1 Kings 21:5-14

A Sinful Nation.

Time was when the Hebrew nation was great and respected, "a praise in the earth" for kings wise and honourable, for magistrates upright and noble, and for a people faithful and true. But how completely is all this changed! A more pitiable picture of national depravity could scarcely be drawn than that presented in the text. Here we have—

I. AN INIQUITOUS PALACE .

1 . The king is utterly unprincipled .

2 . His queen is a " cursed woman ."

II. AN UNSCRUPULOUS MAGISTRACY .

1 . Their servility is horrible .

2 . It is aggravated by treachery .

3 . The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy .

III. A DEMORALIZED PEOPLE .

1 . Sons of Belial are at hand .

2 . No voice is raised for justice .