1 Kings

Christ is not so prized, nor his ordinances so loved; a sad presage, grace is on the declining hand; you are in a deep consumption. A sign David was near his grave, when he covered him with clothes and he got no heat (1 Kings 1:1). So when a person is plied with hot clothes, I m…

First God cleanses us by sanctification, and then pours in the wine of glory. Solomon was first anointed with oil, and then he was king (1 Kings 1:39). First God anoints us with the holy oil of his Spirit, and then he sets the crown of happiness upon our head; pureness of heart,…

A child indulged and humored in wickedness, will be a thorn in the parent's eye. David coddled Adonijah (1 Kings 1:6). His father had not displeased him at any time, in saying, Why have you done so?

Faith is an assent with affiance. The soul does [illegible], it gets hold of Christ as Adonijah did of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:51). Faith casts itself upon the stream of Christ's blood, and says, if I perish, I perish; if we have but the Minimum quod sic, the least dra…

The third duty which we owe to him is thankfulness, for the endless care which he shows in the governing and preserving of us. When David waxed old, and had made Solomon his son king in his stead, all the people shouted and cried, "God save king Solomon, God save king Solomon,"…

2. God does nothing in the election of Peter, more than of Judas; nor can grace and mercy have place in the choosing of the one, rather than the other; but as free will is foreseen to play the game ill, or well, so go the eternal decrees of election and reprobation, and there ca…

It is said, Revelation 16:10 that "the fifth angel poured out his vial on the seat of the beast;" in the original, it is the throne of the beast; "and his kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain…

§. 16. Of husbands' ready yielding to their wives' humble suits. Again, it being a token of reverence in a wife humbly to make known her desire to her husband, he ought to show so much courtesy as readily to grant her desire: this courtesy the forenamed Ahasuerus afforded to Est…

Such a branch was Adonijah. It is apparent that in his childhood he was not well nurtured, for his father would not displease him from his childhood (1 Kings 1:6). The father's putting off this duty to the mother, and the mother's putting it off to the father, is a great cause o…

Saul's servants did a part of faithfulness to their master, when, he being vexed with an evil spirit, they inquired after means to ease him (1 Samuel 16:16). So did David's servants, when he being bedridden, they sought out one to cherish him (1 Kings 1:2). It was a point of fai…

Earthly kings when they perish, their favorites are counted offenders. (1 Kings 1:21) When my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders. When other governors are set up, they and their children will be found offenders.

How should the hearts of wicked men tremble, which have violated the laws of Christ, and affronted his authority, when they consider how odious this is, how certainly Christ will see execution done upon them! When Adonijah and his guests heard of Solomon's sitting upon his thron…

Happiness is nothing but the quintessence of holiness; purity of heart is heaven begun in a man; holiness is called in Scripture the anointing of God (1 John 2:27). Solomon was first anointed with the holy oil, and then he was made king (1 Kings 1:39). The people of God are firs…

3. A Parent must give his children discipline, Proverbs 23. 13. Withhold not correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die: The rod beats out the dust and moth of sin; a child indulged and humoured in wickedness, will prove a burden instead of a b…

When Solomon's line did cease, his line came in his room, of whom the Virgin Mary descended; but I rather with Junius take him to be Nathan the Prophet, because there is a distinction made of his kindred. So the house of Levi, and the house of Shimei; some take him to be Simeon,…

Children must speak to parents respectively, and in decent language. "Ask on my mother," said King Solomon to his mother Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:20). Secondly, reverence in speaking of parents.

Genesis 49.33: So likewise Masters of families, they must set their houses in order by the like two duties: 1. By a due disposing of their temporal goods and possessions: and 2. by giving exhortation and charge unto their children and family, concerning the worship of GOD, and t…

This setting him at God's right hand is a token of special and highest favor. So kings whom they were most pleased with they did set at their right hands, as Solomon did his mother (1 Kings 2:19) and so Christ the church his queen (Psalm 45:9), and it was a favor which God never…

And God so infinitely hates and detests it, that although the altar were a refuge for other offenders, yet he would not have a murderer sheltered there; but he was to be dragged from that inviolable sanctuary to execution, according to that law (Exodus 21:24): If a man come pres…

Eighthly, this appearing for the Saints, and joining with them in their affliction, shall be highly rewarded of God. When David was in his affliction, persecuted by Saul, Abiathar fled to him with the Ephod, and abode with him; Although self-respects might move him, Saul having…

My Father, says Isaac to Abraham, and Jacob to Isaac. My Mother, says Solomon to Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:20). I find also the title of Sir or Lord, used: a title of honor (1 Samuel 24:12; 2 Kings 5:13; Judges 18:19; 2 Kings 6:21; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Timothy 5:1; Genesis 22:7; Gen…

The two servants of Shimei who ran from their master are rebuked for it by the Holy Ghost. Onesimus, who ran from his master, is sent back again by Saint Paul: and Hagar is sent back by an Angel (1 Kings 2:39; Philemon verse 12; Genesis 16:9). Objection. What if master and mistr…

Section 24. Thus God who himself began the writing of the Word with his own finger, Exodus 31:11; after he had spoken it Exodus 20; appointing or approving the writing of the rest that followed, Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 23:6; 1 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Kings 17:13; 1 Chronicl…

As Ephraim was as a cake not turned, baked on the one side (Hosea 7:8), quite dough on the other. Or as it is said of Joab (1 Kings 2:28), he turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. Some miscarry in adversity, others in prosperity.

This is also evident in that history where Abiathar is read to have been deposed, and Zadok appointed in his place — a fact which the Spirit of God specifically records. For although Solomon removed Abiathar from the priestly office driven by necessity — namely, by Abiathar's ow…

If a man has love to present things, if that be not subdued and purged out of his heart, he will never be stable, never upright with God. It may be he may stand when put upon some little self-denial for Christ; he may endure some petty loss, or some tender assault; yes, but at l…

The sum of what is spoken, by way of [reconstructed: command], as to Abraham (Genesis 18:19) amounts to this, that he would advise and charge his posterity not to sin. So that of Samuel to Israel (1 Samuel 12:24-25), and that of David to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-3) etc., indeed to a…

Answer. He was to believe neither of the two according to the event, for there are two sorts of threatenings, some pure and only threatenings, which reveal to us, what God may, in Law, do, but not what he has decreed and intended, actu secundo & quoad eventum, to do, and bring t…

First, in a moral sense, when the action and the end, are to be measured or considered in reference to a moral rule, or Law prescribed to the Agent, then the means are the deserving, or meritorious cause of the end: as if Adam, had continued in his innocence, and done all things…

Statuet oves ad dextram. O ineffabile gaudium in beatis glorificatis qui ad dextram Christi sistent; astituri ipsi ut subditi serenissimo suo principi, ut filii benignissimo suo patri, ut regale sacerdotium gratiosissimo suo pontifici; mater Solomonis fuit ad dextram regis in Th…

2. Beg of God that he will give you a heart to love him. When King Solomon asked wisdom of God, the speech pleased the Lord (1 Kings 3:10). So when you cry to God, Lord give me a heart to love you, it is my grief I can love you no more.

God would have us learn to go without crutches. Use 2. If God be infinitely wise, then let us go to him for wisdom; as Solomon (1 Kings 3:9). Give your servant an understanding heart, and the speech pleased the Lord; and there is encouragement for us.

(Matthew 12:50) Whoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Did King Solomon arise off his throne to meet his mother, and set her on a throne by him, (1 Kings 3:19) such honor will Christ bestow on such as are doers…

This, David does: for being put to choose, whether he had rather live in safe-guard, and in solace, with the wicked and ungodly; than in base estate, and in great danger, near to God's sanctuary: He says, Psalm 84:10, He had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of his God, than t…

Solomon (the type of Christ) was the beloved of God (2 Samuel 12:24) and had his name from this (namely Jedidiah, that is, beloved of the Lord). And to show how beloved he was, God when he came first to his kingdom bade him ask what he should give him (1 Kings 3:5). Now the like…

And from there is this form or phrase of speaking borrowed, which is very usual and often in the Scriptures. One history thereof we have in (1 Kings 3), where it is declared, how two women contended before King Solomon, for a young infant, whose it should be, for either of them…

By moving of the bowels (or sounding, or making a noise, as the word is elsewhere translated, Isaiah 10:11 and 63:15) is understood a sensible stirring of the affections, when they begin to stound, and that kindly, and in a most affectionate manner, either severally, or jointly,…

Use. Well, do we serve God, and seek after God with the whole heart? The natural mother had rather part with the whole than to see the child divided (1 Kings 3:26). God had rather part with the whole than take a piece.

2 Use. In the sincerity of your hearts go to God for his teaching. 1. God is pleased with the request (1 Kings 3:9-10). Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this your so great a…

Second, it reproves those that do not give God the whole heart, for he requires that, and surely all is too little for so great and so good a master. God will have the heart, so that no part of it be [reconstructed: left] for others, or for ourselves to dispose of as we will: th…

Fear not therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows. The reasoning is good, if he has mercy for kites, he has also for children; who are not only in a higher rank of creatures, but in a renewed estate, and reconciled to him by Christ become his friends and children, who…

Septuagint: [in non-Latin alphabet]. (1 Kings 3:7): You have made your servant to reign in the room of David my father. Septuagint: [in non-Latin alphabet].

He was put to it early, and so deep were the lessons set him that he was nearly out of his mind, as he says there. Yet in the end, when God raised him up again, this Heman — who lived around the time of David and Solomon — is reckoned among the wisest men of his time and one of…

Proverbs 12:26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor. Solomon was a man of renown, he was the world's wonder; he discoursed of trees from the cedar-tree in Lebanon unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall (1 Kings 4:33). The Proverbs are profound and holy aphori…

For as often as the enemies spoil and rob us of them, let us assure ourselves that this falls out by God's permission, according as he threatens us in his Law: (Deuteronomy 28:33). As on the contrary, it is by the special blessing of his hand, when every one sits in peace under…

2. The excellence of this song is expressed in this, that it is A Song of Songs, a most excellent song, this being the manner how the Hebrews express their superlatives. While it is called A Song of Songs, it is compared with, and preferred to, all other songs: and we conceive t…

"And David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates." Accordingly we read, that Solomon his son reigned over all the region on this side the river, 1 Kings 4:24. "For he had dominion over all the region on this…

But briefly, that we may know when the heart is enlarged, understand the nature of it, let us see when the heart in Scripture is said to be enlarged. 1. You may look upon this enlargement as the effect of wisdom and knowledge; and so Solomon is said to have a large heart (1 King…

Second point: verse 19, I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people; verse 18, I have found David my servant. Most grave divines (and it may be they gathered it from verses 38-39, etc.) think that the Psalm was composed upon the occasion…

Justice goes a footpace, Genesis 18:21. mercy has wings; the sword of justice oft lies a long time in the scabbard, and rusts, till sin does draw it out and whet it against a Nation; God's justice is like the widow's oil, which ran a while, and ceased, 1 Kings 4:6. God's mercy i…

Name in this place signifies: 1 God himself (1 Kings 5:5): He shall build a house to my name. 2 His attributes, as his justice, mercy, etc. 3 His works, creatures, and judgments. 4 His word. 5 His honor and praise arising from all these. For God is known to us by all these, as m…

Unsound hearts, as they are slight in their obedience, so they are partial; some duty they will dispense with, some sin they will indulge. In this thing the Lord pardon your servant (1 Kings 5:18). The hypocrite will walk in some of God's statutes, not in all — like a foundered…

8. Believers at Death shall gain honor and dignity, they shall reign as kings; therefore we read of the ensigns of their royalty, their white robes, and crowns celestial (2 Timothy 4:7). We read that the doors of the Holy of Holies were made of palm-trees and open flowers covere…

Grace is the root, peace is the flower that grows out of it; it is Pax in procella, such peace that no worldly affliction can shake. The doors of Solomon's Temple were made of olive tree, carved with open flowers (1 Kings 6:32). In a gracious heart is the olive of peace, and the…

Learned Cameron has but one note upon this whole fifth chapter, and it falls to be upon this very word [who has wrought] and it is this: This word (says he) as used by the Septuagint, signifies Rem expolire rudem & informem, to polish a thing that is rude, and without fashion: f…

To show you, that if the Holy Ghost does but give a Christian soul so much resolution and confidence, as not to give over praying, till God be pleased to give over answering, it is a good sign, this spirit of faith will certainly prevail at length, all things are possible to the…

Hence we conclude that, so long as the priests were attending in their turns, they did not enter their own houses, that they might be entirely devoted and attached to the worship of God. For this purpose galleries were constructed around the walls of the temple, in which they ha…

The latter member is joined with this, to wit, that they then searched diligently every place where they might get weapons in such an extreme necessity, because the furniture for war had been hid a long time while they enjoyed peace. Now the holy history witnesses that Solomon h…

Princes and great men will have their houses far remote from towns and places of resort, that they may be free from suitors, and retire when they please from the throng of the multitude. It is said concerning Solomon (1 Kings 7:2), that after he had built the temple and his own…

2. There can be no history to which it can relate, to which the things spoken in this Song can be properly applied, as is said. 3. Solomon's marriage was at least twenty years before this Song was written; see on Song of Solomon 7 concerning the Tower of Lebanon, and compare it…

It makes the soul red with guilt, and black with filth. Sin in Scripture is compared to a menstruous cloth (Isaiah 30:22), to a plague sore (1 Kings 8:38). Joshua's filthy garments, in which he stood before the Angel (Zechariah 3:3), were nothing but a type and hieroglyphic of s…

1. God's Omnipresency; the Greek word for infinite [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] from [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], signifies without bounds or limits: God is not confined to any place, he is infinite, and so is present in all places at once. His center is every-where, Divina essen…

O Lord God of Israel, which dwells between the Cherubims, you are the God, even you alone. Deity is a jewel belongs only to his crown: Yet further, we acknowledge that there is no God like him (1 Kings 8:23). And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord, and he said, Lord God…

There is nothing true but what is in God, or comes from God. I shall now speak of God's truth as it is taken for his veracity, in making good of his promises: (1 Kings 8:56) There has not failed one word of all his good promise: the promise is God's bond, God's truth is the seal…

He grieves for it, 1. As it is an act of pollution. Sin deflowers the virgin soul; it defaces God's image; it turns beauty into deformity; it is called the plague of the heart (1 Kings 8:38). It is the spirits of evil distilled.

It is the spirits of mischief distilled. (1.) It defiles the soul's glory; it is like a stain to beauty: it is compared to a plague-sore (1 Kings 8:38). Nothing so changes one's glory into shame as sin.

1. See what the Scripture compares it to. Sin has got a bad name, 'tis compared to the vomit of dogs (2 Peter 2:22), to a menstruous cloth (Isaiah 30:22), which as Jerome says, was the most unclean thing under the Law, it is compared to the plague (1 Kings 8:38), to a gangrene (…

But I answer, from God's word; that though heaven be the seat and throne of God's glory, and where he manifesteth, and magnifieth his glory; yet is it not the place of his substance and being, for that is infinite, and incomprehensible: and it is against the Christian faith, to…

Now, the reasons moving him to pray for longer life, were these: First, he had then no issue to succeed him in his Kingdom; and therefore he prayed for life, to beget a child, which might sit upon his throne after him. And the ground of this prayer was this; GOD had made a parti…

Question. How may God be said to be in heaven, seeing he is infinite, and therefore must needs be everywhere? 1 Kings 8:27. The heavens of heavens are not able to contain him. Answer. God is said to be in heaven: first, because his majesty, that is, his power, wisdom, justice, m…

For it is God's will, that we should not cast the care of heavenly things only, but all our care upon him (1 Peter 5:7). And he has elsewhere commanded that earthly things should be asked at his hand (1 Kings 8:35), and the same has been asked in prayer of Jacob (Genesis 28:10),…

2. It includes deep humiliation for heart evils and disorders; thus Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart (2 Chronicles 32:26). Thus the people were ordered to spread forth their hands to God in prayer in a sense of the plague of their own hearts (1 Kings 8:38). Up…

The Scripture is full to this purpose, in asserting, that not only all men are sinners as considered in their natural condition, but that even believers are sinful in part. For the same Apostle John that says (1 John 1:3), "Truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with his…

3. Observe here, that a believing elect, or an elect believer, will not only be sensible of sin in the general, but of his own particular and peculiar sinful way; or thus, it's a good token when folk look not only on sin in common, but on their own peculiar sinful way; or thus,…

So (Lamentations 3) tears lie in heaven as solicitors with God, until he hear; mine eye trickles down, and ceases not, (Verse 50) till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven. (1 Kings 8:30) Hear you in the heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive: says Solomon…

2. To be a token of the extraordinary presence of God, whose voice immediately came out of the cloud, as also to veil the glory thereof, which was best done by a cloud, a thing of a middle nature between terrestrial and celestial bodies. When Solomon built the Temple the Lord sh…

Now whatever invisible power this worship is tendered to, must be omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent. Omniscient who knows the thoughts, cogitations, secret purposes of our heart, which God alone does (1 Kings 8:39). Give to every one according to his ways, whose heart you know…

Oh plead and improve this relation. 10. God is omnipresent: Your Father which is in secret: the heaven of heavens cannot contain him (1 Kings 8:27). He fills all places with his immense and infinite essence: Heaven is his throne, the earth is his footstool; he is excluded from n…

This is demonstrated two ways: 1. A child of God banished out of all human society may pray still. Suppose a man were rejected by men, and ejected out of all companies of men, and were shut up in the closest prison, or shut out in the remotest wilderness; suppose a man were in t…

Some say, that the saints in heaven are with God, and that in him they see the desires of our hearts: but it is false which they say. For the Scripture says, that God alone searches the heart (1 Kings 8:39). None knows what is in man but God, and the spirit of man (1 Corinthians…

And yet no question but this Temple thus consecrated for the service of God, was truly and really his house: for he had told by Moses, that he would be present in every place where he should put the remembrance of his name (Exodus 20:24). And Solomon in dedicating the Temple sai…

He also means to attribute a more excellent and glorious form to God, than to any human creature whatever. And that he thus appeared in the Temple, it does yet add greater authority to the vision, because he had promised his presence to his people there, and there the people wai…

For it is not fit that God should dwell upon earth, or be shut up as within a prison. The Temple also was built upon a little hill, which little space was unable to comprehend God's glory (1 Kings 8:27). That place of my rest.] And yet the Lord had said of the Temple, in Psalm 1…

Here the temple is put for the outer court, as in other passages. Near it was the altar of burnt offerings, (1 Kings 8:64; 18:30,) so that the priest offered the sacrifices in presence of the people. It is evident, therefore, that there must have been furious rage, when the sigh…

Surely they were more than men, that the father is but at a question, whether his sons have sinned or no? Solomon after an If concerning sin, resolves it into a conclusion (1 Kings 8:46): If (says he) they sin against you (here he makes a supposition, but you see he goes not one…

And though some wicked men have prophesied, as Balaam did, yet are they never accounted Prophets of the Lord, as Solomon was, but false Prophets and enchanters; neither were they Penmen of Holy Writ; who were, as Peter calls them (2 Peter 1:21), holy men of God, speaking as they…

In a word, when the Lord shall come forth upon his white horse with his armies, and shall destroy the Beast, and all the powers of the earth that take part with him: as (Revelation 19, from verse 11 to the end): Then God will speak terribly indeed against his enemies by the swor…

If a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile, you shall take him from my [reconstructed: altar] that he may die. Joab being a man of blood, King Solomon sought to slay him, though he caught hold on the horns of the altar (1 Kings 8:29). In Bohemia former…

"He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." See also 1 Kings 8:56. 9. God by David perfected the Jewish worship, and added to it several new institutions.

These seem to have been preserved in the ark till the captivity. These were in the ark when Solomon placed the ark in the temple, 1 Kings 8:9. There was nothing in the ark, save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb. And we have no reason to suppose any other,…

It is plain that that Sort of Judging is forbidden, that God claims as his Prerogative, whatever that be. We know that there is a certain Judging of the Hearts of the Children of Men, that is often spoken of as the great Prerogative of God, and which belongs only to him; as in 1…

When therefore men have slight and transient thoughts of their lusts, it is no great sign that they are mortified, or that they are in a way for their mortification. This is every man's knowing the plague of his own heart (1 Kings 8:38). Without which no other work can be done;…

5. Our private necessities show that it is a necessary duty, which cannot be so feelingly spoken to and expressed by others, as by ourselves; and (it may be) are not so fit to be divulged and communicated to others; we cannot so well lay forth our hearts with such largeness and…

Secondly; How is God there, since he is everywhere? 1. Negatively; It is not to be understood so, as if he were included in heaven, or locally circumscribed within the compass of it; For the heaven of heavens cannot contain him (1 Kings 8:27). In regard of his essence, he is in…

By the way of truth, is meant true religion, as 2 Peter 2:2: By whom the way of truth is evil spoken of. It is elsewhere called the good way wherein we should walk (1 Kings 8:36), and the way of God (Psalm 27:11), and the way of understanding (Proverbs 9:6), and the way of holin…

Before we can fly we must get wings, we must have grace before we can run the way of God's commandments; and then the quickening of the habits, the exciting of the soul to action; the deed as well as the will (Philippians 2:13) is from God; the first inclination, and actual acco…

David says here, Lord incline my heart. And (1 Kings 8:58), The Lord be with us, that he may incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and keep his commandment. It is God's work alone to bend the crooked stick the other way.

(Joshua 23:14) Not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. (1 Kings 8:56) There has not failed one word of all his good promises, which he has promised by the hand of Moses his servant. You will often find the very letter of the…

2. Partly by afflictions; as the prodigal when he was reduced to husks and rags, then he came to himself, and was brought to his right mind. Again, (1 Kings 8:47), If in the land of their affliction they shall bethink themselves, and repent, the Hebrew is, bring it back to their…

So do the servants of God observe his accomplishing promises, (Joshua 23:14) And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts, and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concer…

1. The time of affliction is a serious thinking time (Ecclesiastes 7:14): In the day of adversity consider. (1 Kings 8:47): Yet if they bethink themselves in the land where they are carried captive. We have more liberty to retire into ourselves, being freed from the attractive a…

Now with such persons as are under these diseases, others are loath to eat or drink: 'tis likened to the rot, to the filth and corruption of the foulest disease, which is so foul and rotten, as (according to the proverb) one would not touch it with a pair of tongs. The Apostle t…

We are not worthy (as the Centurion said) that the Lord should come under our [illegible]. In (1 Kings 8:27) Solomon says, Will the Lord indeed dwell on earth? Will he dwell in a house made with hands?

We are a lump of clay and sin mingled together. Sin does not only blind us but defile us; it is called 'filthiness' (James 1:21), and is compared to a plague-sore (1 Kings 8:38), to spots (Deuteronomy 32:5), to vomit (2 Peter 2:22), to an infant tumbling in blood (Ezekiel 16:6),…

What David's enemies said reproachfully of him is true of every natural person (Psalm 41:8): an evil disease clings to him. He has the plague of the heart (1 Kings 8). Even those who have been renewed are cured only in part; they have some lingering of the disease, some stirring…

In fact, God will not only take notice of what we have done for him, but what we would have done. David had an intention to build God a house, and the Lord did interpret it as if he had done it (1 Kings 8:18). Whereas it was in your heart to build a house to my name, you did wel…

And the fault were the less, if our works were only called the way to the kingdom, not the cause of reigning, but they are called perfect, both in their nature, and conform to the rule, and also in order to the end, to justify us before God, and to save us. And if so, all in Chr…

And so the stability and certainty of the decree and oath is not to make the children of David secure, but watchful in their duty: But this is not a condition without which the Messiah should not reign, but without this he should not reign to their comfort and everlasting good.…

2. The promises are laid down in Christ as in a public Lord-Keeper. Christ is that excellent Ark in which are the Tables of the Covenant, and the Book of the Law and Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:26; 1 Kings 8:9), and as the first subject of the promises he keeps them. Indeed, Christ…

Use. Let us declare ourselves godly, by being servants of the most high God. Consider 1. God is the best Master, he is punctual in all his promises, 1 Kings 8:23. There is no God like thee in Heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest Covenant with thy servants.

It is called Galilee of the Gentiles, not only because it was neighbor to Tyre and Sidon, but also in regard many nations were mingled there among the Jews; for after David gave this country to king Hiram, it could never be so quiet but the Gentiles would always occupy some part…

Lower Galilee is called Galilee of the Gentiles, not only on account of its vicinity to Tyre and Sidon, but because its inhabitants were a mixture of Jews and Gentiles, particularly after that David had granted some cities to King Hiram. This appears to refer to a gift, not of D…

When the man or the thing is not approved, then God carries himself toward him and his action as if he knew not what he had been doing, and he must have it out by confession. Thus Hiram (1 Kings 9:13) puts the question upon Solomon, What cities are these which you have given me,…

The posterity of the Gibeonites became servants before, hewers of wood, and drawers of water, for the house of God. But Solomon, David's son and successor, put all the other remains of the seven nations of Canaan to bond-service; at least made them pay a tribute of bond-service,…

How can you say I love you, when your heart is not with me (Judges 16:15)? Obedience must be extensive — it must reach to all God's commandments (1 Kings 9:4; Luke 1:6). But who can arrive at this?

'There is one that makes himself rich, and yet has nothing; and there is one that makes himself poor, and yet has great riches' (Proverbs 13:7). Hiram called the cities Solomon gave him 'Cabul' — dirty, for they pleased him not (1 Kings 9:13). It is but an ill requital, an ungra…

Judas dissembles his envy at Christ, and covetousness, with a pretense of charity to the poor (John 12:5). Jehu makes religion a stirrup to his ambitious design (1 Kings 10:16). but God sees through these fig leaves. You may see a jade under his gilt trappings.

Who has made us kings. Therefore as the Queen of Sheba having seen the glory of Solomon's kingdom, said, Happy are these your servants which stand continually before you (1 Kings 10:8), so, happy are those saints who stand before the King of Heaven, and wait on his throne. Branc…

Now these would seem vain, and to no purpose, if there were no use of speech and hearing. It was a blessed thing for Peter, James and John, to stand by and hear the conference between Christ, Moses and Elijah (1 Kings 10:8): Happy are your men, happy are these your servants whic…

Isaiah then speaks of the Church, which after so many diminishings shall spread again over the whole world, and that in such wise, as she shall be viewed of all nations. And yet this fell not out, no not under the reign of Solomon while the Jews flourished in greatest abundance…

He has prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19). Earthly kings, that their majesty may appear to their subjects, have their thrones usually exalted; there were six steps to Solomon's throne, a description of it you have in (1 Kings 10:18-…

In semet ipsam (says Tertullian) semper abundantia contumeliosa est: plenty lessens the price of things. As in Solomon's time, gold and silver were as dirt in the streets (1 Kings 10:32), so the word of God, though it be so precious and excellent, yet when we have plenty of it,…

Likewise for the present you have free access to God; God's servants may stand in his presence, and they have liberty to ask anything they need of. The Queen of Sheba said concerning Solomon in (1 Kings 10:8), 'Happy are these your servants, which stand continually before you, a…

Jerusalem for its renown, was called the city of God; it was the most famous metropolis in the world, Where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord (Psalm 122:4). 3. For wealth; his crown was hung full of jewels; he had treasures of gold and pearl, and gave silver as stones (1…

Christ is a rare blessing; there are but few who have him. The best things when they become common begin to be despised; when silver was in Jerusalem as stones (1 Kings 10:27), it was apt to be trodden upon. Christ is a jewel that few are enriched with, which should both raise o…

The luster and brightness of Christ's glory is so great that should he now let forth the beams thereof upon them, it would dazzle and amaze them, it would strike them blind, indeed it would strike them dead; there is need, because of their weakness, that Christ should keep a vei…

What? because a father gives his son an assurance of his love, and tells him he will entail his land upon him, shall the son therefore be wanton and dissolute? This were the way to lose his father's affection, and make him cut off the entail; it was an aggravation of Solomon's s…

The wicked, when they sin, never tasted the sweetness of a heavenly life; they never knew what it was to have any smiles from God; they never tasted anything sweeter than corn and wine, therefore no wonder if they sin: but for a child of God, who has had such love-tokens from he…

Thus in the matter of spiritual joy and assurance, God may grant it to one who has not feared and obeyed him as much as one who walks in darkness. But then if anyone has received more pledges of assurance beforehand and has not walked accordingly, God counts it as an aggravation…

And therefore, in the books of the Prophets (Hosea 4.16. and 5.9. and 6.4, etc.) we shall find that the name of Ephraim is given to all the ten tribes; and they are called by that name, because it was the most noble tribe of all, and the most valiant, and (as it were) the shelte…

Thus the Prophet calls the most renowned and frequented temple among the Moabites, a sanctuary; and says, they shall go there: but to no purpose. Now it appears by the holy history, that the most famous temple of the Moabites was dedicated to Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7). Some expound…

That is, the chief of the evil angels, as it is conceived. The word [Satan] signifies an adversary, and so it is often times applied to men; as concerning Solomon, it is said that while he did walk exactly with God, there was neither adversary nor evil occurrence; the word in th…

It is said, 1. to be like the tower of Lebanon: There is no particular mention of such a tower, but, that Solomon built there a stately house (2 Chronicles 8:3), called the house of the forest of Lebanon, wherein (2 Chronicles 9:15-16) he put many targets and shields; and Lebano…

The visible church of Christ from Solomon's reign, was mainly in the tribe of Judah. The tribe of Benjamin, that was annexed to them, was but a very small tribe, and the tribe of Judah exceedingly large; and as Judah took Benjamin under his covert when he went into Egypt to brin…

Such as these the Scripture terms men-pleasers. Hence it comes to pass that husbands and wives are so far from drawing one another from sin, that the better rather yields to the worse, and both run into evil, as Adam was persuaded by his wife to transgress against God's express…

This, as it is in itself a vile vice, so is it a cause of many other vices, as of presumption, rebellion, and even of adultery itself many times: and it is also a main hindrance of all duty. It commonly rises either from self-conceit (whereby wives overween their own gifts, thin…

Thus does the Lord extend the reward of righteous parents to their children to show his great good liking, and high approbation of righteousness. Read for this purpose, (1 Kings 11:34; 2 Kings 10:30). 1. Objection. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself.

That in (Titus 2:2) take heed of old age sins, old age lusts (concupiscentia non senescit) when men are dying, and have one leg in the grave, when they are about to give up the ghost, yet (like the thief on the cross) they will be sinning. Take heed of Solomon's old age sin, a k…

6 The Experiences that any have had of God's goodness, and their own deceitful and evil hearts, and what they have suffered by sin, do all bear witness against sin: Has God been so and so good, and are you so foolish to requite the Lord evil for his goodness, which should have l…

It excels in security; other kingdoms fear either foreign invasions or intestine divisions. Solomon's kingdom was peaceable awhile, but at last he had an alarm given him by the enemy (1 Kings 11:4). But the kingdom of heaven is so impregnable that it fears no hostile assaults or…

And if God establish David's seed forever (Psalm 89:4) and the seed of his people shall possess the gates of their enemies (Genesis 24:60) and if he pour his Spirit upon the seed of Jacob (Isaiah 44:3) and circumcise the heart of the seed of his people (Deuteronomy 30:6) and put…

We must distinguish between the intent of the threatener, and the intent and sense of the threatening. Law-threatenings may be well expounded, by the execution of them, upon persons, against whom they are denounced: As, (1 Kings 11:30) compared with (1 Kings 12:15-16). Ten Tribe…

Objection: But this Covenant is made to, and with David, that Solomon, and one of David's line, shall sit upon David's Throne, until the Messiah, the true beloved shall be born (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Answer: It is true, and although these of David's line sinned, yet by virtue of th…

The word of the Almighty is his deed also (Psalm 33:9). He spoke, and it was done, he commanded, and it stood fast; [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] For he himself spoke, and it was: the Lord's word gives being to things, by the contrary; men's deeds are nothing but words; so the liv…

To contemn God is worse than to rebel. The tribes of Israel rebelled against Rehoboam because he made their yoke heavier (1 Kings 12:16). But to contemn God is worse, it is to slight him; to contemn God is to put a scorn upon him, and affront him to his face, and an affront will…

The magistracy is a higher calling, which is more subject to temptations, from the different humors of men who are to be governed: nothing will carry a man through it, but this holy courage and dependence on God. The fear of man brought a snare to Jeroboam, that he perverted the…

vide Brisson. page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, with the eighteenth. So Jeroboam would have his calves worshipped (1 Kings 12:32). And yet all that complied with him therein, are charged for walking so willingly after the commandment (Hosea 5:11).

They think old men fools, but old men know that they are fools. Their conceitedness puffs them up, and makes them incapable of instruction, and very unteachable ([reconstructed: Rehoboam] and his young counselors may save us the labor of instancing in any others, 1 Kings 12), an…

We must distinguish between the intent of the threatener, and the intent and sense of the threatening. Law-threatenings may be well expounded, by the execution of them, upon persons, against whom they are denounced: As, (1 Kings 11:30) compared with (1 Kings 12:15-16). Ten Tribe…

The adamant, says Pliny, is insuperable, the hammer cannot conquer it: sinners have adamantine hearts. The altar of stone, when the prophet spoke to it, rent asunder (1 Kings 13:2). But sinners' hearts are so hardened in sin, that nothing will work upon them, neither ordinances…

It prevents abundance of sin, which else wicked men would commit, Genesis 19:11 The Sodomites were greedily pursuing their lusts: God providentially hinders it, by smiting them blind. Jeroboam intends to smite the Prophet; Providence interpos'd, and wither'd his arm, 1 Kings 13:…

This was a famous and very particular prophecy of a person named near two hundred years before he was born, and those things punctually foretold of him which he should afterwards perform. The like we have (1 Kings 13:2), where the prophet declaims against the idolatrous altar an…

Oh take heed of unbelief, it destroys this holy violence. We read of Jeroboam's arm being withered (1 Kings 13:4). Unbelief withers the arm of the soul, that it cannot stretch itself forth to any spiritual action.

Flesh and blood will not so easily bear us out against the secret ensnarings of the heart. The young prophet does thunder out his message against the king (1 Kings 13:3), yet was enticed by the wiles of the old prophet. So we may stand out against an open assault, and apparent v…

Obdurate Sinners shake out the Arrow of Conviction, Scorn Reproof. When the Prophet cried to the Altar of Stone it rent, 1 Kings 13:2. But Sinners Hearts rend not; these are like to have the Wrath of God flame about their Ears, 2 Thes. 1:8.

And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by the renewing of your minds. Good men may deceive us; true and faithful ministers may err both in doctrine and manners, as the old prophet seduced the young one to his own destruction (1 Kings 13:18). He said to him, I…

And it was by much fair speech, or importunity that the harlot prevailed with the young man, who it may be was going about his business, and thought no hurt, till she importuned him (Proverbs 7:13, 21). By lying to men in the name of the Lord, as the old prophet did to the young…

But is it possible that such should do this work for the devil? yes, such is the policy of Satan, and the frailty of the best, that the most holy men have been his instruments to seduce others, Abraham he tempts his wife to lie, Say you are my Sister. The old Prophet leads the m…

He makes a critical discant upon men's actions. Jeroboam's wife disguised herself that the prophet should not know her, but he discerned her (1 Kings 14:6). Why do you feign yourself to be another. The hypocrite thinks to prevaricate and juggle with God, but God will unmask him;…

That is, God lays up the punishment of his iniquity for his children; the child smarts for the father's sin. Jeroboam thought to have established the kingdom by idolatrous worship, but it brought ruin upon him and all his posterity (1 Kings 14:10). Ahab's idolatry wronged his po…

Luther confessed there were three things which he dared not think of without Christ: his sins, death, and the day of judgment. Death to a Christless soul is the king of terrors, as the prophet Ahijah said to Jeroboam's wife (1 Kings 14:6): I am sent to you with heavy tidings. So…

Objection 3. Some books of the canon of Scripture are lost, as the book of the Wars of God (Numbers 21:14), the book of the Just (Joshua 10:13), the books of Chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah (1 Kings 14:19), and the books of certain prophets, Nathan, Gad, Iddo, Ahijah…

When of a sudden there came three men to Abram, and he was desirous to entertain them, he bid his wife make ready quickly three measures of meal, etc., and she did it accordingly (Genesis 18:6). Jeroboam having a weighty occasion to send to Ahijah the Prophet, thought it meet to…

So that this expression, of seeking the Lord with the whole heart, is reconcilable enough with the weaknesses of the present state. For instance (1 Kings 14:8): My servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, and did that only which was right…

1. All such as are renewed by grace, and reconciled to God by Christ Jesus; to these God imputes no sin to condemnation, and in his account they do no iniquity. Notable is that, (1 Kings 14:8) it is said of David, He kept my commandments, and followed me with all his heart, and…

Well then, David did not only keep from open apostasy, but from declining or turning aside in the least to any hand. Testimonies we have of his integrity in Scripture (1 Kings 14:8): David kept my commandment, and followed me with all his heart to do only that which was right in…

To be a sin-hater implies two things: first, to look upon sin as the most deadly evil, a complicated evil that looks more ghastly than death or hell; second, to be implacably incensed against it. A sin-hater will never admit of any terms of peace; the war between him and sin is…

And, here we must be admonished, to beware of the bad practices of the world, in this case: the most men in their sickness, first seek to the Physicians; and if that fail them, they send for the Minister. This was King Asa his practice, for which he is branded to all posterity,…

On the contrary, you have the threatning, Zechariah 5:4 and both together, Proverbs 3:33 The Curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked, but he Blesseth the habitation of the just. True it is, that both these imply the Childrens treading in the steps of their Parents, accor…

Here were no acts sinful in the matter of them, such as Satan did promise to himself, and did undertake with God, that Job would speak and break out into: Satan was confident that Job would blaspheme and curse God to his face; this was an act of an high nature, sinful in the ver…

And though many of the kings of Judah were very wicked men, and horridly provoked God, as particularly Jehoram, Ahaziah, Ahaz, Manasseh, and Amon; yet God did not take away the crown from their family, but gave it to their sons, because they were the ancestors of Christ. God's r…

Fifthly, is not the inheritance of the Saints, that kingdom of glory, that incorruptible undefiled crown that is reserved for them, riches? and yet how many are so far from esteeming reproaches riches, as they will venture the loss of that too, rather then they will endure repro…

Consider, foul sins are a blot that will stick long by us. See (1 Kings 15:5): it is said, "David walked in all the ways of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite." Why, there wer…

Testimonies we have of his integrity in Scripture (1 Kings 14:8): David kept my commandment, and followed me with all his heart to do only that which was right in my sight. His great blemish is mentioned elsewhere (1 Kings 15:5): David did that which was right in the eyes of the…

Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name to the elders to hire sons of Belial (so false witnesses are called) that they might accuse Naboth of blasphemy, and then stone him to death (1 Kings 21). Indeed, David himself was guilty of this great sin, and therefore it is spoken of as hi…

Yet 2. There is this to be said, that the sins of good men are more usually sins of captivity, than sins of activity, as the Apostle speaks (Romans 7). they are rather led into sin by temptation, than go into sin by choice and inclination; it is against the law of their mind. It…

3. Propos. The washed heart that lodges not vain thoughts (Jeremiah 4:14), purged from dead works, by the blood of Christ (above all the blood of bullocks and goats) (Hebrews 9:14), purified by faith (Acts 15:14), is the good heart. It is a better heart according to the heart of…

(2 Kings 1:17): Joram reigned in his stead, Septuagint [in non-Latin alphabet]. (1 Kings 15:28): Baasha slew him and reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet]. (2 Kings 8:15): He slew him, and Hazael reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet].

As for the case of David, which seems to have so much counsel and deliberation in it, yet it was not in a single act; it was not in the general course of his life. He was upright in all things — that is, in the general course and tenor of his life (1 Kings 15:5). Though an uprig…

It seems to them an unlikely thing beyond all sense and faith, that their infirmities should not break this league, yet faith, when it is lively, can see that though the action be sinful, yet the person is accepted. You read (1 Kings 15:5) that David did that which was right in…

For by it he has redeemed us from the danger of the Devil, Death and Hell, and made us free Israelites and a peculiar people to himself and has set up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David. A horn in scripture is taken for victory, mightiness, a rod, a kingdom, g…

1. She is beautiful as Tirzah: this was a city of the tribe of Manasseh; the word in the original comes from a root that signifies acceptable, whereby it seems that this city has been exceeding pleasant. It was the seat of one of the kings of Canaan (Joshua 12:24), and of the ki…

For whoever rationally considers the occasion and political grounds of this innovation, must needs conclude, that Jeroboam intended not to introduce a new God, (which would have made the people to fall faster from him, than tyranny and oppression did from Rehoboam) but only to s…

And after that the history seems to have been further carried on by the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani: 2 Chronicles 20:34. "Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of t…

Verse 30: Hoshea smote him, and reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet]. So also (Esther 2:4), (Ecclesiastes 4:15), (2 Samuel 17:25), (Genesis 30:2), (1 Kings 16:10): Zimri reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet] (Ezekiel 16:32). Joseph heard that Archelaus did reign in the room of Herod his…

In fact, God will make it up some way or other in this life (Proverbs 11:25). The liberal soul shall be made [reconstructed: fat]: as the loaves in breaking multiplied, or as the widow's oil increased by pouring out (1 Kings 17:16). An estate may be imparted, yet not impaired.

When the Protestants in Rochelle were besieged by the French King, God by his Providence sent in a great number of small fish that fed them, such as were never seen before in that haven. So the raven, that unnatural creature — that will hardly feed its own young, yet — provident…

(1.) Sometimes God afflicts with poverty. The widow had nothing left her save a pot of oil (1 Kings 17:12). Poverty is a great temptation.

God creates comforts when means fail: He that brought food to the Prophet Elijah by the unnatural Ravens, will bring sustenance to his people. God can preserve the Oil in the Cruse, 1 Kings 17:14. The Lord made the Sun on Ahaz's Dial go ten degrees backward: So when our outward…

If men had but a spark of grace, the consideration of this would make them loath the practice of any evil work. Elijah says to Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these three years (1 Kings 17:1). Where the prophet confi…

See, the pardoning of their sin is expounded to be the removing of the locusts and pestilence. And to call sins to remembrance, is to punish sin: the Shunammite says, (1 Kings 17:18). Are you come to me (O man of God) to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? Job compla…

He can make a little means go far. As he blessed the pulse to the captive children (Daniel 1:15), and made the widow's barrel of meal, and cruse of oil to hold out (1 Kings 17:14), and his filling and feeding five thousand with a few barley loaves, and a few fishes (Matthew 14:2…

Why, certainly he had great acquaintance with his God in secret. Take one instance what his practice was (1 Kings 17:19-24). It is the memorable History of raising the widow woman's dead Son.

This due time may be understood in part of this life: for godliness has the promise of this life, as well as of the life to come, and the works of mercy have been even in this life recompensed to the full. The widow of Zarephath for entertaining the Prophet Elijah, was miraculou…

It is no wonder then if Hezekiah asks one, seeing the Lord is pleased to offer the same voluntarily to others. Yet we are to note, that the faithful have not asked signs of their own heads, but were led so to do by the special instinct of the Holy Ghost, which may also be affirm…

He throws out an indirect hint as to their vanity and presumption, in entertaining a dislike of him, because he had been brought up among them. When there was a great famine for three years and a half, there were many widows in Israel, whose want of food Elijah was not commanded…

He will go before, by a remarkable power of the Spirit, to proclaim the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” The Jews, with their usual grossness of interpretation, had applied this to Elijah the Tishbite, (1 Kings 17:1,) as if he were to appear again and discharge the office of…

We have stated elsewhere the origin of that error which prevailed among the Jews. As John the Baptist was to resemble Elijah by restoring the fallen condition of the Church, the prophet Malachi (4:5,6) had even given to him the name of Elijah; and this had been rashly interprete…

Ah how unwilling are we to surrender to the Lord the Loan which he lent us! to be disquieted by troubles when at ease in our enjoyments! How unwelcome are the messengers of affliction to the best men! we are ready to say to them as the Widow to Elijah, What have I to do with you…

Thus that peevish prophet; I do well to be angry to the death (Jonah 4). 2. Discontent is accompanied with unthankfulness; because we have not all we desire, we never mind the mercies which we have: we deal with God as the widow of Zarephath did with the prophet; the prophet Eli…

When the candle of prosperity shines upon us, we may light our neighbor who is in the dark and have no less light ourselves. Whatever is disbursed to godly uses, God brings it in by some other way; as the loaves in the breaking multiplied, or as the widow's oil increased by pour…

This was not only mirum, but miraculum: Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to heaven, when our light shall be clear, as well as our love perfect. Branch 4. From hence, God manifest in the flesh, Christ born of a Virgin, a thing not only…

So that an idol is nothing, vanity is ascribed to it (Jeremiah 14:22), we do not acknowledge it to be a God. But this is to make God to be a God to us, when we do, ex animo, acknowledge him to be God (1 Kings 18:39). All the people fell on their faces, and said, The Lord he is t…

But though some deserve no honor, yet such as are faithful, and make it their work to bring souls to Christ, are to be reverenced as spiritual fathers. Obadiah honored the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:17). Why did God reckon the tribe of Levi for the firstborn (Numbers 3:12)?

She did not only give him her breast milk, but the sincere milk of the Word. Season your children with good principles early, that they may with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth (1 Kings 18:12). When parents instruct not their children, they seldom prove blessings.

Hereby God is known to be the true God, in that he hears prayer. (1 Kings 18:37) Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that the people may know that you are the Lord God. 2. Because God only can help.

Pliny saith, the water-courses of Rome are the worlds wonder; but behold here a Sacred Water-course of Gods mercy, this is a sweet wonder; Mercy can overcome a sinful people, it can save a Nation in its Climacterical year. We read that the fire of the Lord fell, and licked up th…

With every one of these God was pleased to talk and commune as a friend; such honor was God pleased to put on these his faithful servants, and when the people had provoked God, and God's wrath was already gone out against them for their crying sins, their prayers were so effectu…

Here the heathens use vain repetitions that they may move God: There the Scribes and Pharisees make long prayers that they may deceive men, and devour widows' houses. This text says, They think they shall be heard for their much speaking; just as Baal's priests (1 Kings 18:26).…

He that troubles you] the Church is troubled three ways: 1. by false doctrine. Thus Ahab troubled Israel (1 Kings 18:18), and the false Apostles trouble Galatia. 2. By wicked example: thus Achan troubled Israel (Joshua 7:25).

It was the sin of Achan that troubled the Jews (Joshua 7:25). It was the sin of Ahab that troubled Israel (1 Kings 18:18). The sin of false apostles that troubled the Galatians (Galatians 5:10).

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of them that have pleasur therein, Psalm 111:2 Not that I think it feasible to sound the depth of Providence by our short line, Psalm 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and your path in the great waters, and your footsteps are not known; but…

2. The hand of God signifies the Spirit of God, in the mighty actings and workings of it; so a Spirit of prophecy is called the hand of God, Ezekiel 1:3, The hand of the Lord was there upon me; and Ezekiel 37:1, The hand of the Lord was upon me, that is, the Spirit of the Lord,…

And sometimes the Scripture uses ironical taunts. Thus in that bitter sarcasm of Elijah to the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:27), he mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud; for he is a God." Which kinds of ironical speeches are so far from being intended to create error in the minds of…

They had houses built, where they used to dwell together; and therefore those at Jericho being multiplied, and finding their house too little for them, desired leave of their master and teacher Elisha, that they might go and hew timber to build a bigger; as you may see, 2 Kings…

Let us take heed of any hand in such an evil as this; but let us know that it is our honor, and will be great advantage to us, to appear for to be helpful, and comfortable unto the Servants of God in their sufferings; to be Obadiahs, Ebedmelechs, to the Prophets of the Lord. Oba…

No man but a frantic, furious, desperate wretch will beat himself. Two sorts of men are in Scripture noted to cut and lance their own flesh, idolaters, as the Baalites (1 Kings 18:28), and demoniacs, as he that was possessed with a legion of devils (Mark 5:5). Such are they who…

The centurion commends this duty in the example of his servants, who every one of them did what their master commanded them to do (Matthew 8:9). It is further commended in the examples of Abraham's servant, Elijah's servant, and many others (Genesis 24:9; 1 Kings 18:43). Note ho…

To hallow, and to sanctify, is to set apart from common use; and so to sanctify the name of God, is to use it in a separate manner, with that reverence and respect which is not used to anything else. So that when we pray, that God's name may be hallowed or sanctified, we desire,…

1. Charging weakness upon God, as if many words did help him to understand their meaning, or to remember their petitions the better. Hence that practice of Baal's priests (1 Kings 18:26): they called on the name of Baal from morning till night; O Baal, hear us. They were repeati…

As Jotham brings in the trees that went forth to anoint a king over them (Judges 9:8). Neither such sharp and piercing ironies as we find used by holy men in Scripture (1 Kings 18:27). As Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a God, either he is talking, etc.

He had a true godliness, or a filial awe of God which kept him from sin, and the temptations whereby it might insinuate itself into his soul. So Obadiah, Ahab's Steward, is described to be a man that feared God greatly (1 Kings 18:3), and of one Hananiah it is said (Nehemiah 7:2…

The Lord abominates the practice, he that knows and fears the Lord should abhor it with detestation. Thus plainly dealt Elijah with Ahab (1 Kings 18:18): It is you and your father's house that have troubled Israel, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and foll…

God calls several of his servants at sundry times, some young, some old, some in their tender, some in their riper years, there is no season excepted; he that is the God of all times, can, and will do his own work at any time: Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child (2 Timothy…

Or it is dead (Ephesians 4:19): conscience is deadened and insensible; the habit of sinning has taken away the sense of sinning. Thus the sickness of sin has gone over the whole soul, like that cloud which overspread the face of the heavens (1 Kings 18:45). Sickness debilitates…

The greatest grace was once little; the Oak was once an Acorn; the most Renowned Faith in the world was once in its Spiritual Infancy; the greatest flame of zeal was once but smoking flax: Grace, like the waters of the Sanctuary, riseth higher: If then the least Embryo and seed…

Thus did Abraham, Genesis 18. 19. I know Abraham, that he will command his children, and his household, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Children are young plants, which must be watered with good education, that they may with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth up, 1…

1st Commandment: You shall have no other gods, etc. He breaks this commandment: who does not know the true God (Jeremiah 4:22); who denies God in his heart by denying his presence, justice, mercy, etc. (Psalm 14:1); who hates God and shows it by disobedience (Exodus 20:5; Romans…

Jesus Christ showed love to his enemies. We read of the fire licking up the water, 1 Kings 18:38. It is usual for water to quench the fire, but for fire to dry up and consume the water, which was not capable of burning, this was miraculous!

The most convenient doctrine that some professors are acquainted with. This lukewarm temper Christ hated; he was sick of them, and loathed their indifference: 'I wish,' said he (verse 16), 'you were either cold or hot'; an expression of the same force as that in 1 Kings 18:21, '…

The temptation must represent Christ, as a none-such for rough dealing, and the tempted a none-such for misery. Elias must say (1 Kings 18:20), I, even I only, am left alone, and they seek my life (Psalm 22:4). Our fathers trusted in you, they trusted in you, and were delivered…

But now in case the conscience alone had been pricked, why then a man, by his good will, would come no more to such men as have wounded him, and it will be a burden to him, if by his calling he be forced to live under such a ministry: Elijah's ministry wrought upon Ahab, to caus…

True peace is after trouble. First there was the earthquake, and then the fire, and then the still small voice (1 Kings 19:11). You who never had any legal bruisings may suspect your peace; God pours the golden oil of peace into broken hearts.

Water when it is hot soon boils over: So when the heart is heated with anger, it soon boils over in fiery and passionate speeches. 1 Kings 19:12. after the earthquake a fire, but God was not in the fire: So I may say of the fire of rash anger, God is not in this fire. Grace heat…

(1 Corinthians 10:13) There has no temptation taken you, but that which is [illegible], common to man, indeed, to the best: men, Christ's lambs who have had the earmark of election upon them, have been set upon by the wolf. Elijah that could shut Heaven by prayer, could not shut…

When our Savior Christ knew that the Pharisees heard of the multitude of Disciples which he made, John 4:1-3, he left Judea, where they had greatest jurisdiction, and came into Galilee, for his safety. The Prophet in the Old Testament did fly: as, Elijah from Jezebel: 1 Kings 19…

The words in the original, are thus: Escaped the mouth of the sword: which is the Hebrew phrase in the old Testament, and here followed by the Penman of this Epistle; and before, where he calleth the word of God a two mouthed sword, Hebrews 4.12: hereby meaning (as it is transla…

Ah, this goes close to honest hearts! But though God allows — indeed commands — the most awakened apprehensions of these calamities, and in such a day calls to mourning, weeping, and girding with sackcloth (Isaiah 22:12), and severely threatens the insensible (Amos 6:1), yet it…

1. That he fasted forty days, and forty nights; so did Moses when he received the law (Exodus 34:28). And at the restoring of the law Elijah did the like (1 Kings 19:8). Now what these two great prophets had done, Christ the great prophet and doctor of the Christian Church, did…

Thus we find them often employed. An Angel brought Elijah his food under the Juniper Tree (1 Kings 19:5). An Angel stirred the waters at the Pool of Siloam (John 5:4).

Both had ventured their lives, Moses by encountering Pharaoh, and Elias Ahab. Both had seen the glory of God in Mount Horeb, and spoke with God also, Moses (Exodus 33:11) he saw the Lord face to face, and spoke with him as a man does with his friend, and Elias (1 Kings 19). Both…

Where need is, there a man may commit himself to the providence of God, and rely upon him; and where means fail us, God can help us by prerogative, that we may say with Abraham, when we have no help present, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen (Genesis 22:14), and with Mos…

You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them. Bowing the knee (1 Kings 19:18). I have left me seven thousand in Israel, which have not bowed the knee to Baal.

Therefore it was a comfort to Christ to have solemn messengers sent from heaven to applaud his triumph. (2.) Outward, they were sent to serve him, either to convey him back from the mountain, where Satan had set him; or to bring him food, as they did to Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-6):…

Because of their weakness and infirmity he lays aside his majesty, and reassumes the habit of his humiliation; as Moses did put a veil upon his face, that the people might endure his sight and presence. God's appearing at first may be terrible, but the issue is sweet and comfort…

When Paul says, I travail, he signifies the measure of his Ministerial pains, that they were as the travail of a woman with child: and this he shows plainly in the particulars (2 Corinthians 11:23). Elias, that was sent in his time to restore religion, was at length so wearied i…

Again, great is the abuse of meat, drink, and apparel. To Elijah there came an Angel and said, arise and eat (1 Kings 19:7): but to the men of our days, there had need come an Angel and say, cease to eat, cease to drink, cease to game. The third question is, what is the right us…

For with the heart, man believes to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses to salvation (Romans 10:10). For this cause the Lord approves of their integrity and uprightness in his service, that had not so much as bowed a knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). Saint Paul applies th…

Many had, no doubt, been slain in other places, and particularly at the time when that cruel fury, “Cette cruelle diablesse;” — “that cruel female devil.” Jezebel, (1 Kings 19:2,) raged against them; but because in no other place had the prophets, at any time, been fiercely torm…

And it is stirred especially when the ear of a man is filled with a voice of blasphemy, or his eye with a spectacle of bold transcendent wickedness against the Lord. Word being brought to Hezekiah of the blasphemy that Rabshakeh had belched out against God, when he heard how he…

So likewise bowing the knee to any idol, and kissing it (Hosea 13:2): Let the men that sacrifice, kiss the calves. And so when Elijah complained of the total defection of the Israelites from the service of the true God, to idolatry; God to comfort and encourage him, tells him, T…

1. To consider the circumstances of that which we apprehend to be a provocation, so as at no time to express our displeasure but upon due and mature deliberation. The office of meekness is to keep reason upon the throne in the soul, as it ought to be, to preserve the understandi…

Moses dealt with a very obstinate and stiff-necked people, and yet my doctrine (says he) shall drop as the dew, and distil as the small rain (Deuteronomy 32:2). It was not the wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire that brought Elijah into temper (for the Lord was not in them) b…

When the Lord himself speaks by this his Spirit to a man, selecting and calling him out of the lost world, he can no more disobey than Abraham did when the Lord spoke to him after an extraordinary manner to depart from his own country and kindred (Genesis 12:4): Abraham departed…

To swim against the common stream of evil shews Grace to be alive. The Prophet Elias continuing zealous for the Lord of Hosts, when they had digged down Gods Altars, 1 Kings 19:10. shewed his heart and lips had been touched with a Coal from the Altar. 1 Use. See hence how unwort…

When men are vexed with the world, they look upon death as a relief, to take vengeance upon God, to deprive him of a servant. 2. In deep sorrow, as Job 3:3, Elijah, 1 Kings 19:4: He requested for himself, that he might die; and he said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my li…

(Malachi 3:16) "Then they that feared the Lord, spoke often one to another." There are many advantages attending the communion of saints, their very sight and presence is a confirmation to us; many times that temptation befalls us, which befell Elijah; we think we are left alone…

Not when I was upon the throne, but in the house of my pilgrimage (Psalm 119:54). We read, "The Lord was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire" (1 Kings 19:11). But in a metaphorical and spiritual sense, when the wind of affliction blows upon a believer, God is…

Let us take heed of this; it is hateful to God. God is not in this fire, but in the still small voice (1 Kings 19:12). Objection: But did not the apostle Paul call the Galatians fools (Galatians 3:1)?

Though they must be lions for courage, yet lambs for peaceableness. God was not in the earthquake nor in the fire, but in the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12). God is not in the rough, fiery spirit but in the peaceable spirit.

So Elijah passed by Elisha, and cast his Mantle upon him as a transient Act. But there was such a Communication of Virtue thereby, that he ran after him, and would not be deferred, though Elijah said, go back again, for what have I done to you, 1 Kings 19:19, 20. When God has so…

Death can do no more hurt to a virtuous heaven-born soul, than David did to Saul, when he cut off the lap of his garment: The soul is safe, being hid in the promises; hid in the wounds of Christ; hid in God's decree: The soul is the pearl, and heaven is the cabinet where God wil…

2. If we trust in the arm of flesh, we make it a God (Jeremiah 17:5): Cursed be man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm. The Syrians trusted in their army, which was so numerous that it filled the country (1 Kings 20:27), but this arm of flesh withered (verse 29). What w…

2. God has entrusted you with the souls of your children, you have a charge of souls. God says, as (1 Kings 20:39), Keep this man, if he be missing your life shall go for his life. So says God, If the soul of your child miscarry by your negligence, his blood will I require at yo…

2. The second means for pardon of sin is, see yourselves guilty. Come to God as condemned men (1 Kings 20:32). They put ropes upon their heads, and came to the king of Israel: let us come to God in profound humility.

To these we may add a fifth sense: for all those that are confederate, or otherwise joined together, by the bond of nature, humanity, society, or friendship. Thus Ahab calls Benhadad his brother, that is, his friend (1 Kings 20:32-33); thus Simeon and Levi are called brethren in…

This distribution notes a resolvedness to curse it; and lest he should miss the time of the day, he curses both the divisions of time, in every day. As Benhadad in his charge for the taking of those young men, that came out of Samaria, to show how fully he was resolved to have t…

Non aeque glorietur accinctus, ac discinctus. Let not him that girds on his harness, boast himself, as he that puts it off (1 Kings 20:11). When a field is won, then they will rejoice: but a believer, when he goes to fight, is sure to have the best of it beforehand, in Bello, th…

4. We must beg: 1. The application of these to me also. We have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful kings (1 Kings 20:31). Now we would feel it.

Sin shall not obstruct our mercies, and therefore must not keep the penitent supplicant back from confidence to be heard in his prayer, when he would be directed in the ready way to happiness. You would fain be reduced to a good life after all your straying, humbly lay yourselve…

1. That it is not enough to hear of somewhat of God's saving mercies, but we should beg that it may come to us, be effectually and sensibly communicated to us, that we may have experience of them in our own souls — the hearsay will do us little good without experience. The hears…

Prayer is good; but when a man prays only to show his parts, this is to bring forth fruit to himself. Some pride themselves in their humbling confessions — which is as if Benhadad's servants had been proud when they came before the king with ropes upon their heads (1 Kings 20:31…

2. Donation. God makes himself over to us by a deed of gift, and gives away himself to us: he says to the believer, as the king of Israel said to the king of Syria (1 Kings 20:4), I am yours, and all that I have: this is alvearium divini mellis, a hive full of divine comfort: al…

The Lord might have left us in the dark, to have gathered out his mind and will towards us, from obscure expressions: and knowing of what value his kindness is, it might justly be expected that we should do so. Men in misery, are glad to lay hold of the least word, that drops fr…

It is but a poor thing to be skillful in keeping all these and to bungle at keeping the heart, which stands most need of best keeping. It was a word that Ahab sometimes spoke against himself (1 Kings 20:39): "A man brought a man to me and said, Keep this man; if he be missing, y…

And though the Apostle did most earnestly desire to be with Christ, yet he did in the same desire decline the common road there through the dark passages of death (2 Corinthians 5:4). Unlawful indeed it is for any man to pray universally against death, because that were to withs…

Agrippina poisoned the Emperor Commodus with wine in a perfumed cup; the cup being perfumed and given him by his wife, it was the less suspected. Satan knew a temptation coming to Adam from his wife, would be more prevailing, and would be less suspected: O bitter! sometimes rela…

(5.) Murder is committed by plotting another's death. Thus Jezebel, though she did not lay hands herself upon Naboth, yet because she contrived his death, and caused two false witnesses to swear against him, and bring him within the compass of treason, she was a murderer (1 King…

And he is a sword: his tongue is a sword to wound him he witnesses against in his goods or life. Thus there came in two men, children of Belial, and witnessed against Naboth, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king: and their witness took away his life (1 Kings 21:13). The…

6. Covetousness is a breach of the Sixth Commandment, You shalt not kill. Covetous Ahab killed Naboth to get his vineyard (1 Kings 21:13). How many have swum to the crown in blood!

When God's hand lies heavy upon a man, (he is sick or lame) he may vent a sigh or tear, and say, Lord, have mercy; yet this is no true repentance. Ahab did more than all this; (1 Kings 21:27) he rent his clothes and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. His clothes were…

It was the thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). 3. It produces murder: It was the inordinate love of the vineyard that made Ahab conspire Naboth's death (1 Kings 21:13). 4. It is the root of perjury (2 Timothy 3:3): Men shall be 〈in non-Latin alphabet〉, covetous, and it foll…

2. There is an outward change, which is like the washing of a swine. Ahab was much changed to outward view, when he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth (1 Kings 21:27), insomuch that God stands and wonders at him: Do you see how Ahab humbles himself? Yet for all this, he was…

Naboth had a little Vineyard, that came to him from his Father by inheritance: Ahab the King, would give him money, or a better Vineyard for it. But Naboth would not: Nay (said he) God forbid I should sell my Father's inheritance, 1 Kings 21:3, etc. If he made such account of an…

When Ahab abased himself, though he did [illegible] in hypocrisy, yet God had some respect to it. 1 Kings 21:29. says the Lord to Elijah, Do you see how Ahab is humbled before me? This contrition of heart stands in two things.

We never cleanse ourselves from these: but such woeful cleansing it is, that if we go about to purge them out, by the motions of the spirit of grace, that he casts into our hearts; we think it is a troublesome work, and does cross the tranquility and peace of our estates, we thi…

It is a wonder to see what a change prophetical gifts will work in a man (1 Samuel 10:10, 12): there Saul had a spirit of prophecy come upon him, and the people wondered at it, it works a strange change in a man, and so in the next chapter, the nineteenth and twenty-third verse,…

David was ensnared by his eyes (2 Samuel 11:2): From the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. Naboth's vineyard was ever in Ahab's eye, as being near his palace, therefore he is troubled, and falls sick for it (1 Kings 21:1-2). Now…

In that Paul rejects the blasphemous objection with, God forbid: we are taught to avoid things said or done to the dishonor of God, with loathing and detestation. When it was related to Ahab and Jezebel, that Naboth had blasphemed God, they being idolaters, solemnize a fast pret…

Secondly, he gives a reward, in respect of his free and merciful promise, and thus he rewards only believers. Thirdly, he gives rewards to hypocrites, unbelievers, heathens, etc., being neither bound by his own promise, nor by their merit, when they perform the outward works of…

Henry the Second of France in a great rage against a Protestant Counsellor, committed him to the hands of one of his Nobles to be imprisoned, and that with these words, that he would see him burned with his own eyes: but mark the righteous Providence of God, within a ew days aft…

Now this translation is maintained by a figure, either by an Antiphrasis, which is the speaking of a thing sounding one way when it is meant another way, when there is an opposition between the letter of the word and the meaning of the word. Thus (1 Kings 21:13) Naboth is charge…

Fourthly, those who are in authority, and don't punish a murder, when committed and known, are themselves guilty of it. Thus when by the wicked artifice of Jezebel, Naboth was condemned to die, although Ahab knew nothing of the contrivance till after the execution; yet because h…

It is promised (Psalm 22:26) that the meek shall eat and be satisfied. He has whatever sweetness is to be had in his common comforts, while the angry man either cannot eat, his stomach is too full, and too high, as Ahab (1 Kings 21:4), or eats and is not satisfied, unless he can…

This, as it is in itself a vile vice, so is it a cause of many other vices, as of presumption, rebellion, and even of adultery itself many times: and it is also a main hindrance of all duty. It commonly rises either from self-conceit (whereby wives overween their own gifts, thin…

If it be objected, that God allowed of their Repentance for Sin in this his Law or Covenant as their King, and sometimes he saved the Nation upon their Repentance, and therefore it must include the Gospel or Covenant of Grace; yet I answer, it may still be called a Covenant of W…

Would a man Grow rich: he sets his Thoughts a work how to compass an estate, he will circumvent, and pull down his Soul to build up an estate. Would he wreak his Malice on another; he frames an Engine in his Thoughts to take away his Life: as Iezabel (that Painted Harlot) when s…

The matter of a lie is a falsehood; but the formality of it is with an intention to deceive; therefore a falsehood is one thing, a lie another; then we lie, when we not only do or speak falsely, but knowingly, and with purpose to deceive. Now this may be done by gestures, as whe…

That fired his heart, and brought such mischiefs upon him. Naboth's vineyard was hard by Ahab's palace, (1 Kings 21:1) it was ever in his eye, and therefore he is troubled and falls sick for it. So how many may thus complain that their souls have been by their eyes betrayed.

A parallel in the Fifth of November. So Jezebel's plot against Naboth for his vineyard, makes use of God's name and worship to bring it about (1 Kings 21:8-10). But I must stop, being carried beyond my first intention; plotted mischiefs are an ancient practice.

Take heed of being an occasion of, a partaker of, or but accessory to other men's sins. God forbids it, that it may not be (Ephesians 5:7-11; 1 Timothy 5:22), and sharply reproves and punishes it, where he finds it to be (Psalm 50:18; 2 Samuel 12:9; 1 Kings 21:19), in which two…

From this comes all those quarrels, [illegible] that contention between the heart and the word, [illegible] men are not able to bear or hear the blessed truth [illegible] God, that it should reveal or remove their [illegible] from them. The soul says to the word as he did: [ille…

Read the plunderer's curse (Isaiah 33:1): Woe to you that spoil, and you were not spoiled; when you shall cease to spoil, you shall be spoiled. Ahab paid dearly for the vineyard, when the devil carried away his soul and the dogs licked his blood (1 Kings 21:19). He that lives on…

Fourth, covetousness is the root of murder. Why did Ahab stone Naboth to death but to possess the vineyard (1 Kings 21:13)? Covetousness has made many swim to the crown in blood.

Thus Amnon mourned and was sick, until he had defiled his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:2). Thus Ahab mourned for Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21:4): He laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. This was a devilish mourning.

For the sin of David, seventy thousand of the people were destroyed by an angel, concerning whom he said, "It is I who have sinned and done evil; these sheep, what have they done?" (2 Samuel 24:15, 17). See also 1 Kings 21:29. So it was with all the children and infants that per…

Of Ahab: when Ahab heard these words he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted and went softly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, do you see how Ahab is humbled before me (1 Samuel 15:24-30; 1 Kings 21:27-29)? Dissembled repentance may be discerned becaus…

9th Commandment: You shall not bear, etc. He breaks this commandment: who envies at the prosperity of his neighbor (1 Timothy 6:4); who seeks only his own good report; who is suspicious (1 Corinthians 13:5); who gives rash or hard sentence against others (Matthew 7:1); who takes…

All unregenerate men are the servants of sin; they subject themselves to its commands. The Scripture sometimes calls this a conversation in the lusts of the flesh (Ephesians 2:3); sometimes the selling of themselves to sin (1 Kings 21:20). Now as a judicious divine observes, tho…

Now they seeing their hearts pierced, for doing what the priests bade them do, it was not likely they should heal that wound, but should rather daub with them, and tell them, Christ was but a deceiver, and that they had done well to hang him up out of the way; therefore now, the…

The Sadducees were prejudiced against the doctrine of the resurrection, (Luke 20:27). (2.) Prejudice against the person preaching, (1 Kings 22:8). There is one Micaiah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him.

2. A second position is this: There are providences that are casual and accidental to us, are predetermined by the Lord: the falling of a tile upon one's head, the breaking out of a fire to us, is casual, but it is ordered by a providence of God. You have a clear instance of thi…

Quest. But why does Satan, in tempting, chiefly set upon our faith? Answer. (1 Kings 22:31) Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king. So faith is as it were the king of the graces; it is a royal, princely grace, and puts forth the most majestic and noble acts,…

⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩ to draw; as the word ⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩ (Canticles 1:4), "Draw me, we will run after you," is first, a word of violence and strength. (1 Kings 22:34) A certain man drew a bow, ⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩. (Job 41:1) Will you draw Leviathan with you…

When they ask counsel then of this father of lies, it is no marvel though they be [reconstructed: deceived] under a color of truth: but in the mean while, it is a just punishment of God upon them for their ingratitude. We read that a lying spirit was let loose by means of the fa…

Thus all things in heaven and earth are disposed of by the unerring wisdom, and limited by the Almighty power of God. Such a representation as this we read in (1 Kings 22:19), where Micaiah said to Ahab, Hear you the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and…

And besides, the Devil is more assiduous and subtle in his temptations toward them than others: because if they can be perverted by him, they will prove great and most effectual instruments to promote his kingdom. And therefore in Micaiah's parable (1 Kings 22), no sooner had Go…

You never lie, but you speak aloud what the Devil whispered softly to you. The Old Serpent lies folded round in your heart, and we may hear him hissing in your voice: and therefore when God summoned all his heavenly attendance about him; and demanded who would persuade Ahab to g…

Why had Joseph's brethren such a spleen against him, but because he was a witness against them, and brought to his father their evil report (Genesis 37:2)? Why did Ahab hate Micaiah, and call Elijah his enemy but because they were the faithful reprovers of his wickedness, and ne…

Jacob in his journey would neither go to Laban, nor come from him, without a warrant. Jehoshaphat in the business of Ramoth-Gilead, would not stir a foot until he had counsel from God; he sends not only to the captain of the host, but to the prophet of the Lord, Inquire, I pray…

For accordingly shall we be treated with in the day of judgment. It is sad when we can only say of the Scripture as that king of the prophet of the Lord, He witnesses nothing but evil against me (1 Kings 22:8). Let us see what God's testimony speaks, whether it will plead for us…

Because it comes from fear, and it tends to deceit; both which argue baseness of spirit, and are contrary to the gallantry of a man: therefore it is shameful in the eyes of nature, and those that are most guilty of it, cannot endure to be charged with it. When the Prophet Micaia…

Therefore is wrath upon you from before the Lord. Many times they are impatient of truth, as Ahab could not endure Micajah (1 Kings 22:8): And the King of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man (Micajah the son of Imlah) by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate h…

This is the significance of that ample and glorious expression which God uses in the covenant of grace. As when a covenant was made between the king of Israel and the king of Judah, the tenor of it was: my horses are as your horses, my strength as your strength (1 Kings 22). So…

Are they not all ministring spirits? The evil: There came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will perswade him, 1 Kings 22:21. that spirit was a devil. How oft is the devil call'd the unclean spirit, foule spirit, lying spirit, &c.

But now in case the conscience alone had been pricked, why then a man, by his good will, would come no more to such men as have wounded him, and it will be a burden to him, if by his calling he be forced to live under such a ministry: Elijah's ministry wrought upon Ahab, to caus…