Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-12

ID. M. Stearns.
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per
mission of II. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel-
phia-
IS "And Jehu gathered all the people to-
gether."
We find this mans name nearly forty
times in this and the preceding chapter
and not over dozen times eisewhe lie
is evidently the Lords minister of judg-
ment upon sin and sinners, bat does not APP
pear to have been true worshiper of the
true God.
49, 81 have great sacrifice to do Baal,"
Tins said Jehu as he commanded 10 DO
gathered together all the prophets, priests
and servants of BGIal that he might destroy
them. Basl was the chief male deity of
the PhOenicians and Canaanites The word
signifies master or possessor, and is used
fifteen times in this chapter, which is more
often than it is found in any other chapter
in the Bible Tho worship of Baal meant
the forsaking of the only true God, the God
Of Israel, and an Identification with the false
religions OF the nations, and was great
provocation Of Jehovah.
20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn
assembly for Baal.'
His purpose is stated in the previous
verse to have been that he might destroy
the worshipers Of Baal, but he Is doing 1t
deceitfully, ana a God Of truth cannot de
ceiye nor authorize deceit.
81. And Jehu sent through all Israel:
and all the worshiperS of Baal came, 80
that there was aot a man left that came
not"
And we read that the house Of BasL was
full from one end to the other Here is a
devotion worthy of n better cause, but it is
even so to this present day
% Bring forth vestments for all the
worshipers Of Baal. And he brought them
forth vestments."
Thus while outwardly honoring them
and seemingly encouraging them ne was
robing them for slaughter Death, not
life, was before them, and it was death
leading TO the second death. The slpara.
ton of soul aad body is not 10 be dreaded
if we are clothed with Curists righteous
ness.
% "Jehu and Jehonadab the son Of Re.
chab."
See in verse Is the greeting and union OF
these two, and if not familiar with the
story Of the descendants Of Jonadab read
it in Jer. xxXy, and mark the blessings Of
obedience.
Search and look that there be here with
you none Of the servants of the Lord but
the Worship OF BIHl only"
How would such "a proclamation affect
the people who gather at the popular
places Of amusement in our day.
q And when they went in To offer sac
rifces and burnt offerings"
Here is JehU officiating as a priest Of
Baal, while at the same time he instrucfs
eighty men that on penalty Of death they
are not to allow one Of those present 10
escape with his lie. Compare Elijah PROV
ing before All the people that Jehovah is
God, as he offered sacrifice unto Him and
then slew the prophets Of Baal after show
ing them their folly With Elijah all was
open and righteous. The way Of Jehu is
not so. God commissioned him to destroy
Baal, but God did not commission him to
practice deceit or TO worship Baal
% Go in and Stay them; let none come
forth"
This is the obedieut part as when the
ievitcs went in and out throughout the
camp and slew every man, his brother and
companion and ncighb0r, because Of their
sin against God. Thus will everlasting
destruction from the presence OF the Lord
some day Overtake all who know not God
and obey not the gospel III TAcss. i, 8, o..
o. And they brought forth the images
out Of the house Of Baal and burned them"
does He destroy
"a. And they brake down the image OF
Baal, aud brake down the house OF B1Ial.
and made it a draught house unto this
day"
The whole house Of Satan, for he is the
prince Of idols ana idolaters, shall yet find
Itself without tho city and completely
broken down.
81 Thus Jehu destroyed Baai out of Is
rael"
IL was sore evil, and required severe
treatment and received it, II seems to
have been Jehu's special mission to pat
away this iniquity; but he din not win Is
rael back 10 God, as we shall see 1t is one
thing to put away evil, but quite another
to make people righteous.
90 How belt from the sins Of Jeroboam
the son Of Nebat, who made Israel 10 sin,
Jehu departed not from after them"
Surely, if we believed that our sins might
reach to many generations, AS did the sins
Of this man, the most ungodiy might be
led TO ponder we'll their ways. It Is fear
full thing TO depart from the living God or
lead others so to DO.
80 "And the Lord said unto Jehu, Be
cause thou hast done well In executing
that which is right in mine eyes"
He is commended for his thorough judy
inent upon the house of Ahab. Contrast
the lack of tboroughness in Saul when
sent to destroy Amalek Il Sam. XIV, 9-lD.
The Lord does not commend Jehu's deceit.
While He commends the faith of Rahab Of
Jericho He does not commend her deceit
either. He cannot commend what Is
wrong in any one. In the parable of the
unjust steward luke xvii it is not the
Lord Jesus who commends his fraudulent
treatment Of his master, but it is his own
lord or master who considers him a shrewd
fellow 70 thus make provision for his fut
ure.
"rhy children Of the fourth generation
shall sit on the throne of Israel"
And so it came to pass tchhp. XIV, i2).
His thoroughness brought hiW aud his
children temporal kingdom for four
generations. II we who believe in Jesus
are faithful 10 Him we shall SIT with Him
on His throne REV. iii, 2l, and in bodies
like His phil. iii, 81 reign with Him over
this whole earth tRev. " Q, 10; Dan. vii,
81