1 Kings 22:10-12 Message Was Unfaithful!

 “The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ” And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.””

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria: This illustrates the ancient custom of holding court and making decisions at the gates of the city. There were even thrones for high officials to sit on at the gates of the city of Samaria.

b. Thus says the LORD: These unfaithful prophets (such as Zedekiah) prophesied in the name of the LORD, but they did not prophesy truthfully. Many commentators believe these prophets were pagan prophets, perhaps representatives of Asherah or other pagan gods or goddesses. Yet they clearly prophesied in the name of the LORD. It is best to regard these not as pagan prophets, but unfaithful prophets to the true God.

i. Perhaps these were true followers of Yahweh who were seduced by Ahab’s sincere but shallow repentance three years before (1 Kings 21:27-29). After that, they began to align with Ahab uncritically. Three years later, they were willing to prophesy lies to Ahab if that was what he wanted to hear.

c. With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed: Zedekiah used a familiar tool of ancient prophets – the object lesson. He used horns of iron to illustrate the thrust of two powerful forces, armies that would defeat the Syrians. Zedekiah had the agreement of 400 other prophets (all the prophets prophesied so).

i. This must have been a vivid and entertaining presentation. We can be certain that every eye was on Zedekiah when he used the horns of iron to powerfully illustrate the point. It was certainly persuasive to have 400 prophets speak in agreement on one issue. No matter how powerful and persuasive the presentation, their message was unfaithful. (Guzik)

Message Was Unfaithful!

Like Zedekiah’s unfaithful message, we as Christian’s are instructed to search out our pastors messages and teachings to verify they are biblical!

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” ‭‭II Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

A good pastor will tell his congregation don’t take my word for it, search and study the bible to verify the scriptures.

You need discernment!

Do you faithfully study the bible?

Blessings 

Discernment!

1 Kings 22:5-9 Hated the messenger because of the message!

 “Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.” Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!” Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!”” I Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Please inquire for the word of the LORD today: Considering the generally adversarial relationship between Ahab and the prophets of Yahweh, this was a bold request for Jehoshaphat to ask of Ahab. It wasn’t surprising that Ahab picked prophets who would tell them what they wanted to hear.

b. Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king: When Ahab gathered the prophets, they were not faithful prophets of the LORD. These were prophets happy to please their kings, and to tell them what they wanted to hear. Jehoshaphat still wanted to hear from a prophet of Yahweh, the LORD (Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?).

c. I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil: Ahab hated the messenger because of the message. His real conflict was with God, but he focused his hatred against the prophet Micaiah. Yet he was willing to listen to the King of Judah when he advised that Ahab should listen to the Prophet Micaiah. (Guzik)

Hated the messenger because of the message!

Ahab didn’t like the truth! Oh how fickle we can be! Just like king Ahab I have hated the messenger because of the message!

Have you tried to share the good news about Jesus and they hated you because of the message?

Blessings 

1 Kings 22:1-4 Came to Pass!

 “Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.””

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria: Previously, the King of Syria promised to return certain cities to Israel (1 Kings 20:34) in exchange for leniency after defeat in battle. Apparently, this was a city that Ben-Hadad never returned to Israel and it was in a strategically important location.

b. Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead: King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help him in this dispute against Syria. This made some sense, because Ramoth-Gilead was only 40 miles from Jerusalem. (Guzik)

Came to Pass!

This is an interesting phrase in the Bible! When I read it I pay attention because something important is usually going to happen!

“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”” Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Then it came to pass! What do you think will happen to king Ahab?

Blessings 

1 Kings 21:27-29 Humble Repentance!

 “So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.”” ‭‭I Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. When Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body: For all his wickedness, Ahab received this prophecy of judgment exactly as he should have. He understood that the prophecy of judgment was in fact an invitation to repent, humble one’s self, and to seek God for mercy.

i. “But this humiliation or repentance of Ahab’s was only external and superficial, arising from the terror of God’s judgments; and not sincere and serious, proceeding from the love of God, or a true sense of his sin, or a solemn purpose of amendment of his life, as appears, because all the particulars of his repentance here, are external and ritual only; nor is there the least intimation of any one sign or fruit of his true repentance, as that he restored Naboth’s land, or reproved his infamous wife; but in the very next chapter you find him returning to his former vomit.” (Poole)

ii. Three years later, Ahab was dead under God’s judgment. “I will recompense his temporary repentance with a temporary deliverance.” (Trapp)

b. Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days: God honored Ahab’s initiative. This shows the power of both prayer and humble repentance. If Ahab did not humble himself in this way, then the judgment would have come in his own day. This shows that God gave the prophecy of judgment as an invitation to repentance, and God opened the door of mercy when Ahab properly responded to that invitation.

i. There is no record of Jezebel’s humility or repentance; therefore, we can expect that God’s judgment will come upon her exactly as He first announced.

ii. “The penitent heart ever meets the merciful eye of God; repentance is highly esteemed by the Father of compassion, even where it is comparatively shallow and short-lived.” (Clarke)

iii. This shows us the character of God’s mercy: it is given to the undeserving. By nature, the innocent does not need mercy. Ahab was a great sinner, but he won great mercy (in this life) through humble repentance. The worst sinner should not disqualify himself from receiving God’s mercy, if that sinner should only approach God in humble repentance. (Guzik)

Humble Repentance!

Don’t miss this! “The worst sinner should not disqualify himself from receiving God’s mercy, if that sinner should only approach God in humble repentance.” (Guzik)

When the devil whispers in your ear that God won’t forgive you because of this or that remember this quote from Guzik!

We have a God of mercy! All we need is a humble heart and to confess our sin to Him and strive to be better!

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you asked for His mercy?

Blessings 

1 Kings 21:25-26 Cast Out!

 “But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.”

‭‭I Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. There was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up: Ahab’s sin was multiplied not only because of the sin itself, but because by his permission, his wife stirred him upto do it.

i. This reminds us of what God said to Adam in pronouncing the curse after the sin in the Garden of Eden: Because you have heeded the voice of your wife (Genesis 3:17). Apparently, God holds husbands who follow their wives into sin to a special accountability.

b. According to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out: In likening the sin of Ahab to the sin of the Amorites, God prepared the ground for the future eviction of Israel from the Promised Land. As the Amorites were cast out of Canaan for their continued idolatry and rejection of God, so would the northern kingdom of Israel be cast out. (Guzik)

Cast Out

There will be a time in the future when God finally says, enough because of the wickedness of mankind. 

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””   Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The question you must ask yourself is, will I be cast out into everlasting punishment or be one of the righteous whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

Blessings 

1 Kings 21:17-24 What You Are!

 “Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ’ ” So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’ And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.”” I Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭17‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Arise, go down to meet Ahab: Ahab ran out to get his new toy (the land gained by betrayal, lies, and murder), and instead he ran into the prophet of God.

b. Have you murdered and also taken possession: Elijah did what few other men had the courage to do – confront this wicked, brutal, and amoral king and queen of Israel. He pointedly charged them with the two crimes of both murder and theft of Naboth’s land.

i. We notice that Elijah confronted Ahab (you murdered) over the sin of Jezebel and her wicked associates. God clearly held Ahab responsible for this sin as husband, as king, and as beneficiary of this crime.

ii. “This is added to show that temptations to sin are no excuse to the sinner.” (Poole)

c. In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours: This was a strong and startling prophecy. It was not fulfilled, because Ahab died in Samaria and the dogs licked his blood there (1 Kings 22:38), instead of in Jezreel where Naboth was murdered.

i. This unfulfilled prophecy has needlessly troubled some. Various explanations have been made, including the ideas that Elijah meant a general area and not a specific place, or that there were pools or streams that carried the blood from Ahab’s chariot to the waters of Jezreel, or that this was fulfilled in the blood that ran in the veins of Ahab’s son Joram (2 Kings 9:25). A far better explanation is found in the fact that because of Ahab’s sorrow and repentance at the end of the chapter, God relented from this judgment and instead brought it upon Ahab’s son (in 2 Kings 9:24-26) as the LORD said He would in 1 Kings 21:29.

ii. “And see how literally the prediction concerning his son was fulfilled, see 2 Kings 9:25, where we find that the body of Jehoram his son, just then slain by an arrow that had passed through his heart, was thrown into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; and there, doubtless, the dogs licked his blood, if they did not even devour his body.” (Clarke)

d. Have you found me, O my enemy: “Though the king knew it not, Elijah was his best friend; Jezebel his direst foe.” (Meyer)

i. “To the widow of Zarephath Elijah was an angel of light; whilst to Ahab he was an enemy… What you are, determines whether Elijah will be your friend or your enemy.” (Meyer)

e. You have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: “See a similar form of speech, Romans 7:14. Thou hast totally abandoned thyself to the service of sin. Satan is become thy absolute master, and thou his undivided slave.” (Clarke)

f. I will take away your posterity, and cut off from Ahab every male in Israel: This was a severe judgment against anyone, in particular against a king. A king’s legacy was in his posterity succeeding him on the throne, and here God announced an end to the dynasty of Omri (Ahab’s father). His dynasty would come to a dead-end, just like the dynasties of Jeroboam and Baasha.

i. “Ahab never possessed the vineyard of Naboth. He held it, but that very fact became to him a torment. However fine the vintage, for him the grapes were acrid, poisonous… That which is gained by fraud is never possessed.” (Morgan)

g. The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel: Though the prophecy of judgment was focused against Ahab, it did not forget Jezebel. Her end would be both horrible and disgraceful. (Guzik)

What You Are!

Reader, don’t let this escape your attention! “What you are, determines whether Elijah will be your friend or your enemy.” 

I have seen many people on the way to and from church be a different person than the one sitting inside. Once they get behind the steering wheel they become a demon without Jesus in control of the wheel! Many times we have had people pass us in no passing zones or an intersection only to ask one another, will they turn into our church parking lot? Unfortunately we are usually correct.

What you are is what people see when you least expect it. 

Will they see Jesus or Ahab?

Blessings 

1 Kings 21:15-16 Added Evil!

 “And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” ‭‭I Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth: This added evil to evil. Even with Naboth dead, the land did not belong to Ahab or the royal house of Israel. It belonged to the heirs or family of Naboth. Ahab probably claimed the land as a royal right because the crown seized the land of any executed criminal.

i. Although, “Some say that Ahab was his next kinsman, his sons being dead; which they judge more likely, because his land was next to the king’s” (Poole). “Hence some make Naboth to have been Ahab’s uncle; but that is uncertain” (Trapp). (Guzik)

Added Evil!

What goes through the mind of someone who has a person murdered so he can take possession of his property especially when the possession takes place? Evil justification? “This added evil to evil”!

In the end a righteous God will judge and the evil doers will be punished.

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And here is the hard part, in conclusion:

“Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Blessings