64
Prophets and Kings
In wrath “he put forth his hand from the altar” and cried out, “Lay
hold on him.” His impetuous act met with swift rebuke. The hand
outstretched against the messenger of Jehovah suddenly became pow-
erless and withered, and could not be withdrawn.
Terror-stricken, the king appealed to the prophet to intercede with
God in his behalf. “Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God,” he
pleaded, “and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.
And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was
restored him again, and became as it was before.”
Verses 4, 6
.
Vain had been Jeroboam’s effort to invest with solemnity the dedi-
cation of a strange altar, respect for which would have led to disrespect
for the worship of Jehovah in the temple at Jerusalem. By the mes-
sage of the prophet, the king of Israel should have been led to repent
and to renounce his wicked purposes, which were turning the people
away from the true worship of God. But he hardened his heart and
determined to follow a way of his own choosing.
At the time of the feast at Bethel the hearts of the Israelites were
not fully hardened. Many were susceptible to the influence of the Holy
Spirit. The Lord designed that those who were taking rapid steps in
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apostasy should be checked in their course before it should be too late.
He sent His messenger to interrupt the idolatrous proceedings and to
reveal to king and people what the outworking of this apostasy would
be. The rending of the altar was a sign of God’s displeasure at the
abomination that was being wrought in Israel.
The Lord seeks to save, not to destroy. He delights in the rescue
of sinners. “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked.”
Ezekiel 33:11
. By warnings and entreaties He
calls the wayward to cease from their evil-doing and to turn to Him
and live. He gives His chosen messengers a holy boldness, that those
who hear may fear and be brought to repentance. How firmly the man
of God rebuked the king! And this firmness was essential; in no other
way could the existing evils have been rebuked. The Lord gave His
servant boldness, that an abiding impression might be made on those
who heard. The messengers of the Lord are never to fear the face of
man, but are to stand unflinchingly for the right. So long as they put
their trust in God, they need not fear; for He who gives them their
commission gives them also the assurance of His protecting care.