bijah being sick, his mother consults Ahijah. (1-6) The
destruction of Jeroboam's house. (7-20) Rehoboam's wicked reign.
(21-31)
Verses 1-6: "At that time," when Jeroboam did evil, his child sickened.
When sickness comes into our families, we should inquire whether
there may not be some particular sin harboured in our houses,
which the affliction is sent to convince us of, and reclaim us
from. It had been more pious if he had desired to know wherefore
God contended with him; had begged the prophet's prayers, and
cast away his idols from him; but most people would rather be
told their fortune, than their faults or their duty. He sent to
Ahijah, because he had told him he should be king. Those who by
sin disqualify themselves for comfort, yet expect that their
ministers, because they are good men, should speak peace and
comfort to them, greatly wrong themselves and their ministers.
He sent his wife in disguise, that the prophet might only answer
her question concerning her son. Thus some people would limit
their ministers to smooth things, and care not for having the
whole counsel of God declared to them, lest it should prophesy
no good concerning them, but evil. But she shall know, at the
first word, what she has to trust to. Tidings of a portion with
hypocrites will be heavy tidings. God will judge men according
to what they are, not by what they seem to be.
Verses 7-20: Whether we keep an account of God's mercies to us or not,
he does; and he will set them in order before us, if we are
ungrateful, to our greater confusion. Ahijah foretells the
speedy death of the child then sick, in mercy to him. He only in
the house of Jeroboam had affection for the true worship of God,
and disliked the worship of the calves. To show the power and
sovereignty of his grace, God saves some out of the worst
families, in whom there is some good thing towards the Lord God
of Israel. The righteous are removed from the evil to come in
this world, to the good to come in a better world. It is often a
bad sign for a family, when the best in it are buried out of it.
Yet their death never can be a loss to themselves. It was a
present affliction to the family and kingdom, by which both
ought to have been instructed. God also tells the judgments
which should come upon the people of Israel, for conforming to
the worship Jeroboam established. After they left the house of
David, the government never continued long in one family, but
one undermined and destroyed another. Families and kingdoms are
ruined by sin. If great men do wickedly, they draw many others,
both into the guilt and punishment. The condemnation of those
will be severest, who must answer, not only for their own sins,
but for sins others have been drawn into, and kept in, by them.
Verses 21-31: Here is no good said of Rehoboam, and much said to the
disadvantage of his subjects. The abounding of the worst crimes,
of the worst of the heathen, in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had
chosen for his temple and his worship, shows that nothing can
mend the hearts of fallen men but the sanctifying grace of the
Holy Spirit. On this alone may we depend; for this let us daily
pray, in behalf of ourselves and all around us. The splendour of
their temple, the pomp of their priesthood, and all the
advantages with which their religion was attended, could not
prevail to keep them close to it; nothing less than the pouring
out the Spirit will keep God's Israel in their allegiance to
him. Sin exposes, makes poor, and weakens any people. Shishak,
king of Egypt, came and took away the treasures. Sin makes the
gold become dim, changes the most fine gold, and turns it into
brass.
bijah being sick, his mother consults Ahijah. (1-6) The
destruction of Jeroboam's house. (7-20) Rehoboam's wicked reign.
(21-31)