KING
AHAZIAH CONSULTS A PSYCHIC!
After King Ahab died, King Ahaziah, his successor, "did evil in the
sight of the Lord". Here is the story:
"Ahaziah fell down
through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was
sick; and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of
Baalzebub
the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel
of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the
messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because
there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the
god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come
down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely
die." 2 Kings 1:2-4.
In this narrative we have a most striking display of the divine
displeasure against those who turn from God to Satanic agencies. A short
time previous to the events here recorded, the kingdom of Israel had
changed rulers. Ahab had fallen under the judgment of God, and had been
succeeded by his son Ahaziah, a worthless character, who did only evil
in the sight of the Lord, walking in the ways of his father and mother,
and causing Israel to sin. He worshiped Baal, and provoked the God of
Israel to anger, as his father Ahab had done. But judgments followed
close upon the sins of the rebellious king. A war with Moab, and then
the accident by which his own life was threatened, attested the wrath of
God against Ahaziah.
In his father's time this wicked king of Israel had heard and
seen much of the wondrous works of the Most High. What terrible evidence
of his severity and jealousy had God given his apostate people! And yet
Ahaziah acted as though these awful realities, and even the fearful end
of his own father, were only an idle tale. Instead of humbling his heart
before the Lord, he ventured upon the most daring act of impiety which
marked his life. He commanded his servants, "Go, inquire of Baal-zebub
the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease."
This idol was supposed, through the medium of its priests, to
give information concerning future events. It had obtained such general
credence that it was resorted to by large numbers from a considerable
distance. The predictions there uttered, and the information given,
proceeded directly from the prince of darkness. It is he who instituted,
and still maintains, the worship of idols, as a means of diverting the
minds of men from God.
The story of Ahaziah's sin and punishment contains a lesson of
warning which none can disregard with impunity. The very spirit of
heathen idolatry is rife to-day, though under the influence of science
and education it has assumed a more refined and attractive form. Though
we do not pay homage to heathen gods, yet thousands in civilized and
Christian countries are worshiping at Satan's shrine as verily as did
the king of Israel. Every day adds sorrowful evidence that faith in the
sure word of prophecy is decreasing, and that in its stead superstition
and Satanic witchery are captivating the minds of men. All who do not
earnestly search the Scriptures, and submit every desire and purpose of
life to that unerring test, all who do not seek God in prayer for a
knowledge of his will, will surely wander from the right path, and fall
under the deception of Satan.
The mystic voices that spoke at Ekron and Endor are still, by
their lying words, misleading the children of men. The prince of
darkness has but appeared under a new guise. The heathen oracles of ages
long past have their counterpart in the spiritualistic mediums, the
clairvoyants and fortune-tellers of to-day. The mysteries of heathen
worship are replaced by the secret associations and seances, the
obscurities and wonders, of the sorcerers of our time. And their
disclosures are eagerly received by thousands who refuse to accept light
from the word or the Spirit of God. They speak with scorn of the
magicians of old, while the great deceiver laughs in triumph as they
yield to his arts under a different form.
These Satanic agents claim to cure disease, They attribute their
power to electricity, magnetism, or the so-called "sympathetic
remedies," while in truth they are but channels for Satan's
electric currents. By this means he casts his spell over the bodies and
souls of men.
God has made it our duty to preserve our physical powers in the
best possible condition, that we may render to him acceptable service.
He has placed it in our power to obtain a knowledge of the laws of
health. Those who refuse to make use of the knowledge that has been
mercifully placed within their reach, are rejecting one of the means
which God has granted them to promote spiritual as well as physical
life.
Many are unwilling to put forth the effort that is necessary in
order to obtain a knowledge of the laws of life, and the simple means to
be used for the restoration of health. They do not place themselves in
right relations to life. When sickness comes as the result of their
transgressions of natural law, they do not seek to correct their errors,
and then ask the blessing of God on their course.
Not a few, in this Christian age and Christian nation, resort to
mediums rather than trust to the power of the living God. The mother,
watching by the sick-bed of her child, exclaims, "I can do no more.
Is there no physician who has power to restore my child?" She is
told of the wonderful cures performed by some clairvoyant or magnetic
healer, and she trusts her dear one to his charge, placing it as verily
in the hands of Satan as though he were standing by her side. And in how
many instances is the future life of the child controlled by a Satanic
power which it seems impossible to break!
Again: I have heard a mother pleading with some infidel physician
to save the life of her child; but when I entreated her to seek help
from the Great Physician, who is able to save to the uttermost all who
come unto him in faith, she turned away with impatience. Here we see the
same spirit that was manifested by Ahaziah. The Lord our God assures us
that he is waiting to be gracious; he invites us to call upon him in the
day of trouble. How can we turn from him to trust in an arm of flesh?
Ahaziah sent his servants to inquire of Baal-zebub at Ekron; but
instead of a message from the idol, he heard the awful denunciation from
the God of Israel: "Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which
thou art gone up, but shalt surely die." The Lord had cause to be
greatly displeased at Ahaziah's impiety. What had he not done to win the
hearts of sinful men, and to inspire them with unwavering confidence in
his care and affection? For ages he had visited his people with
manifestations of the most condescending kindness and unexampled love.
From the times of the patriarchs, he had shown that his "delights
were with the sons of men." He had been a very present help to all
who sought him in sincerity. "In all their afflictions he was
afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in
his pity he redeemed them." Yet Israel had revolted from God, and
the king turned for help to the Lord's worst enemy.
The Hebrews were the only nation favored with a knowledge of the
true God. And when the king sent to inquire of a pagan oracle, he
proclaimed to the heathen that he had more confidence in their idols
than in the God of his people, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
In the same manner do those who profess to have a knowledge of God's
word dishonor him when they turn from the Source of strength and wisdom
to ask help or counsel from some agent of the power of darkness.
Why is it that men are so unwilling to trust Him who created man,
who can, by a touch, a word, a look, heal all manner of disease? Who is
more worthy of our confidence than the One who made so great a sacrifice
for our redemption? If the professed followers of Christ would exercise
an intelligent, consistent faith in the promises of God, instead of
placing so much confidence in deceitful agencies, they would realize in
soul and body the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
There is danger in departing in the least degree from the Lord's
instruction. When we deviate from the plain path of duty, a train of
circumstances will arise that seems irresistibly to draw us farther and
farther from the right. Needless intimacies with those who have no
respect for God will seduce us ere we are aware. Fear of offending
worldly friends will deter us from expressing our gratitude to God or
acknowledging our dependence upon him. We must keep close to the word of
God. We need its warnings and encouragements, its threatenings and its
promises. We need the perfect example that we find only in the life and
character of our Saviour.
Angels of God will preserve his people while they walk in the
path of duty; but there is no assurance of such protection for those who
deliberately venture upon Satan's ground. An agent of the great deceiver
will say and do anything to gain his object. These workers of iniquity
are not few; and their path is marked by desolated homes, blasted
reputations, and broken hearts. But of all this the world knows little;
and Satan exults in the ruin that has been wrought.
Those who give themselves up to the sorcery of Satan may be able
to boast of great benefit received thereby; but does this prove their
course to be wise or safe? What if life should be prolonged or temporal
gain secured? Will it pay in the end to disregard the will of God? Oh,
no; all such apparent gain will at the last prove an irrecoverable loss.
No man can serve two masters. Light and darkness are no more
opposites than are the service of God and the service of Satan. The
prophet Elijah presented the matter in the true light when he appealed
to apostate Israel: "If the Lord be God, serve him; but if Baal,
then serve him."
We cannot with impunity break down a single barrier which God has
erected to guard his people from Satan's power. Our only safety consists
in preserving the ancient landmarks. "To the law and to the
testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there
is no light in them."
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