79. Asa's death. Jehoshaphat's Prosperity. 2. Chron. xvi. 11-xviii. 1; 1. Kings xxii, 41-47. After Asa had reigned 'thirty-eight years over Judah he began to be troubled with a 'disease in his feet, yet he sought not to the Lord but to the physicians. He died in the forty-first year of his reign, and was buried in his own sepulchre in the City of David. His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, and strengthened himself against Israel. He placed forces in all the cities of Judah,73 and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. There was then no king in Edom.27 'The people still offered incense upon the high places though the king did that which was right. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of David, and sought not unto Baalim ; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments,22 and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents : and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his 'princes, to teach in the cities of Judah. And 'with them he sent Levites, and priests. And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute of silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven-thousand-andseven-hundred rams, and seven-thousand-and-seven-hundred he-goats. And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store. And he had much business in the cities of Judah ; and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.32 Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel; and he afterwards joined affinity with Ahab, by allowing his son, Jehoram, to marry Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Much evil resulted from this marriage. EXPLANATIONS. thirty eight years-during which time he saw the destruction of two dynasties in Israel, those of Jeroboam and Baasha, and the second reign of the third family. Ahab was the seventh king who occupied the throne of Israel during Asa's reign. disease, &c.-probably the gout. no king, &c.-Edom was now under sub- its conquest by David. Les. 57. The people still offered, &c.-how strong was the tendency to idolatry among the people, when the long reign of fortyone years, during which it was discountenanced and repressed, was not enough to eradicate it from among them. One generation transmitted the corrupting tendency to another. first ways, &c.-David's consistency in his earlier years was his model. This was the purest period of royal power in Israel. brought...presents-thus testifying their affection and loyalty. riches and honour-true religion is the road to outward prosperity. "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.' lifted up, &c.-not with pride, as most men would be who were thus enriched and honoured, but lifted up to a course of greater activity and more cheerful zeal in the cause of religion. princes, to teach, &c.-the Jews never denied the obligation to impart public as well as private instruction. exclusive duties of the priests and Levites consisted in offering sacrifice and incense, but the obligation to teach rested on all, whether of the tribe of Levi or not, who were themselves " The instructed in the law of the Lord. with them, &c.-so is it, happily, in our day. We see many of the great men of our nation accompanied and assisted by ministers of the Gospel, actively engaged in promoting the scriptural instruction and moral amendment of the people. fear of the Lord-a consistent exhibition of moral dignity and true goodness impresses the most unreflecting with awe. made no war, &c.-at this time the army much business, &c.-active trade may be made peace, &c.-it would have been well QUESTIONS. How was Asa troubled with disease? What is said of Edom? What do we see in our days which re- PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. This lesson teaches us that while it is allowable to seek medical aid in illness, yet we must rely upon God only for our restoration to health. That length of days is a blessing conferred on those who live to God's glory-Asa's reign was a reign of reform. That it is our duty to set good examples before us for our imitation-"The first ways of David," for kings, and for all others,-Paul, as he followed Christ. That tradition is not sufficient in matters of religion." to the law, and to the testimony" must be our appeal. That" when a nian's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." That good men are often blinded to the consequences of unequal marriages, through the friendship which may subsist between them and others who love not God. 80. Elijah's Mission to Ahab. 1. Kings xvii. xviii. 1-16. Now Elijah, the 'Tishbite, who was an inhabitant of Gilead,14 came unto Ahab and said, "As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain 'these years, but according to my word." And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.30 Thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there." So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: and the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And after a while, the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. According to the word of the Lord, Elijah went thence to "Zarephath, at which place God had commanded a widow woman to sustain him. Elijah found her gathering sticks at the gate of the city. He asked her to fetch a little water, and to bring a morsel of bread in her hand. She said she had no bread, but only a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse, which she was about to dress for herself and her son, that they might eat it and die. Elijah said unto her, "Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth." The word of the Lord 'was fulfilled. After these things her son fell sick and died. The widow thought Elijah had been sent to cause his death; but Elijah stretched himself upon the child and prayed to God to restore him to life, and the soul of the child came into him again. Elijah delivered him to his mother: whereupon the widow said, "Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth." After many days Elijah was commanded to show himself to Ahab, and God promised to send rain upon the earth. There was a sore famine in Samaria,78 and Ahab and Obadiah, the governor15 of his house, 'went through the land in separate directions to all the fountains and brooks, to find grass to save the horses and mules. Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly; for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water. Obadiah met Elijah and knew him. Elijah told him to go to Ahab and say, "Behold, Elijah is here." Obadiah 'feared to go and tell Ahab, lest the Spirit of the Lord should take Elijah away, and Ahab should slay him. He told Elijah that Ahab had sent to seek him in all nations, and kingdoms. Elijah said, "As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to-day." So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; & Ahab went to meet Elijah. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES. Cherith-a brook near the Jordan where Elijah was commanded to conceal himself from Ahab. Zarephath-a city of Phoenicia which was situated between Tyre and Sidon. EXPLANATIONS. Tishbite-there was a town called Tishbe, in Gilead, & one called Thisbe, in Galilee; it is supposed that one of these was the birth-place of the prophet Elijah, As the Lord, &c.-this solemn mode of address was calculated to startle that daring despiser of the Most High, and to draw his attention to the prophet's message. before whom I stand-as the especial servant of that Almighty Being who is everywhere present," beholding the evil and the good." not be dew nor rain, &c.-a double calamity, for in hot countries the want of rain is partially compensated by copious dews. these years-the time being left undefined, a painful feeling of uncertainty was added to the actual punishment of drought and consequent famine. but according, &c.—that is, until my word shall announce the reversal of the Almighty decree. ravens to feed, &c.-unclean birds were commissioned to bear supplies of food to the prophet: How mysteriously the Lord works! Was this to prepare the mind of the prophet for the Gentile hospitality he was about to receive? was fulfilled-First, as to the fact that God had prepared a widow to sustain him; secondly, as to the means by which she should be enabled to do so. Elijah remained there two years. The widow thought, &c.-we often attribute evils to wrong causes. Caution should be exercised in tracing calamities to the agency of others. by this I know, &c.-the evil is turned into a blessing, for by its removal she is taught the truth respecting her guest, and the greater truth respecting the Lord God. went through the land, &c.-thus Providence ordered it, that Ahab might see with his own eyes the consequences of God's judgment on the land. feared to go-the heart of Ahab, it would appear, instead of being humbled by this national affliction, was only the more hardened, like Pharaoh's of old. CONTEMPORARY CHARACTERS. ELIJAH-the most eminent of the prophets, the great reformer of his age, by whose zeal and piety some check was given to the wickedness which then prevailed in Israel. God rewarded his life of care and anxiety by taking him to heaven in a chariot of fire. Les. 88. OBADIAH-the good steward of Ahab's household. He used his power to protect God's oppressed and persecuted servants; those who truly fear God will keep to their principles at all times and in all places. QUESTIONS. Who was Elijah? Whence is his name 'Tishbite' supposed to be derived? Repeat the solemn declaration he made to Ahab. How do you understand the phrase be fore whom I stand? How would the absence of dew aggravate the want of rain? Whither did Elijah go to hide himself? How was he miraculously sustained there? What circumstances compelled him to leave Cherith? Where was Elijah next entertained? By what means were Elijah and the widow sustained? What calamity befel the widow? Who was the instrument of the child's recovery? What effect had this on the widow? What is recorded to Obadiah's honour? What did he tell Elijah as to Ahab's designs against his life? declaration did Elijah What emphatic PRECEPTIVE LESSONS. make to Obadiah? That Never did men give stronger proofs of their mission than the prophets who carried God's messages to impious kings. "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue;" and this was their encouragement and their support. We learn here, that those who are chosen by the Almighty as his messengers shall be provided for by Him, their bread shall be given them, their water shall be sure. God exercises his sovereign power over all creatures, so that the fowls of the air become the ministers of his will. That in the country of the greatest persecutors a refuge may sometimes be found: Zarephath belonged to Sidon, of which country Jezebel was a princess. That God rewards those who show kindness to his servants for his sake. That good men in trustworthy positions have great opportunities for doing good. 81. The Sacrifice on Carmel. 1. Kings xvii. 17-46. And when Ahab saw Elijah, he said unto him, “*Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And Elijah answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto **Mount Carmel, and the 'prophets of Baal four-hundred-and-fifty, and the prophets of the groves four-hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table." So Ahab gathered all Israel and the prophets together unto Mount Carmel. Elijah came unto them and said, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered 'not a word. Elijah then said, "I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four-hundred-and-fifty men. Let them therefore give us 'two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under; and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God." And all the people said, "It is well spoken." The prophets of Baal took their bullock and dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning till noon, saying, " O Baal, hear us." But there was no voice that answered. At noon Elijah 'mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." They called on Baal, till the time of the evening sacrifice, but there was no answer. Elijah then built an altar in the name of the Lord, and made a trench round it; and he cut the bullock in pieces, and laid it on the wood on the altar. He said, "Fill four barrels with 'water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood." And when this had been done three times he came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant." Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed69 the burnt-sacrifice. The people saw it, and fell on their faces, saying, “The LORD, he is the God." The people, by Elijah's command, took the prophets of Baal to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. Elijah then went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees; and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." And he went up, and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And he said, "Go again seven times." And at the seventh time, he said, "Behold, there ariseth 'a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand." And he said, "Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not." And the heaven was black with clouds, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, to Jezreel. And the 'hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and 'ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Mount Carmel-a mountainous ridge which overlooks the bay of Acre. Kishon-a brook which forms two streams at the foot of Mount Carmel, one of which flows eastward and falls into Lake Cinnereth, and the other westward into the Mediterranean Sea. |