prophets and kings-第29节
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be silenced。 In the populous cities of the land； and in the places where men have gone to the greatest lengths in speaking against the Most High； the voice of stern rebuke will be heard。 Boldly will men of God's appointment denounce the union of the church with the world。 Earnestly will they call upon men and women to turn from the observance of a man…made institution to the observance of the true Sabbath。 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him；〃 they will proclaim to every nation； 〃for the hour of His judgment is come： and worship Him that made heaven； and earth； and the sea； and the fountains of waters。 。 。 。 If any man worship the beast and his image； and receive his mark in his forehead； or in his hand； the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God； which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation。〃 Revelation 14：7…10。
God will not break His covenant； nor alter the thing that has gone out of His lips。 His word will stand fast forever as unalterable as His throne。 At the judgment this covenant will be brought forth； plainly written with the finger of God； and the world will be arraigned before the bar of Infinite Justice to receive sentence。
Today； as in the days of Elijah； the line of demarcation
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between God's commandment…keeping people and the worshipers of false gods in clearly drawn。 〃How long halt ye between two opinions？〃 Elijah cried； 〃if the Lord be God； follow Him： but if Baal； then follow him。〃 1 Kings 18：21。 And the message for today is： 〃Babylon the great is fallen； is fallen。 。 。 。 Come out of her； My people； that ye be not partakers of her sins； and that ye receive not of her plagues。 For her sins have reached unto heaven； and God hath remembered her iniquities。〃 Revelation 18：2； 4； 5。
The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul。 The observance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us。 The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men。 Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be； rather than subject themselves to derision； insult； threatened imprisonment； and death。 At that time the gold will be separated from the dross。 True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it。 Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness。 Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary； but are not clothed with Christ's righteousness； will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness。
Among earth's inhabitants； scattered in every land； there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal。 Like the stars of heaven； which appear only at night； these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people。 In heathen Africa； in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America； in China； in India；
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in the islands of the sea； and in all the dark corners of the earth； God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness； revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law。 Even now they are appearing in every nation； among every tongue and people； and in the hour of deepest apostasy； when Satan's supreme effort is made to cause 〃all； both small and great； rich and poor； free and bond；〃 to receive； under penalty of death； the sign of allegiance to a false rest day； these faithful ones； 〃blameless and harmless； the sons of God； without rebuke；〃 will 〃shine as lights in the world。〃 Revelation 13：16； Philippians 2：15。 The darker the night； the more brilliantly will they shine。
What strange work Elijah would have done in numbering Israel at the time when God's judgments were falling upon the backsliding people！ He could count only one on the Lord's side。 But when he said； 〃I； even I only； am left； and they seek my life；〃 the word of the Lord surprised him； 〃Yet I have left Me seven thousand in Israel； all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal。〃 1 Kings 19：14； 18。
Then let no man attempt to number Israel today； but let everyone have a heart of flesh； a heart of tender sympathy； a heart that； like the heart of Christ； reaches out for the salvation of a lost world。
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Chapter 15
Jehoshaphat
Until called to the throne at the age of thirty…five； Jehoshaphat had before him the example of good King Asa； who in nearly every crisis had done 〃that which was right in the eyes of the Lord。〃 1 Kings 15：11。 During a prosperous reign of twenty…five years； Jehoshaphat sought to walk 〃in all the ways of Asa his father； he turned not aside。〃
In his efforts to rule wisely； Jehoshaphat endeavored to persuade his subjects to take a firm stand against idolatrous practices。 Many of the people in his realm 〃offered and burnt incense yet in the high places。〃 1 Kings 22：43。 The king did not at once destroy these shrines； but from the beginning he tried to safeguard Judah from the sins characterizing the northern kingdom under the rule of Ahab； of whom he was a contemporary for many years。 Jehoshaphat himself was loyal to God。 He 〃sought not unto Baalim；
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but sought to the Lord God of his father； and walked in His commandments； and not after the doings of Israel。〃 Because of his integrity； the Lord was with him； and 〃stablished the kingdom in his hand。〃 2 Chronicles 17：3…5。
〃All Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents； and he had riches and honor in abundance。 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord。〃 As time passed and reformations were wrought； the king 〃took away the high places and groves out of Judah。〃 Verses 5； 6。 〃And the remnant of the Sodomites； which remained in the days of his father Asa； he took out of the land。〃 1 Kings 22：46。 Thus gradually the inhabitants of Judah were freed from many of the perils that had been threatening to retard seriously their spiritual development。
Throughout the kingdom the people were in need of instruction in the law of God。 In an understanding of this law lay their safety； by conforming their lives to its requirements they would become loyal both to God and to man。 Knowing this； Jehoshaphat took steps to ensure to his people thorough instruction in the Holy Scriptures。 The princes in charge of the different portions of his realm were directed to arrange for the faithful ministry of teaching priests。 By royal appointment these instructors； working under the direct supervision of the princes； 〃went about throughout all the cities of Judah； and taught the people。〃 2 Chronicles 17：7…9。 And as many endeavored to understand God's requirements and to put away sin； a revival was effected。
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To this wise provision for the spiritual needs of his subjects； Jehoshaphat owed much of his prosperity as a ruler。 In obedience to God's law there is great gain。 In conformity to the divine requirements there is a transforming power that brings peace and good will among men。 If the teachings of God's word were made the controlling influence in the life of every man and woman； if mind and heart were brought under its restraining power； the evils that now exist in national and in social life would find no place。 From every home would go forth an influence that would make men and women strong in spiritual insight and in moral power； and thus nations and individuals would be placed on vantage ground。
For many years Jehoshaphat lived in peace； unmolested by surrounding nations。 〃The fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah。〃 Verse 10。 From Philistia he received tribute money and presents； from Arabia； large flocks of sheep and goats。 〃Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly； and he built in Judah castles； and cities of stores。 。 。 。 Men of war； mighty men of valor； 。 。 。 waited on the king； beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah。〃 Verses 12…19。 Blessed abundantly with 〃riches and honor；〃 he was enabled to wield a mighty influence for truth and righteousness。 2 Chronicles 18：1
Some years after coming to the throne； Jehoshaphat； now in the height of his prosperity； consented to the marriage of his son； Jehoram； to Athaliah； daughter of Ahab and Jezebel。 By this union there was formed between the kingdoms
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of Judah and Israel an alliance which was not in the order of God and which in a time of crisis brought disaster to the king and to many of his subjects。
On one occasion Jehoshaphat visited the king of Israel at Samaria。 Special honor was shown the royal guest from Jerusalem； and before the close of his visit he was persuaded to unite with the king of Israel in war against the Syrians。 Ahab hoped that by joining his forces with those of Judah he might regain Ramoth； one of the old cities of refuge； which； he contended； rightfully belonged to the Israelites。
Although Jehoshaphat in a moment of weakness had rashly promised to join the king of Israel in his war against the
