The want of priests. The people of the kingdom of Israel sank deeper and deeper into idolatry and crime, because the priests who taught them the true religion and the practice of it, were killed. It is a great misfortune for Christian countries when there is a lack of good priests; for in that case faith grows weak, morals become lax, and many souls are lost (New Test. XXXII).
Figures and Types. The land of Israel, suffering from the long drought, was a figure of the great spiritual drought from which the whole world suffered before the coming of Christ. Elias bidding the heavens to rain was a figure of Christ opening the fountains of grace to a perishing world. The rain itself, which gave a new life to the earth, is a type of the grace of God, which renews the soul of the converted sinner.
Application. Do you halt between two sides? Do you hesitate between good and evil, between the commands of God and the promptings of your own evil passions? To-day perhaps you have promised to serve God, and to-morrow you will follow some evil desire. This wavering between good and evil is a grave danger to the salvation of your soul; for you are really wavering between heaven and hell. Away then with indecision! Love God with your whole heart and be true to Him till death. Renew this day your baptismal vows.
Chapter LXIV.
WICKEDNESS OF ACHAB AND JEZABEL. THEIR PUNISHMENT.
[3 Kings 21—22. 4 Kings 9.]
ACHAB had a palace at Jezrahel[1], and near it was a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. Achab, coveting the vineyard, said one day to Naboth: “Give me thy vineyard, that I may make me a garden, and I will give thee a better vineyard, or I will give thee the worth of it in money.” Naboth answered him: “The Lord be merciful to me and not let me give thee the inheritance[2] of my fathers.” For the law of Moses forbade the son to sell the property which he had inherited from his forefathers.
- ↑ Jezrahcl. Achab generally lived in Samaria, but he had also a summer-palace at Jezrahel, where Naboth’s vineyard was.
- ↑ The inheritance. It was expressly forbidden by the Law to sell a family heritage; though in cases of necessity it could be mortgaged until the next jubilee-year. It was therefore out of fear of God that Naboth refused to sell his vineyard.
