If God has shewn that He
took notice of His servant's fault, and did not pass it
lightly over, He did not fail towards him in either
tenderness or faithfulness. He acted towards him as
towards a beloved and faithful servant, even at the
moment in which He made him sensible of his failure in
the energy of faith; for He did not make others aware of
it, although He has communicated it to us for our
instruction.
I said failure in the
energy of faith; for, with respect to the mass of the
people, Elijah's judgment was just. God reveals His
thoughts and His intentions to him, and even points out
to him the agents He will employ; and, while definitely
replacing the prophet by Elisha, God nevertheless makes
him publicly re-enter His service, by commanding him to
call Elisha to accompany him in his work. Thus Elijah
resumes his ministry in the midst of Israel.
Ahaziah's sin and
its reproof in power
Now Ahaziah walked in the
way of his father, and openly confessed Baal to be his
god by sending to consult Baal-zebub at Ekron. Sent to
meet the king's messengers, Elijah pronounces his
sentence from the Lord. Incensed at being opposed in his
iniquity, Ahaziah sends men of his army to take him.
We find again here the
same judicial character in Elijah's miracles which was
spoken of before—a character pointed out by Jehovah
Himself. He calls down fire from heaven to consume these
men. The last of those sent by the king, owning the
authority and power of Elijah, has his life spared.
Elijah goes down with him to the king, to declare again
to him in person Jehovah's judgment which awaited him.
2 Kings 1 Bible Commentary
John Darby’s Synopsis
If God has shewn that He took notice of His servant's fault, and did not pass it lightly over, He did not fail towards him in either tenderness or faithfulness. He acted towards him as towards a beloved and faithful servant, even at the moment in which He made him sensible of his failure in the energy of faith; for He did not make others aware of it, although He has communicated it to us for our instruction.
I said failure in the energy of faith; for, with respect to the mass of the people, Elijah's judgment was just. God reveals His thoughts and His intentions to him, and even points out to him the agents He will employ; and, while definitely replacing the prophet by Elisha, God nevertheless makes him publicly re-enter His service, by commanding him to call Elisha to accompany him in his work. Thus Elijah resumes his ministry in the midst of Israel.
Ahaziah's sin and its reproof in power
Now Ahaziah walked in the way of his father, and openly confessed Baal to be his god by sending to consult Baal-zebub at Ekron. Sent to meet the king's messengers, Elijah pronounces his sentence from the Lord. Incensed at being opposed in his iniquity, Ahaziah sends men of his army to take him.
We find again here the same judicial character in Elijah's miracles which was spoken of before—a character pointed out by Jehovah Himself. He calls down fire from heaven to consume these men. The last of those sent by the king, owning the authority and power of Elijah, has his life spared. Elijah goes down with him to the king, to declare again to him in person Jehovah's judgment which awaited him.