Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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1 Kings
Book: 1 Kings
Chapter: 22
Overview:
Jehoshaphat makes a
League with
Ahab.
(1-14) Micaiah predicts
the
Death of
Ahab.
(15-28) Death of
Ahab.
(29-40) Jehoshaphat's
good reign over
Judah.
(41-50) Ahaziah's evil reign over
Israel.
(51-53)
1-14 The same easiness of temper, which betrays some godly
persons into friendship with the declared enemies of religion,
renders it very dangerous to them. They will be drawn to wink at
and countenance such conduct and
Conversation as they ought to
protest against with abhorrence. Whithersoever a good
Man goes,
he ought to take his religion with him, and not be ashamed to
own it when he is with those who have
No regard for it.
Jehoshaphat had not left behind him, at
Jerusalem, his
Affection
and reverence for the
Word of the
Lord, but avowed it, and
endeavoured to bring it into
Ahab's
Court. And
Ahab's prophets,
to please
Jehoshaphat, made use of the name of
Jehovah: to
please
Ahab, they said, Go up. But the false prophets cannot
So
mimic the true, but that he who has spiritual senses exercised,
can discern the fallacy. One
Faithful Prophet of the
Lord was
worth them all. Worldly men have in all ages been alike absurd in
their views of religion. They would have the preacher fit his
doctrine to the fashion of the times, and the taste of the
hearers, and yet to add. Thus saith the
Lord, to words that men
would
Put into their mouths. They are ready to cry out against a
Man as rude and foolish, who scruples thus to try to secure his
own interests, and to deceive others.
15-28 The greatest kindness we can do to one that is going in a
dangerous way, is, to tell him of his danger. To leave the
hardened criminal without excuse, and to give a useful lesson to
others,
Micaiah related his
Vision. This matter is represented
after the manner of men: we are not to imagine that
God is ever
Put upon new counsels; or that he needs to consult with angels,
or any
Creature, about the methods he should take; or that he is
the author of
Sin, or the cause of any
Man's telling or
believing a
Lie.
Micaiah returned not the blow of Zedekiah, yet,
since he boasted of the
Spirit, as those commonly do that know
least of the Holy
Spirit's operations, the true
Prophet left him
to be convinced of his error
By the event. Those that will not
have their mistakes set right in time,
By the
Word of God, will
be undeceived, when it is too late,
By the
Judgments of God. We
should be ashamed of what we
Call trials, were we to consider
what the servants of
God have endured. Yet it will be
Well, if
Freedom from trouble prove not more hurtful to us; we are more
easily allured and bribed into unfaithfulness and conformity to
the world, than driven to them.
29-40 Ahab basely intended to betray
Jehoshaphat to danger,
that he might secure himself. See what they get that join with
wicked men. How can it be expected that he should be true to his
friend, who has been false to his
God! He had said in compliment
to
Ahab, I am as thou art, and now he was indeed taken for him.
Those that associate with evil-doers, are in danger of sharing
in their plagues.
By Jehoshaphat's deliverance,
God let him
know, that though he was displeased with him, yet he had not
deserted him.
God is a friend that will not fail us when other
friends do. Let
No Man think to hide himself from
God's
Judgment.
God directed the arrow to hit
Ahab; those cannot
escape with
Life, whom
God has doomed to
Death.
Ahab lived long
enough to see part of
Micaiah's
Prophecy accomplished. He had
time to feel himself die; with what horror must he have thought
upon the wickedness he had committed!
41-50 Jehoshaphat's reign appears to have been one of the best,
both as to
Piety and prosperity. He pleased
God, and
God blessed
him.
51-53 Ahaziah's reign was very short, not two years; some
sinners
God makes quick work with. A very bad character is given
of him; he listened not to instruction, took
No warning, but
followed the
Example of his wicked
Father, and the counsel of
his more wicked mother,
Jezebel, who was still living. Miserable
are the children who not only derive a sinful nature from their
parents, but are taught
By them to increase it; and most unhappy
parents are they, that help to damn their children's souls.
Hardened sinners
Rush forward, unawed and unmoved, in the ways
from which others before them have been driven into
Everlasting
misery.