Disasters and Miserable Death of Jehoram

    For his sins, "The Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians. And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. And after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness; so he died of sore diseases."

    Can the wisdom of man show in what manner the Lord stirred up the Philistines and Arabians against Jehoram? It was their own work; it was the work of God. In like manner God, in his Providence, in every age stirs up nations to punish those whom his purposes doom to ruin. Yet one son is preserved to the transgressor. Why? God remembered his covenant with David, and an inscrutable Providence preserved Jehoahaz. Even when the dogs of war are let loose, destruction is guided by the finger of Providence. Here, also, in the Providence of God towards this persecutor and encourager of idolatry, we may learn to ascribe to Providence the singular diseases and deaths of tyrants and persecutors, which the pen of history records. An infidel philosophy, in its affected wisdom, refuses to see the hand of Providence in judgment. But the Christian ought not, from fear of ridicule, to hide his eyes against the works of Providence. If God smote Jehoram with an incurable and excruciating disease, why may he not, from time to time, manifest his Providence in punishing signal persecutors of his people? True science has no evidence on which it can lawfully deny or question this doctrine. Science, falsely so called, in its attempts to banish Providence from an immediate concern in the calamities of mankind, is influenced not by scientific evidence, but by enmity to God, and to his ways.

    Nothing can be more consoling to the man of God, than the conviction that the Lord who made the -world governs the world; and that every event, great and small, prosperous and adverse, is under the absolute disposal of Him who doth all things well, and who regulates all things for the good of his people. The child had no fear of shipwreck when he knew that his father was at the helm. The Christian will be confident and courageous in duty, in proportion as he views God in his Providence as ruling in the midst of his enemies; and acting for the good of his people, as well as for his own glory, even in the persecution of the gospel.