COMMENTS

Nov. 1st, 2 Chron. 24; Nov. 15th, Ezra 2; Nov. 30th, Nehemiah 8; Dec. 15th, Esther 9.

Under the guidance of Jehoiada the priest, Joash begins his reign. Under this training the king's heart is directed to the Lord's house, –' which had been broken up by the sons of wicked Athaliah. The house was repaired and worship re-established. This continued while Jehoiada lived, but sad departure comes in after his death. Joash evidently was not established in the ways of the Lord, and is quickly turned aside, going so far as to slay Jehoiada's son, who was sent by God to witness against the evil. Doing good while godly influence surrounded him, when it is removed Joash is seen to lack purpose of heart and personal steadfastness. He does not appear to have been in the secret of the Lord for himself, and so utterly breaks down when the test comes. Let this lesson search our own hearts to see how far our course is shaped by what surrounds us only, instead of there being a deep, real conviction of heart and mind through personal dealing with God, so that we shall be able to stand when those who may have been so helpful and kind are removed.

If there is turning aside from God, judgment will follow (vers. 23, 24), we reap what we sow (ver. 25), and lose the honor we should have received in the end.

Amaziah (ch. 25), in the main, follows the Lord, but when he does not, finds (as ever) sorrowful consequences. In hiring the army of Israel, he shows lack of dependence upon God, and doubtless a desire for self-aggrandizement by its use. When any such self-seeking comes in, we turn to carnal weapons, to confidence in the flesh, and this leads into unholy alliance. If those who are God's people do this, He must let them fall before the enemy (ver. 8). However, Amaziah obeys the man of God, but not without loss of treasure which might have been spared (vers. 9,13). Edom is overcome, but the victory turns to a terrible defeat, for he bows down to Edom's gods. Let us beware. The things in which we prosper may turn our hearts from the very God through whose mercy we are helped. "Children, keep yourselves from idols." Out of touch with God, pride and presumption are shown and followed, spite of warning from God's prophet and even from an evil man. "Take heed . . . lest any of you be hardened through the deceitful-ness of sin."

Uzziah sought the Lord, and prospered (26:4, S) while he remained within his God-given sphere, but no prosperity can keep a man from evil if he goes beyond the place God would have him in. Intruding upon the priestly place Uzziah becomes a leper-the corruption of sin is manifested if we deliberately pursue our own proud wills. Jotham, his son, does better. He avoids the sin of his father, and a beautiful thing is said of him:"Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God."

The history of Ahaz is one of dreadful evil from the commencement of his reign. God brings in terrible judgment, using Syria to chastise him and Judah, for the nation followed him in wickedness, as Isaiah bears witness. Israel also, whose ways Ahaz followed, was allowed to punish Judah severely. The evil things men take up and follow greedily, become the lash which punishes them. Yet God remembers mercy in the midst of judgment, seeking thus to reach the heart and conscience of the wayward (ch. 28:9-15). But Ahaz turns to Assyria for help, and "in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord." Solemn and awful testimony, so sadly true of men in their unbelief and rebellion !

Ahaz was the wicked son of a godly father (Jotham); Hezekiah, the godly son of a wicked father (Ahaz); his history (chs. 29-32) is full of precious instruction. It is like a miracle that such a man should come out of the house of Ahaz. How it reminds us that God is at work behind the darkest scenes! In his first year Hezekiah begins to attend to the Lord's interests, cleansing God's house, arranging its order, and then seeking to draw the whole nation, though divided, back to the true centre of worship and testimony. Notice, he works from the centre outward, beginning with the name and claim of God, His glory for His people. This must ever be first. This leads to the celebration of the passover in an unprecedented fashion (ch. 30), to the purging of the land from evil, and the ordering of service and worship (ch. 31). When such conditions exist through the mercy of God, it is not surprising to see the enemy appear. But dependence upon God brings deliverance, as it always will. Spite of this wonderful record, we see failure at the end. Hezekiah falls sick, his life is prolonged, God answering his cry in a remarkable manner. Hezekiah's heart is lifted up, and God must try him so that he may know his heart. The visit of Babylon's ambassadors brings the test, and Hezekiah failed. But he humbled himself and is spared from the wrath in his day. Truly, there is only One in whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning-the Christ of God whose every way is perfect, whose every footfall is in the path of obedience to the divine will.

Manasseh and Amon follow, then the bright days of Josiah, ending, however, also with failure. The end comes for Judah during the brief reigns of the next three kings. The closing verses of 2 Chronicles carry us to the decree of Cyrus, and so to the beginning of Ezra and Nehemiah.

These two books record the return and establishment of a remnant in the land according to the promise given by Jeremiah. But it is a return under the Gentile yoke, and this will continue until the Messiah comes in glory as the Deliverer out of Zion. Then "the times of the Gentiles" will end. This restoration, therefore, is not a return to former conditions, as in the days of David and Solomon, which cannot be until Christ comes as the Lion of Judah and the Prince of Peace, of which those days are typical. It is a return under the continued evidence of God's judgment, and as acknowledging it, but faith resting upon the Word of God and its promises with all Israel in view, even though dispersion continues and only a comparative few seek the place of the altar and house. This history affords instruction for our days, which are similar in character, though connected with the Church as set upon earth to be God's present witness, as was Israel in her day.

Speaking generally, Ezra gives us the setting up of the altar and the building of the second temple as the divine centre for the remnant, and along with this, of necessity, a revival of the authority of the Word of God. The truth of this Word is confirmed by God's action in raising up Cyrus. When He works for revival it means a separation from surrounding evils, and the vessels are brought out of Babylon. The altar again set up, the offerings, the feast of tabernacles are kept as it is written -the person and work of Christ, and the hope of glory in Him, as we may say. Refusal to compromise with what is not of God brings conflict, the enemy opposes and hinders. But God raises up prophetic ministry (Haggai and Zechariah) by which the hearts and energies of the people are revived, and they are freshly delivered from selfish interests to serve the Lord. And so the house is finished.

Weakness and failure are evident as the years pass, and Ezra is raised up (ch. 7:6,10). His attitude of dependence, refusal of confidence in what man might supply, and his faithfulness to the holy requirements of God's Word, is an example to us (8:21-23; chs. 9,10).

With Nehemiah another aspect of work, connected with a remnant testimony, is suggested in building the wall and setting up the gates. Amid many hostile influences, we need to guard against the intrusion of what would corrupt the place of the altar and the house. Nehemiah did not build the wall to keep out those who were of Israel, but as a protection against wicked men who sought to associate themselves with the work of the Lord.

Let us remember Nehemiah's word:"Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?" (5:9).

The entrance is guarded, gifts made for the Lord's work, and the Word of God given its place, with the result that reverence, worship, self-judgment, as well as joy and obedience, mark the people's attitude (chs. 7, 8). This is ever the result of the Word dwelling in our hearts by faith.