a Message from the True God 2Ki 1:1-8 The king’s accident was probably due to the giving way of the balustrade that surrounded the roof of his palace. The Law expressly provided that this lattice-work should be made very strong to obviate just such an occurrence, Deu 22:8 . Let us be careful to maintain the barriers of good custom, whether of purity, or total abstinence, or the observance of the Lord’s day. In this manner we shall preserve our children and ourselves from peril. All good habits are strong battlements. To reach Ekron the messengers must pass Jerusalem. What a direct insult to Jehovah! Even Ahab had some regard for Micaiah, but Ahaziah went beyond his father in openly flouting the religion of David and Moses. In the interests of the whole nation, this insult could not be passed over in silence, and at God’s bidding Elijah appeared upon the scene. He rebuked the messengers for their idolatrous quest and told them that the king would surely die. They returned with the report that a man clad in a hairy garment had met them, and had said that the king would not recover. It was enough. The apprehensions of Ahaziah’s guilty conscience were confirmed, and he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite!”