prophets and kings-第35章
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is strengthen the hands of the valiant soldiers who today are standing in defense of truth？
〃The Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon； Moab； and Mount Seir； which were come against Judah； and they were smitten。 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir； utterly to slay and destroy them： and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir； everyone helped to destroy another。
〃And when Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness； they looked unto the multitude； and； behold； they were dead bodies fallen to the earth； and none escaped。〃 Verses 22…24。
God was the strength of Judah in this crisis； and He is the strength of His people today。 We are not to trust in princes； or to set men in the place of God。 We are to remember that human beings are fallible and erring； and that He who has all power is our strong tower of defense。 In every emergency we are to feel that the battle is His。 His resources are limitless； and apparent impossibilities will make the victory all the greater。 〃Save us； O God of our salvation； And gather us together； And deliver us from the heathen； That we may give thanks to Thy holy name； And glory in Thy praise。〃 1 Chronicles 16…35。
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Laden with spoil； the armies of Judah returned 〃with joy； for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies。 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the Lord。〃 2 Chronicles 20：27； 28。 Great was their cause for rejoicing。 In obedience to the command； 〃Stand ye still； and see the salvation of the Lord： 。 。 。 fear not； nor be dismayed；〃 they had put their trust wholly in God； and He had proved to be their fortress and their deliverer。 Verse 17。 Now they could sing with understanding the inspired hymns of David：
〃God is our refuge and strength； A very present help in trouble。 。 。 。 He breaketh the bow； and cutteth the spear in sunder； He burneth the chariot in the fire。 Be still； and know that I am God： I will be exalted among the heathen； I will be exalted in the earth。 The Lord of hosts is with us； The God of Jacob is our refuge。〃 Psalm 46。
〃According to Thy name； O God； So is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth： Thy right hand is full of righteousness。 Let Mount Zion rejoice； Let the daughters of Judah be glad； Because of Thy judgments。 。 。 。
〃This God is our God for ever and ever： He will be our guide even unto death。〃 Psalm 48：10…14。
Through the faith of Judah's ruler and of his armies 〃the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries； when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel。 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet： for his God gave him rest。〃 2 Chronicles 20：29； 30。
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Chapter 16
The Fall of the House of Ahab
The evil influence that Jezebel had exercised from the first over Ahab continued during the later years of his life and bore fruit in deeds of shame and violence such as have seldom been equaled in sacred history。 〃There was none like unto Ahab； which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord； whom Jezebel his wife stirred up。〃
Naturally of a covetous disposition； Ahab； strengthened and sustained in wrongdoing by Jezebel； had followed the dictates of his evil heart until he was fully controlled by the spirit of selfishness。 He could brook no refusal of his wishes； the things he desired he felt should by right be his。
This dominant trait in Ahab； which influenced so disastrously the fortunes of the kingdom under his successors； is revealed in an incident which took place while Elijah was still a prophet in Israel。 Hard by the palace of the king was a vineyard belonging to Naboth； a Jezreelite。 Ahab set his
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heart on possessing this vineyard； and he proposed to buy it or else to give in exchange for it another piece of land。 〃Give me thy vineyard；〃 he said to Naboth； 〃that I may have it for a garden of herbs； because it is near unto my house： and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it； or； if it seem good to thee； I will give thee the worth of it in money。〃
Naboth valued his vineyard highly because it had belonged to his fathers； and he refused to part with it。 〃The Lord forbid it me；〃 he said to Ahab； 〃that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee。〃 According to the Levitical code no land could be transferred permanently by sale or exchange； every one of the children of Israel must 〃keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers。〃 Numbers 36：7。
Naboth's refusal made the selfish monarch ill。 〃Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him。 。 。 。 And he laid him down upon his bed； and turned away his face； and would eat no bread。〃
Jezebel soon learned the particulars； and； indignant that anyone should refuse the request of the king； she assured Ahab that he need no longer be sad。 〃Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel？〃 she said。 〃Arise； and eat bread； and let thine heart be merry： I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite。〃
Ahab cared not by what means his wife might accomplish the desired object； and Jezebel immediately proceeded to carry out her wicked purpose。 She wrote letters in the name of the king； sealed them with his signet； and sent
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them to the elders and nobles of the city where Naboth dwelt； saying： 〃Proclaim a fast； and set Naboth on high among the people： and set two men； sons of Belial； before him； to bear witness against him； saying； Thou didst blaspheme God and the king。 And then carry him out； and stone him； that he may die。〃
The command was obeyed。 〃The men of his city； even the elders and the nobles； 。 。 。 did as Jezebel had 。 。 。 written in the letters which she had sent unto them。〃 Then Jezebel went to the king and bade him arise and take the vineyard。 And Ahab； heedless of the consequences； blindly followed her counsel and went down to take possession of the coveted property。
The king was not allowed to enjoy unrebuked that which he had gained by fraud and bloodshed。 〃The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite； saying； Arise； go down to meet Ahab king of Israel； which is in Samaria： behold； he is in the vineyard of Naboth； whither he is gone down to possess it。 And thou shalt speak unto him； saying； Thus saith the Lord； Hast thou killed； and also taken possession？〃 And the Lord further instructed Elijah to pronounce upon Ahab a terrible judgment。
The prophet hastened to carry out the divine command。 The guilty ruler； meeting the stern messenger of Jehovah face to face in the vineyard； gave voice to his startled fear in the words； 〃Hast thou found me； O mine enemy？〃
Without hesitation the messenger of the Lord replied； 〃I have found thee： because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord。 Behold； I will bring evil upon thee； and will take away thy posterity。〃 No mercy was to
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be shown。 The house of Ahab was to be utterly destroyed； 〃like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat； and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah；〃 the Lord declared through His servant； 〃for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked Me to anger； and made Israel to sin。〃
And of Jezebel the Lord declared； 〃The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel。 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat； and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat。〃
When the king heard this fearful message； 〃he rent his clothes； and put sackcloth upon his flesh； and fasted； and lay in sackcloth； and went softly。
〃And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite； saying； Seest
