Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-04-09
GOOD AND EVIL IN JEHU.
International Sunday-School Lesson
for April IL, 1891.


Israel
RULERs.-Jehu king of Israel, B. G. ss4s5A
He was the founder OF tho fifth dynasty Of Is
raeL Athaliah, daughter Of Ahab, widow OF
Jehoram, king Of Judah, and sister-in-law Of
Joram, late king Of Israel, was a usurper on the
throne of Judah B. C. Ss4-s7S Hazael, king Of
Syria, B. C. SS5.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACE s.-ia and Jehu
gathered all the people together" Under the
pretense Of wishing to serve Baal ev en- more
than Ahab had done. "Ahab served Baal o
little; but Jehu shall serve him much" This
was true after manner, for Baal never before
had such q sacrifice. 10. Prophets OF Baal;
PRIESTS" The prophets gave oracles
to inQuirers and taught the mys teries OF the
worship, the priests attended on the numerous
sacrifices. IAN his servants:" Probably only
the more pronounced and leading worshipers
would come. For havo n great sacrifice to
do TO BAIL" This was very true literally, but
they little dreamed that they were TO be the
victims Let none be wanting" Jehu's zeal
would make thorough work. But Jehu did It In
subtilty:" deceitfully, treacherously. 90 PRO
claim q solemn assembly," great religious
meeting. 81. And they came into the house of
Baal:" The temple OF Baal ut SamATia, built
by Ahab in imitation OF the temple at Jerusa-
lem. The house was iull:" literally, "brim
full" %. "The vestry:" The place where vest
ments or garments were kept for the priests
and worshipers. ''Vestmelts for all the wor-
shipers:" So that those who were
to slay them would Immediately
recognize them by their dress. %.
And Jehu went and Jehonadab the son
OF Rechab:" On his way to SamRria Jehu had
taken this man INTO hts chariot (vcr. 49,, and
associated him IN his revolution. Said unto
the worshipers OF Baal. Search" As the wor-
shippers would be full Of the thought that they
were to become possessed Of special privileges
in the new reign, they were sure to be the best
agents In excluding any who could not show that
he had belonged 10 Baars congregation before.
The worshipers OF Baal only" The presence
Of persons belonging to another religion was
usually regarded by the ancients proiana-
tion OF the rites "a. "Jehu appoi nted fourscore
men," Thetemple probably had but one or two
entrances aud tn ,ref0re eighty armed men could
easily prevent the unarmed nd panic-stricken
multitude from escaping. Lii for. ife:"
This seems severe, but It was the common rule
and custom q Kings 2O:3O; Ex. 2l:23. % "As
sSon as he had made an end Of Offering" 1t is
called Jehu's Offering because he appointed the
sacrifice and furnished the victims IAN end
Of offering;" Literally, when they had COM
pleted the Offering" 'Jehu said TO the guard"
The guard" IS that body OF runners" which
appears in the history as soon as q king was
appointed, and which played part in all state
parades. And the guard. cast them out, and
WENT" The manner in which the guards went
through the temple, casting tho worshipers be-
hind them as fast rs they were killed, and
pressing forward TO the intcrior.-Todd. Went
to the city OF tie house OF Baal:" The guard,
having slain oil who were in the court, rushed
on and entered tho sanctuary, there no doubt
completing the mGssacre.-Cook- 20. They
brought forth tho images" or pillars" Not
the great image Of Baal, for that was OF stone,
but mere columns obslisK5, or posts. And
burned thom:" Showing that they were Of wood.
s7. They broke down the image OF Baal'' We
may be almost certain that this chief obi ect OF
worship was VI stone "And made It o draught
house," A place OF refuse aud filth. Unto
this day" When the record was made, or
when the book as we now have It was written.
%. THUS Jehu destroyed Baal out Of Israel;"
The worship of Baal never revived after this in
Israel, %. How belt from the sins OF
Jereboam;" who introduced the calf worship
into Israel. "Who mado Israel to sin," by
leading Thorn TO the borders Of idolatry, in op-
position to tho command Of God Golden
oalyes:" Ono in Gao h place. 30. And the
Lord said unto Jehu:" Proba bly, by the mouth
OF Elisha. Because thou hast done we'll
according to oil that was in my heart" Jehu
had been expressly ordered TO "smite the house
Of Ahab." Thy children Of the fourth genera
ton shall sit on the throne," This promise
was exactly fulfilled q Kings 1913. Jehu's
house reigned an hundred years. 81. "Jehu
took no heed to walk in the law Of the Lord
God OF Israeli" The law forbiddina Ali
images Of worship. with all his heart:"
His disobedience was Jealous.
LESSON COMMENTS.
Both kingdoms were under the infiu-
ence of the imperious, strong willed
heather queen Jezebel, the impersona-
ton of idolatry. The huge Bsal tenn
pie, built by Ahab Il Kings 1892 in
Samaria, with its staff of four hundred
and fifty white-robed priests, was main
tanned with great splendor. That of
Asherah, at Jezreel, with four hundred
priests, still polluted the land by its rites
and worship. Sacred pillars and images
glittered on all sides. immortality was
sapping the national character, and the
future ruin of jehovah worship seemed
assured, if things continued as they
were.
In Judah the balefpl influence OF Jez
ebei Vas no less threatening; Athaliah,
her daughter, repeating there the part
her mother was playing in Israel
Wholly under her spell, her husband,
Jehoram, had allowed Baal worship to
be set up, in its most repulsivc features,
in Jerusalem itself. After his death,
their only surviving son, Ahaziah, was
king only in name. In reality Athaliah
reigned. A temple to Baal had already
been built by her family, in part from
the stones OF the temple OF Jehovah,
which had been defaced to construct it;
and the sacred vessels had been taken
for the service of the idol e Chron.
24:4, a. 4 heathcn CGmarilla IA COM
pany of secret counsclOrs or advisers
in opposition to the legitimate ministry
was supreme alike IN Jerusalem and
Samaria. The moral and political can
! Ger of heathcnism had invaded the last
sanctuary of Jehovah worship. The ma
tional faith was in danger of being
driven from the land All was at stake
Religion and even the nation itself
must perish if the family of Ahab con-
tinued to reign.-Geikie,
The object of what took place was
the saving Of the nation. II was like
some terrible surgical operation, which
alone could save the life Of the patient.
Jehu was Gods executioner for the
punishment of Ahab and the extinction
of his house. He first slew Jehoram.
Ahab's son. Then Iezebel, Ahab's
widow, was thrown out Of window by
her own servants, at Jehu's command
Jehu was a great soldier, man Of
intense energy, of quick wit, Of positive
opinions and decisive action. But no
was cruel impulsive. treacherous, am
bilious, boastful and sek-seeking. 1T
Il the driving Of Jehu, for he driveth
furiously;;" this is the best memorial
that viii remain of him who has let