so that A&a5iah

li"ed an additional fifteen ears after his conGueror@ 4is son A5ariah succeeded hi&@ 4e

reco"ered Elath for %udah and restored it@ This cit .hich !re"iousl, together .ith all the

territor of Edo& to .hich it )elonged, had )een under the rule of 0a"id and had for&ed

!art of the Solo&ons do&inion, had )een an i&!ortant outlet for his &ariti&e !o.er, forit .as located not far fro& E5ion-?e)er on the shore of the


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!art of the conGuest, )ut the )orders of Israel .ere restored fro& the entrance of 4a&ath

to the Salt Sea, .hich is the 0ead Sea 7cf@ %oshua #: 18@ Ta;ing !ossession of this

enlarged Israels territor at the e!ense of that of %udah, for a !art of 0a&ascus and of4a&ath had for&erl )elonged to the latter 7"@ 2/8@

%onah the !ro!het, the son of A&ittai, had announced this e"ent )eforehand 7"@ 2$8@ %onahis the first !ro!het abo)t whom .e ha"e a !ro!hetic .riting Our !assage here !resents

hi& as a !ro!het of Israel@ 4is !ro!hec has not )een !reser"ed for us@ It s!o;e of a !articular e"ent .hich had no a)iding i&!ort@ It is &entioned in Scri!ture, )ut it is not,

according to .hat .e ha"e in 2 eter 1: 23, a B!ro!hec of scri!ture@B The latter is ne"er

inter!reted ) the e"ents near at hand to .hich it alludes@ %onah is !resented to us in this !assage as a !ro!het of grace and of te&!orar deli"erance of Israel@

A fe. .ords .ill suffice to characteri5e the )oo; .hich s!ea;s of hi&@ %onah,

re!resenting the !eo!le .ho glor in their legal righteousness, re)els against the >ord,

.ho .ishes to send hi& to the ?entiles@ 4e is for the &o&ent thro.n into the sea ) the

nations .hose shi! can then sail in !eace u!on a cal&ed sea@ At the end of three das, the !ro!het, re!resenting the (essiah .ho ta;es the !lace of unfaithful Israel, is raised, and

the ne. Israel announces the judg&ent and grace that follo. its re!entance@ 4e is thenenlightened as to the &erciful !ur!oses of the >ord@

A!art fro& its !ro!hetic &eaning .hich ought not to detain us here, %onahs !reaching

against Nine"eh has a historical i&!ortance for the course of e"ents .hich are unfolded

in this !art of the )oo; of ;ings@ It sho.s us the considera)le role of the Assrian;ingdo& at this e!och, a ;ingdo& .hich .ould enter into conflict .ith that of Israel, to

acco&!lish the judg&ents of ?od@

The !ro!het A&os, .ho !ro!hesied in the sa&e e!och, announced to the house of Israelthat %ero)oa&s conGuests .ould not )e long-lasting The Assrian .ould ca!ture thesefro& the&@ B=or )ehold, O house of Israel, said %eho"ah the ?od of hosts, I .ill raise u!

against ou a nationD and the shall afflict ou fro& the entering in of 4a&ath unto the

torrent of the Ara)ahB 7A&os : 1*8@ >ess than one hundred ears later, this !ro!hec .asreali5ed under 4e5e;iah 72 Kings 1/: #*D 2 Kings 16: 1#8@ %ero)oa& had B!ut far a.a

the e"il daB 7A&os : #8, in reconGuering Israels )orders to B4a&ath the greatB 7A&os

: 1-28, and unto the sea of the !lain@ ehold, sas A&os, the e"il da is near at hand@ Onthe e"e of ruin, the !rince .as relaing, thin;ing onl of his ease 7A&os : *8, and

)ehold, 4a&ath itself and ?ath 7reca!tured ) 955iah-2 Chr@ 2: 8, and Calneh and

a)lonia .ere a)out to fall into the hands of the AssriansH The house of %ero)oa& .as

threatened .ith ruin under the judg&ent of the >ord, .ho .ould Bnot again !assB 4is !eo!le an &ore, and .ho .ould cause judg&ent to fall u!on the& fro& to! to )otto&,

e"en to their foundations 7A&os +: +-68@

It is re&ar;a)le that 4osea, !ro!hesing under the reign of 955iah, of %otha&, of Aha5,and of 4e5e;iah, ;ings of %udah, &entions onl %ero)oa&, ;ing of Israel, and !asses o"er

his successors, under .ho& he li;e.ise !ro!hesied, in silence 74osea 1: 18@ =or hi& their

histor see&s to sto! .ith %ero)oa&, although echariah, this latters son, re!resented the


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fourth generation granted the house of %ehu ) the >ord 72 Kings 13: #38@ ut echariah,

the last lin; of this chain, is in fact alread rejected@ 4e reigns onl si &onths, and ?od

turns a.a fro& hi& and his successors, according to 4is .ord: BI .ill not again !ass )the& an &oreB 7A&os +: /D A&os /: 28D and according to that .hich 4osea sas: BThe

ha"e set u! ;ings, )ut not ) &eB 74osea /: *8@

A&os gi"es us so&e details a)out the end of the reign of %ero)oa& II 7A&os +: 13-1+8@

A&a5iah, !riest of the calf at ethel, .arns the ;ing that A&os is !ro!hesing againstIsrael, adding 7.hich .as a lie8 that he had foretold the "iolent death of the ;ing this

slander, A&a5iah .as see;ing to rid hi&self of the !ro!het and to ha"e hi& sent a.a to

%udah, for he .as gi"ing hi& co&!etition at ethel, Bthe ;ings sanctuar, and @ @ @ thehouse of the ;ingdo&@B 7ethel, Bthe house of ?odB had )een co&!letel forgotten@8

?ods true .itness e&)arrasses A&a5iah, .ho clings to his usur!ed !riesthood and to his

official !osition@ A&os ans.ers hi&: BI .as no !ro!het, neither .as I a !ro!hets sonD )utI .as a herd&an, and a gatherer of sca&ore fruit@ And %eho"ah too; &e as I follo.ed

the floc;, and %eho"ah said unto &e, ?o, !ro!hes unto & !eo!le IsraelB 7A&os +:

1*-1$8@ A&os .as not de!endent u!on a !ro!hets school, )ut directl u!on ?od, nor .ashe of the !riestl fa&il@ Christ e!resses 4i&self li;e.ise later on in the !ro!het

echariah 7ech@ 1#: 8@ The 4ol S!irit had chosen A&os fro& a&ong the she!herds of

Te;oa 7A&os 1: 18, fro& )eing a&ong the shee!, just as 4e had for&erl chosen 0a"id,

4is anointed@ The >ord had said to hi&, B?oB and he had gone@ 'e ha"e in A&os anea&!le of the &inistr that is attached directl to that of Christ, and that is a foretaste of

.hat the entire Christian &inistr later on .ould )e, or rather ought to )e@ No. the

!ro!het ta;es the false &inister and his false !retensions to tas; directl: BTherefore thussaid %eho"ah: Th .ife shall )e a harlot in the cit, and th sons and daughters shall fall

) the s.ord, and th land shall )e di"ided .ith the lineD and thou shalt die in a land that

is uncleanD and Israel shall certainl go into ca!ti"it, out of his landB 7A&os +: 1+8@

A terri)le judg&ent &ust fall u!on these official &en in the ser"ice of the .orld and of itsfalse gods .ho& the christen .ith the na&e of the >ordD as for Israel, the &ust

certainl# )e carried a.a ca!ti"e@ 4enceforth there .ould )e no &ore re!entance in

?ods heart .ith res!ect to the&@ The ti&e .as co&eD it .as too late, as it is said in


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(icah alludes to these t.o characters to e!lain the judg&ent of ?od u!on his !eo!le@

B=or the transgression of %aco) is all this B he sas, Band for the sins of the house of

Israel@ 'hence is the transgression of %aco)F is it not fro& Sa&ariaF And .hence are thehigh !laces of %udahF are the not fro& %erusale&FB7(icah 1: $8@

Our account of the reign of 955iah contains the sa&e hiatus that .e ha"e alread noted.ith regard to A&a5iah@

>i;e the idolatr of the latter, the sin of 955iah, re!orted in 2 Chronicles 2, is !assedo"er in silence@ 'e ha"e a)o"e said that the reason is e"ident@ It is a &atter of )ringing

out, .ithout .ea;ening it ) the account of their faults and of their inconsistencies, the

!iet of the ;ings of %udah, contrasting this .ith the idolatr of the ;ings of Israel .hichcried to the >ord for "engeance@ 4ere .e find onl, BAnd %eho"ah s&ote the ;ing, so that

he .as a le!er to the da of his death, and d.elt in a se!arate house,B 7"@ $8 .ithout the

cause of his judg&ent )eing &entioned@

In fact, 955iah, )lessed at the )eginning for his faithfulness, )ut !uffed u! ) theenor&ous success of his career, had thought he could usur! the high !riests !lace in

offering incense u!on the golden altar hi&self@ This act &a recall the re)ellion of the

>e"ite, Korah, long )efore, .ho .anted to ta;e Aarons !lace@ ut .ith 955iah this e"il

had another character@ The idea of his dignit, of his considera)le i&!ortance as ;ing, ledhi&, the ci"il !o.er, to usur! the religious authorit@ This sin for&s one of the nu&erous

ele&ents of !resent-da Christendo&@ The >ord judges 955iah ) stri;ing hi& .ith

le!ros@ 4e is e!elled fro& the te&!le ) the !riests and re&ained ecluded fro& thecongregation of Israel until his death@ This authorit, of .hich he .as so !roud and the

honor of .hich he had not attri)uted to the >ord, is re&o"ed fro& hi& and entrusted to

his son %otha& ears )efore his death@ It .as i&!ossi)le to tolerate fleshl !retensions-

terri)le defile&ent .hen one )rought these into the house of ?od-and 955iah dies,se!arated fro& the )lessings of this house for ha"ing disregarded the dignit of the high

!riesthood 7t!e of that of Christ8, .hich the >ord had esta)lished there@

5in"s 78: 697

echariah, King of Israel

'e shall not enter into the chronological difficulties raised concerning the date of the

accession to the throne of echariah, the son of %ero)oa& II, our !ur!ose not )eing to

ans.er here the attac;s of un)elief@ 'hen difficulties are raised ) hu&an reasoning,

.isdo& consists in .aiting u!on ?od to resol"e the&, if .e lac; the necessar light@ Ourde!endence u!on 4i& is thus !ut to the test, and .e can )e certain that in due ti&e .e

shall recei"e the ans.er@ 4o. often ha"e Christians .ho .ere in hu&)le su)&ission to

the 'ord &ade this e!erienceH

echariah, the last ;ing descended fro& %ehu, reigns onl si &onths at Sa&aria@ BAnd he

did e"il in the sight of %eho"ah, according as his fathers had done: he de!arted not fro&

the sins of %ero)oa& the son of Ne)at, .ho &ade Israel to sin@B If, as .e ha"e seen, the


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godl ;ings of %udah .ere lac;ing in energ to a)olish the high !laces-and ho.

Solo&ons negligence in res!ect to this had )orn disastrous results a&ong his successors,

accusto&ed to !atterning the&sel"es according to the custo&s tolerated ) the glorioushead of their dnast-those of Israel, ) contrast, had .al;ed resolutel in the custo&

instituted ) %ero)oa& I@ Ea&!les are not .anting in !resent-da Christendo& to

characteri5e these t.o tendencies@ =ro& the &o&ent .hen, not going )ac; to the !urefountain of the 'ord of ?od, rotestant Christendo&, at the ver# time .hen acce!ting the

scri!tural truths !roclai&ed ) the refor&ers, also acce!ted certain anti-scri!tural dog&as

.hich these had not gi"en u!, all .as alread destined for Guic; ruin@ =ro& the &o&ent

.hen, .al;ing in the se&i-idolatrous religion of the )isho!s of


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The cit of Ti!hsah not ha"ing .anted to o!en its gates to (enahe&, he treats it .ith

ut&ost cruelt@ 4e succeeds in &aintaining hi&self u!on the throne for ten ears@ 4e does

that .hich is e"il, .al;ing in the sins of %ero)oa& all his das@ 9nder his reign theAssrians at last a!!ear u!on the scene: Bul the ;ing of Assria ca&e against the landB

7"@ 168@ This is the first ;ing of Assria .hose na&e is &entioned in )i)lical histor@ This

!ersonage has occasioned &uch de)ate a&ong critics, .ho see& to agree no. to consider hi& identical .ith Tiglath-ileser, one of the greatest and )est-;no.n a&ong the

Assrian &onarchs 72 Kings 1$: 26D 2 Kings 1: +D etc@8@ In ;ee!ing si&!l to the letter

of Scri!ture, .e shall rather )e led to see in ul, ;ing of Assria, a distinct !erson,according to .hat is told us in 1 Chronicle $: 2: BAnd the ?od of Israel stirred u! the

s!irit of ul ;ing of Assria, and the s!irit of Tiglath-ileser ;ing of Assria, and he

carried the& a.a, the


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5in"s 7A3@9@7

e;ahiah and e;ah, Kings of Israel

(enahe& not ha"ing died a "iolent death, his son e;ahiah reigned in his stead@ The

retri)uti"e go"ern&ent of ?od is not eercised to.ard (enahe&, and his case, li;e anu&)er of others in this histor, teaches us that ?ods earthl go"ern&ent is not the

&easure of 4is righteousness nor 4is full retri)ution of the .as of &en@ This .as the

error of %o)s friends, against .ho& Elihu rose u! in anger@

0uring the t.o ears of his reign, e;ahiah li;e all his !redecessors !erse"ered in thesins of %ero)oa& the son of Ne)at@ >et us note here that .hich is re!eated so often in the

!receding cha!ters, that ) the sins of their ;ings, Israel .as &ade to sin@ The sin of an

indi"idual is rendered considera)l &ore serious .hen it )eco&es a stu&)ling-stone forothers, and its conseGuences are rec;oned to those .ho carr a.a the ignorant and

!oorl esta)lished in the !ath.a of their o.n diso)edience@

e;ah, the son of ord, the .a of the ;ings of Israel@ The results of his reign are su&&ari5ed

in "erse 26@ The Assrian Tiglath-ileser co&es u! against hi& and carries a.a ca!ti"ethe


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the ;ings of %udah@ Nothing of the ;ind for the ;ings of Israel@ ut Bthe !eo!le still acted

corru!tlB 72 Chr@ 2+: 28, )ecause of the lac; of decision in these godl ;ings .ho did not

dare attac; idolatr at its root@ The account in Chronicles teaches us that %otha& B)eca&estrong, for he !re!ared his .as )efore %eho"ah his ?od@B ?odliness is a source of

strength for us also, and of s!iritual !o.er@ =ro& the &o&ent that our .as are not

ordered )efore ?od, strength forsa;es us@ Serious reflection for all, and a thousand ti&eset &ore serious for those .ho ha"e a !articular res!onsi)ilit .ith res!ect to the !eo!le

of ?od@ Onl the sense of this strength !resents a danger@ 'e ha"e seen in the case of

955iah that this feeling !ushed hi& to lift hi&self u! )efore the high !riest 72 Chr@ 2:1-218@ %otha& does not )eco&e !uffed u! ) his strength@ Also it is said of hi&, in

co&!aring hi& .ith his father: BOnl he entered not into the te&!le of %eho"ahB 72 Chr@

2+: 28@ On the contrar, )eing hu&)le, he .as occu!ied .ith the house of ?od@ 4e B)uilt

the u!!er gate of the house of %eho"ahB 7"@ #$8, a deed characteristic of his reign in the )oo; of ;ings@ 'hat a !ri"ilege .hen a )elie"er lea"es )ehind hi& as a re&e&)rance,

that .hich he has done for the house of ?odH ?od records this deed and lea"es it .ith us

as a &e&orial for %otha&@ There are other deeds in his life, and Chronicles infor&s us of

the&, )ut is it not touching to see that ?od !uts this one into the s!otlight ascharacteristic, in 4is ees, of the reign of this faithful ;ing 'ithout gi"ing .a to

i&agination, there is nothing that for)ids us to thin; that the daughter of ado; &ightha"e inculcated into her son fro& his outh on a res!ect for the te&!le of the >ord, and

that under this influence the center of the ;ings acti"it .as the house of ?od@

e;ah, the son of ord li;e the ;ings of Israel@

>et us o)ser"e that this designation Be"ilB is al.as gi"en us in reference to the >ord@ Itno dou)t ha!!ens that forsa;ing ?od deli"ers the guilt one to all sorts of &oral e"il, to

cri&e and i&!urit, )ut it is not al.as so@ %ero)oa& I, %oash of Israel, and %ero)oa& II

.ere re&ar;a)le &onarchs in the ees of &en@ T.o of the& .ere Bsa"iorsB of theirnation, contri)uting to esta)lish its re!ute and to reconGuer its do&ains@ ut for ?od, the


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Guestion is a different one@ It is a &atter of deter&ining the relationshi! that these ;ings,

as Aha5 ;ing of %udah here, had .ith 4i&@ The si&!le fact that the &oral stature of a &an

is found in his conduct relati"e to ?od is es!eciall forgotten in our das@ A &an &a )ea freethin;er, e"en an atheistD if he conducts hi&self &orall and renders ser"ice to

hu&anit, e"en Christians .ill regard hi& as an ecellent &an, as though ?od could

acce!t so&ething fro& hi& or in so&e .a ee&!t hi& fro& )elie"ing in 4i& onaccount of 4is good conduct@ This is a fatal error for such a &an, )ut it is es!eciall

distressing .hen one sees it sanctioned ) Christians .ho thus are not recogni5ing that

.ithout the fear of ?od there cannot )e e"en the )eginning of .isdo& for &an@ 'henthese un)elie"ers a!!ear )efore ?od, the .ill )e con"icted ) 4i&-alasH too late for

the&-of ha"ing done that .hich .as e"il in the sight of the >ord, and the Christians .ho

ha"e ecused their un)elief .ill )e res!onsi)le for ha"ing ) their guilt a!!ro)ation of

the& closed the !ath of re!entance@ Aha5 B.al;ed in the .as of the ;ings of IsraelB 7"@#8@ 0ou)le conde&nation for this ;ing .ho, ;no.ing the .orshi! of the true ?od in

%udah, turned his )ac; u!on 4i& in order to follo. the a)o&inations of the idolatrous

nations@

Also the judg&ent .hich .as !re!ared for the !eo!le under %otha& no. o"erta;es Aha5

on account of his unfaithfulness@ 'e are told, BThen ord sends Isaiah to &eet the ;ing The !ro!het

is acco&!anied ) his son Shear-jashu), .hose na&e signifies Bthe re&nant shall returnB

7cf@ Isa@ 13: 218@ 4e s!ea;s in grace to this .ic;ed ;ing It is true that .hate"er &aha!!en, ?od re&ains faithful to 4is !ro&ises, and 4e .ill rene. 4is relationshi!s .ith

Israel and %udah in the !ersons of Christ and of the re&nant@ ut ho. touching is the

!atient grace ?od has to.ard this e"il ;ingH 4e reassures hi& instead of crushing hi&D

4e announces deli"erance to hi&D 4e sas to hi&, BTa;e heed and )e GuietB let (e act@4e sas, B=ear notB to hi& .ho on his !art had e"erthing to fear@ 4e gi"es hi& the date

.hen E!hrai& Bshall @@@ )e )ro;en, so as to )e no &ore a !eo!le@B E"il is decreed for a


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0o .e not find so&ething si&ilar in todas religions .hen &en !rofessing to )e

Christians thin; that the are a)le to a!!roach ?od ) another altar than that of e!iation,

in .hich the do not )elie"eF >i;e ord, on the one hand ends in un)elief regarding the "erfoundation of the faith, the cross of Christ, and on the other hand, ends in su!erstition

.hen it is a &atter of this sa&e foundation@

Aha5s sacrilege etended to the la"ers 7"@ 1+8, .hich as .e ha"e seen in our &editationson 1 Kings, ser"ed for .ashing the "icti&s, t!ifing the co&!lete a)sence of defile&ent

in Christ offered for e!iation@ Aha5 re&o"es the la"ers fro& their )ases@ And here again,

do .e not find an analog .ith that .hich is ta;ing !lace in our sight or that is )eings!o;en of round a)out usF The thought of the !erfect !urit of Christ, the >a&) of ?od,

is gi"en u! ) &a;ing 4i& su)ject to the sa&e tendencies that .e ha"e and ) !resenting

4i& as One te&!ted ) internal lusts to .hich 4e ne"er ielded@ 'hile ;ee!ing the

la"ers, the re&o"e the& fro& their )ases@

It .as the sa&e for the )ra5en sea 7"@ 1+8, "essel for the dail !urification of the !riests@

This .as set u!on oen, s&)olic of the ?ods !atience to.ard 4is !eo!le .ith regard to

their !ractical !urification@ This !urification could not )e acce!ted ece!t ) "irtue of?ods longsuffering in all 4is .as to.ard 4is !eo!le@ Aha5 re&o"ed the )asin fro& that

.hich constituted its )ase and B!ut it u!on a stone !a"e&ent@B Is not this stone !a"e&ent

a stri;ing !icture of the nature and heart of &anF All the religious tendencies of the !resent da are esta)lished u!on the !retension that the hu&an ele&ent and not the

character of ?od are the )asis of our !ractical consecration for 4is ser"ice, and that &ans

resolution of .ill renders hi& a)le to .al; .ithout defile&ent and .ithout sin in ?ods

!ath.a here on earth@

>astl, Aha5 changes the entr of the house of %eho"ah 7"@ 1/8 .hich .as !rohi)ited to

others )esides the ;ing 4e does so Bon account of the ;ing of Assria@B 4e diso.ns his

o.n !ri"ileges as head of the !eo!le of ?od, and also the Bco"ered .a of the sa))ath,B

the !ri"ilege of the !eo!le the&sel"es-all this in order to a"oid offending the .orld.ho& he is ser"ing No. the ;ing of Assria &a declare hi&self satisfiedH The "er

foundations of Israels religion, ) .hich the !eo!le .ere sanctified for ?od, ha"e


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disa!!eared@ 'h should not the .orld henceforth enter into relationshi! .ith the ?od of

Israel ) &eans of the altar of 0a&ascusF This religion, &odified and stri!!ed of its

!o.er and of its !ri"ileges, suits it !erfectlH

5in"s 7: 798

4oshea, King of Israel

'e no. co&e to the last e"ents of the histor of E!hrai&, other.ise called the ten tri)es@

4oshea, the &urderer of e;ah, reigned nine ears in Sa&aria .hile doing that .hich.as e"il in the sight of the >ord@ 4is conduct in relation to 4i& .as less !rofane than

that of his !redecessors, onl, he did not ta;e into account the judg&ents of ?od )

.hich the su)jection of Israel to Assria had )een foretold through all the !ro!hets@ =ro&

ear to ear ;ing 4oshea had )een sending !resents to the ;ing of Assria 7"@ #8,

follo.ing the ea&!le of one of his !redecessors, (enahe&, .ho ) &eans of !resentshad declared hi&self a "assal of uls in order that this latter &ight esta)lish the ;ingdo&

in his hands 72 Kings 1$: 16-238@ >ater Tiglath-!ileser had co&e u! against e;ah and, as.e ha"e seen, had trans!orted the tri)es )eond the %ordan to Assria@ e;ah e"identl

had not follo.ed, as had (enahe&, this rule of su)&ission to Assria, .hich .ould

e!lai

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