The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-04-08
SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
APRIL 12.~2; k.E
Lesson Text: "The Good and Evil IN
Jehu," 2 Kings K, .,1S-31-GoId- -
en- Text: I Samuel vi.,7
commentary.

verse Sc we read that he reigned over Israel
in Samaria twenty-eight years. The manner
of his being anointed king is given in chap
tx, II, and in the same chapter we are told
how he slew, the king of Israel and Jezebel,
aud also the king of Judah. The first man.
tion Of him is found inI Kings XIX, 16; IT.
where Elijah IS commanded to anoint him r.
king Of Israel, in connection with Hazael as
king of Syria and Elisha as prophet in Is
rael. He is evidently the Lords minister of
Judgment upon sin and sinners, but does not
appear to have been true worshiper Of the
true God.
10. II have great sacrifice to do TO
Baal." Thus said Jehu as he commanded to
be gathered together all the prophets, priests .
and servants Of Baal that he might destroy
them. Baal was the chief male deity Of the
Phonicians and Canaanites. The word sig
nif1es 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. It Is found, in connection with at
least twelve other words, as Baal- Berth
Qord of the covenant), Baal-Peor Cord Of
the openingj Baal-Zebub Qord Of the fya.
(Judg viii, 33; Mum. XIV, 8; II Kings l.,
g. etc. The worship Of Baal meant the for
saking of the only true God. the God Of
religions Of the nations, and was great
provocation Of Jehovah Uudg. <, 6-10;
Jer. xi., II. 49, '..0 r-4E
20. ''And Jehu said, Proclaim solemn as
sembly for Baal" His purpose is stated In
the previous verse to have been that might
destroy the worshipers of Baal, but he is do
ing it deceitfully, and God Of truth cannot
deceive nor authorize deceit. -
81. sand Jehu sent through all Israel; and
all the worshipers Of Baal came, so that there
was not man left that came not" And we
read that the house of Baal was full from one
end to the other. Here is devotion worthy
Of better cause, but 1t is even so to this
present day. Let some of the other lords or
possessors that control so many call for q
gathering Of their deyotees and the place
will be filed, while the true God seems to
have but few who desire to follow Him fully
and only. .....-
%. "Bring forth vestments for all the
worshipers Of Baal. And he brought them
forth vestments." Thus while outwardly
honoring them and seemingly encouraging
Death, not life, was before them, and it was
death leading to the second death. The
separation Of soul and body Is not to be
dreaded If we are clothed with Christ's right
eousness, and that death Christ Himself
teaches US not to fear (Matt. Z, 70; see also
Phil. j., 21-29. But the eternal separation
of the soul from God. which is the fate of all
vestments clothed, is the fate to be dreaded,
and against which the Saviour kindly warns
us in Matt. 4, 2S. t.; -. q. x 8 .s.S&
90. "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. xxxv., and mark the blessings Of
obedience.
Search and look that there be here with
you none of the servants Of the Lord, but the
worshipers of Baal only" How would such
proclamation affect the people who gather
at the popular places of amusement in our
day? If the word went forth in the theatre
some night, "Let all who call themselves
Christians leave quickly" would any seats
be yacateds And If so, how many?
"a. "And when they went in to offer
sacrifices and burnt offerings Here
is Jehu officiating as a priest OF
Baal, while at the same time he fnstructs
eighty men that on penalty of death they
are not to allow one of those present to
escape with bis life 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 showing
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 de-
ceit or to worship Baal.
25. go in and slay them; let none come
forth" This is tho obedient part, as when
the Levites went in and out throughout the
camp and slew every man, his brother and
companion and neighbor, because OF their
sin against God (E1. xxi, 28 81: see also
Deut. xiii, ell: Eek, jx., 50. Thus com.
pletely were the people cut off in the days OF
floah, but not until the long suffering OF
God had borne with them, and preached TO
them, and pleaded with them all the l20
years that Noah was building the ARK and
waiting upon God. .-. 49,. ...'
26. 'And they brought forth the images
out of the house of Baal and burned them"
Not only the idolators but their idols does
He destroy. These idolatrous 1sraelites knew
that they were disobeying the God OF Israel;
they knew what Gideon had done to Baal,
and they were familiar with the recent &C
tion of Elijah Uudg. vi, ,25-32; l Kings xviii,
4O), so that they had been taught and solemn.
! ly warned, and had no one to blame Tor thelr
death but themselves.
q. "And they brake down the image OF
BaaL and brake down the house OF Baal, an
/ made it q draught house unto this day
Not only the idolaters and the idols but also
the very house Of worship. This Is thorough
work. and would seem to strike at the root
Of the whole thing
2S. THUS Jehu destroyed Baal out OF
Israel" 1t was sore evil, and required So
we're treatment and received it. 1t seems to
have been Jehu's special mission to put away
this iniquity; but he did not win Israel back
to God, as we shall see. It is one thing to
put away evil, but quite another to make
people righteous
! %. 'sHowbeit. from the sins of Jeroboam
thes Of Nebat, who made Israel to sin,
Jehu departed not from after them"
Though Baal was destroyed, the golden calves
at Dan and Bethel still remained and were
worshiped. What a record this is concern
ing Jeroboam in this verse and verse 81, and
in about eighteen other places in the two
books of Kings, that he made Israel to sinl
80. "And the Loru said unto Jehu, Because
thou hast done we'll in executing that which
is right in mine eyes," He is commended for
his thorough judgment upon tho house OF
Ahab. Contrast the lack of thoroughness
xv., OLD. 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 COM
mend what is wrong in any one.
THY childIe Ell OF the fourth generation
shall sit on the throne of Israel" And SO it
came to pass lchap. xv., 12). His thorough
ness brought him and his children tenn
poral kingdom for four generations. II we
wno believe in Jesus are faithful to him we
shall sit with Him ON His throne (Rev. lii,
2D. ano IN bodies like His Phil. ill.,, 2p reign
with Him over this whole earth Geev. ", 9,
10: Dan. vii, 20.
81. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the
law of the Lord God Of Israel with all his
heart The chief thing wasneglected. Let
any one read in Deuteronomy, and notice
how often in that one book Israel is COM
manded to observe and do the command
rneuts of the Lord, and this statement will
make Jehu's goodness seem very question.
abe He showed no mercy to the house OF
Ahab. nor to the worShipers Of Baal, but he