We will, however, advert to another case, which to some may be a plainer illustration of the argument before us. It specially refers to the spiritual things of the Church, in which the worship of the Lord is pre-eminently concerned. There can be no reasonable doubt among those who believe the Scriptures, that lying spirits must have been the primary source of all Israel's idolatry. Now Ahab is recorded to have encouraged this enormity in his kingdom, and to have fastened it with a strong hand upon the observance of his people. Ahab had prophets in whom he trusted; but they were false, and they deceived him; and we are expressly told that the source of their deceptions was from spirits in the spiritual world. In the matter of persuading Ahab to go up to the battle of Ramoth-Gilead, it is written that a spirit stood before the Lord, and said, "I will persuade him; I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets."[1] By this means the king was led up to the battle, in defiance of a Divine warning; and he was slain, and his army discomfited. Here it is expressly stated that a lying spirit lay behind and assisted the historical occurrence. This being so in reference to the circumstances which contributed to Ahab's death, is it not reasonable to conclude that a similar influence must have induced the idolatry which he encouraged by his life? And, finally, it seems clear that this transaction in the natural world was the revelation of a particular judgment in the spiritual world; for we find that immediately afterwards, the people came into an improved and more acceptable condition. But none of those favourable changes were lasting; all the Divine interpositions to keep that nation within the boundaries of faith and obedience failed; and so, in the fulness of time, the dispensation intrusted to their care came to an end.
