Behold, fire has come down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty, with all their men. But now may my life be precious in your sight." Sermons
I. MAN RUINED THROUGH THE CONDUCT OF OTHERS. The messengers which the king sent to Elijah - fifty each time on three different occasions - were all, except the last fifty, destroyed by lightning. This awful judgment came upon them, not merely on their own account - although, like all sinners, they had forfeited their lives to eternal justice - but as messengers of the king. Throughout the human race, in all races and times, there are found millions groaning under the trials and sufferings brought on them by the conduct of others. In this world the innocent suffer for the guilty; the "fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." II. MAN EMPLOYED AS THE EXECUTOR OF DIVINE JUSTICE. These hundred men, messengers from the king, were struck down by Elijah at the command of God. There was no personal vengeance in the act. Elijah was used as the organ of Heaven. God's plan in this world is to punish as well as to save man by man. How was Pharaoh punished, and the Canaanites, etc.? By man. Sinful nations are punished, often by worthless kings and ruthless despots. III. MAN STEPPING INTO THE PLACE OF THE DEAD. The King Ahaziah dies; Jehoram steps into his place. "So he died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead." "One generation cometh, and another passeth away." Places, positions, and the various offices of life are no sooner vacated by death than they are stepped into by others. Thus the world goes on, and the dead are soon forgotten. The greatest man on earth today is but a mere bubble on the great river of human life; he sparkles for a moment, and is lost forever in the abyss. - D.T.
Let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants be precious in thy sight. Question naturally arises, Is life precious? How does God value it? And how should His servants regard it?I. THIS QUESTION SEEMS TO BE ANSWERED IN THE NEGATIVE. 1. By the general tenor of the Old Testament. Sinai thundered and lightened. The sight thereof was terrible. The voice was death. The Flood. Destruction of Sodom. Overthrows in the wilderness. Death of the two captains with their fifties. 2. By God's continued judgments on the impenitent. The Galileans in our Lord's day. "Except ye repent" (Luke 13:1-5). Many instances of this in the New Testament: Ananias and Sapphira; Herod Agrippa, in Acts 12. II. BUT FOR TWO REASONS THE REPLY IS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. 1. Because many lives were spared in the Old Testament.(1) Through entreaty, as in the case of this captain. So Abraham entreated for Sodom. Moses and Aaron for the children of Israel (Numbers 14:15-20; Numbers 16:22).(2) Through God's sovereign mercy. People of Nineveh. 2. Because the greatest life of all has been given for all the children of men. Herein the Mosaic law fulfilled, which said, A life for a life. Nothing so highly esteemed of God as "the precious blood of Christ." It was the full price of our salvation, and its efficacy is eternal (Psalm 49:8; Hebrews 9:12). Application. 1. There is no need that you should doubt whether God will receive you. You need not even retreat, "Let my. life be precious in Thy sight." It. is precious. The best proof of this has been given. 2. Do not manifest an un-Christlike spirit. "Vengeance is mine." Our duty is plain, to be like Christ in valuing the lives of our brethren. He came not to destroy life, but to save. (J. G. Tanner, M. A.) People Ahab, Ahaziah, Baalzebub, Elijah, Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, JoramPlaces Ekron, Moab, SamariaTopics Behold, Burnt, Captains, Consumed, Consumeth, Fallen, Fifties, Fifty, Fire, Former, Heads, Heaven, Heavens, Precious, Respect, Sight, Sky, Soul, ValueOutline 1. Moab rebels2. Ahaziah, sending to Baal-Zebub, has his judgement by Elijah 5. Elijah twice brings fire from heaven on those Ahaziah sent to apprehend him. 13. He pities the third captain, 15. and, encouraged by an angel, tells the king of his death 17. Jehoram succeeds Ahaziah Dictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 1:1-14Library Whether the Sin of those who Crucified Christ was Most Grievous?Objection 1: It would seem that the sin of Christ's crucifiers was not the most grievous. Because the sin which has some excuse cannot be most grievous. But our Lord Himself excused the sin of His crucifiers when He said: "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do" (Lk. 23:34). Therefore theirs was not the most grievous sin. Objection 2: Further, our Lord said to Pilate (Jn. 19:11): "He that hath delivered Me to thee hath the greater sin." But it was Pilate who caused Christ to be crucified … Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether it is Lawful to Curse an Irrational Creature? Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter. An Address to a Soul So Overwhelmed with a Sense of the Greatness of Its Sins, that it Dares not Apply Itself to Christ with Any Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men. The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria A Prayer when one Begins to be Sick. Kings Links 2 Kings 1:14 NIV2 Kings 1:14 NLT 2 Kings 1:14 ESV 2 Kings 1:14 NASB 2 Kings 1:14 KJV 2 Kings 1:14 Bible Apps 2 Kings 1:14 Parallel 2 Kings 1:14 Biblia Paralela 2 Kings 1:14 Chinese Bible 2 Kings 1:14 French Bible 2 Kings 1:14 German Bible 2 Kings 1:14 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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