1 Kings 14:13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave… I. THE GOOD THING FOUND IN ABIJAH. 1. There was nothing good in him by nature. The passions of envy, pride, and selfishness show themselves in early life. "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child." It is implanted in his nature, sunk deep into his heart. It entwines round his faculties like the ivy, and is rooted like the oak. 2. No good thing could have been produced in him by mere human efforts. The father of the faithful could not do it. Hence his prayer for the son of the bond. woman: "O that Ishmael might live before Thee!" The man after God's own heart could not do it. Hence his lamentation over the death of his wicked son: "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 3. The good thing that was in Abijah must have been infused by the Spirit of God. The principle of a natural man in religious actions is artificial; he is wound up like the spring of an engine to a certain power;. but as the motion of the engine ceases when the spring is down, so the motions of a natural man hold no longer than they give him pleasure, or contribute to his earthly profit; but the principle of a spiritual man is internal, and the first motion of this principle is toward God, so that he acts from Him and for Him. 4. Observe, this "good thing" was found in Abijah. (1) It was found of God, "Man judgeth by the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh at the heart."(2) It was found of angels. For "are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister unto them that shall be heirs of salvation?" And is there anything which can enhance their joy? O yes, for "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth."(3) It was found of the godly around him. They saw it in the humility and love which beamed in his countenance — in the grace of his conversation, in the uniformity of his conduct, and in the zeal which he manifested for the glory of God, the prosperity of the pious, and the conversion of sinners. 5. Observe, this good thing was found in Abijah "in the house of Jeroboam." This circumstance teaches us two things. (1) The sovereignty of Divine grace in his conversion. (2) The decision of his religious profession. Decision and firmness of mind and character are of essential service in all the affairs of life: and nothing that is great or good has ever been done without them. In religion it is of the greatest moment to be decided, so that when the question is asked, "Who is on the Lord's side?" O that we could all answer without the fear of being confronted, one by one, "I am!" II. THE GOODNESS OF IT. 1. It was a good thing for himself. 2. It was a good thing for others. As "one sinner destroyeth much good," so one saint may (as an instrument in the hand of God) save from much evil. "I will bless thee," said Jehovah to the patriarch Abraham, "and thou shalt be a blessing." The circumstance of "all Israel mourning for him and burying him," speaks volumes in his praise, and leads one to hope that his counsels were appreciated, and his prayers answered in the re-formation — if not in the saving conversion — of his survivors. (T. Hitchin, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. |
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