72
Prophets and Kings
and with no high standard of rightdoing, his character was easily
molded by the determined spirit of Jezebel. His selfish nature was
incapable of appreciating the mercies of God to Israel and his own
obligations as the guardian and leader of the chosen people.
Under the blighting influence of Ahab’s rule, Israel wandered far
from the living God and corrupted their ways before Him. For many
years they had been losing their sense of reverence and godly fear; and
now it seemed as if there were none who dared expose their lives by
openly standing forth in opposition to the prevailing blasphemy. The
dark shadow of apostasy covered the whole land. Images of Baalim
and Ashtoreth were everywhere to be seen. Idolatrous temples and
consecrated groves, wherein were worshiped the works of men’s hands,
were multiplied. The air was polluted with the smoke of the sacrifices
offered to false gods. Hill and vale resounded with the drunken cries
of a heathen priesthood who sacrificed to the sun, moon, and stars.
Through the influence of Jezebel and her impious priests, the peo-
ple were taught that the idol gods that had been set up were deities,
ruling by their mystic power the elements of earth, fire, and water.
All the bounties of heaven—the running brooks, the streams of living
water, the gentle dew, the showers of rain which refreshed the earth
and caused the fields to bring forth abundantly—were ascribed to the
[116]
favor of Baal and Ashtoreth, instead of to the Giver of every good and
perfect gift. The people forgot that the hills and valleys, the streams
and fountains, were in the hand of the living God, that He controlled
the sun, the clouds of heaven, and all the powers of nature.
Through faithful messengers the Lord sent repeated warnings to
the apostate king and the people, but in vain were these words of
reproof. In vain did the inspired messengers assert Jehovah’s right
to be the only God in Israel; in vain did they exalt the laws that He
had entrusted to them. Captivated by the gorgeous display and the
fascinating rites of idol worship, the people followed the example of
the king and his court, and gave themselves up to the intoxicating,
degrading pleasures of a sensual worship. In their blind folly they
chose to reject God and His worship. The light so graciously given
them had become darkness. The fine gold had become dim.
Alas, how had the glory of Israel departed! Never before had the
chosen people of God fallen so low in apostasy. Of “the prophets
of Baal” there were “four hundred and fifty,” besides four hundred