Tins Chapter ushers in a solemn scene in Israel’s history. What a contrast between the time when the people “blessed the king, and went into their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had done for David his servant and Israel his people” (ch. 8:66); and a now divided kingdom-one tribe only left to Judah—that Jehovah might still have a light before him in Jerusalem (ch. 11:36). But worse than that, lest old associations should prove too strong, the powerful links of a common worship must be broken; something new must be established, not in opposition, but as a substitute. How artful the enemy! There is no attempt made to deny God or His power in dealing with man in past times; that was too manifest a thing, and would have offended the consciences of all; a counterfeit must be established-something that will do as well -thus expediency, ever Satan’s way, comes in. “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Dan and Bethel are nearer, why not worship there?” Once off God’s line, how low the fall! Instead of a temple, overlaid with gold, built of “costly stones, even great stones,” the glory of the Lord filling the house, and priests, the sons of Levi, ministering—
“O, man, how hast thou proved
What in thy heart is found.”
Two calves of gold are set up, with priests “of the lowest of the people.” What a picture! But it speaks to us-these things are our ensample. “The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15.) has now become, as far as its outward position and character in the world, no better than Israel with their false altar, calves, and priesthood.
But God, ever faithful to His people, never grows weary. A prophet appears on the scene to testify against this wickedness, and tell of approaching judgment. He is sent by the word of the Lord to witness against the dreadful evil of Israel’s position; but, once his message was given, he was to eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the way he came. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” is ever the mind of God for those who would bear witness for Him. (Eph. 5:11). We have described, by God Himself, the state of things around us. That which was once set up in such beauty in the earth, to be as rivers of living waters (John 7) in a barren and a thirsty land, soon left its first estate, and became but a great house, filled with vessels-some to honor, some to dishonor. How are those who would be for God in the midst of it all to act? And who is a “man of God” but one who is standing for Him and His truth in the midst of that which has proved unfaithful to Him. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor.” “But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness,” &c.; “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” If the moral state of Israel was akin to that of the present day, “a form of godliness denying power thereof,” the call to the man of God is similar, and we would do well to lay to heart, 1St, whether we have taken this place; and 2nd, having taken it, are we living and walking in the power of it? We would all like to be thought men of God; having in some little measure given up the world as far as outward things are concerned, there still remains a desire to be something, or to think oneself somebody, or to be thought of by others. Is it not the case? But to be indeed for Him, requires a total denial of the flesh-there is no room for it. God’s word is imperative, if we would stand for Him. It will involve a breaking with all that man and nature holds dear; there can be no bearing with an evil while God’s testimony declares that it cannot be borne with. The prophet had a message to deliver, a testimony to make known. Yet, still to be separate, neither eat nor drink, nor return the way by which he came; as long as it was a question of refusing the King, one openly ungodly, he is decided enough; there could be no doubt as to this course in such a case; how could he accept his invitation, how eat and drink with him?
But that is not all; such an invitation did not thoroughly test the heart—his conscience would have rebelled against so flagrant an act. Is he prepared to stand by God’s word at all costs, at the risk of offending a brother prophet, to allow nothing whatever to interfere with what God at first told him. Such is the only right course—God “cannot deny himself.” “Try the spirits, whether they be of God.” He who is unfaithful in his testimony, will ever endeavor to have others—especially those whom God may be using as a testimony for Himself and His truth, to sanction his course. It was the case here. “There dwelt an old prophet in Bethel,” in the midst of apostate Israel, where a calf was substituted for the temple; there a prophet of God was found. It was a solemn place to be in; conscience gone, and the only desire to have others, whom God was using, to accredit him, and become mixed up with the corruptions, and sanction his place in its midst. Well may the apostle say “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” His soul was deadened by the corruptions around, insensible to truth—to all that a godly soul would hold precious; he hesitates not at a lie in order to conform the man of God to his ways. Once the soul allows the thinnest leaf as it were between itself and God, how soon it gives up all trust and dependence upon Him. It is off the ground of implicit subjection to His word, and on that of expediency, a ground so pleasing to man, but where the soul is at the mercy of all the craft and subtleties of Satan. There is no saying then the depths to which it may fall. “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap; he that soweth to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption,” It was so here— “God is not mocked.” The man of God, he who should have taken God’s part, destroys his testimony by leaving the path in which he had been set, sooner than refuse a brother prophet; he sacrifices the word of God, and judgment follows, as it ever will, surely, quickly, suddenly. No after influence can ever call in question what God has roach) known to us as His will. “To obey is better than sacrifice,” “My grace is sufficient for thee.” No allowance can be made; the will of God is peremptory in these matters. May we thus deal with ourselves, learning “to refuse the evil and choose the good.” It is a plain and simple path to those who will do so. “If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Expediency—circumstances—friends—brethren, all vanish away when Christ, and Christ alone, is the one object before the heart. He will be as a lamp to our feet, a light to our path; He will make our way plain and clear, with no shadow of turning in our course, as the shining light, shining more and more unto the perfect day.