[Linux4christians] Saturday - 1 Kings 21-22

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Saturday


      1 Kings 21-22



Ahab Murders Naboth

21:1 After this the following episode took place. Naboth the Jezreelite 
owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of 
Samaria. 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard so I can make 
a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will 
give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will 
pay you silver for it." 21:3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, "The Lord 
forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance."

21:4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the 
Jezreelite had said, "I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance." 
He lay down on his bed, pouted, and would not eat. 21:5 Then his wife 
Jezebel came in and said to him, "Why do you have a bitter attitude and 
refuse to eat?" 21:6 He answered her, "While I was talking to Naboth the 
Jezreelite, I said to him, 'Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you 
prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I 
will not sell you my vineyard.'" 21:7 His wife Jezebel said to him, "You 
are the king of Israel! Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. I 
will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you."

21:8 She wrote out orders, signed Ahab's name to them, and sealed them 
with his seal. She then sent the orders to the leaders and to the nobles 
who lived in Naboth's city. 21:9 This is what she wrote: "Observe a time 
of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 21:10 Also seat two 
villains opposite him and have them testify, 'You cursed God and the 
king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."

21:11 The men of the city, the leaders and the nobles who lived there, 
followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them. 21:12 They observed a 
time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 21:13 The two 
villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified 
against Naboth right before the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and 
the king." So they dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death. 
21:14 Then they reported to Jezebel, "Naboth has been stoned to death."

21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said 
to Ahab, "Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite 
refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he's 
dead." 21:16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went 
down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

21:17 The Lord told Elijah the Tishbite: 21:18 "Get up, go down and meet 
King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of 
Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it. 21:19 Say to 
him, 'This is what the Lord says: "Haven't you committed murder and 
taken possession of the property of the deceased?"' Then say to him, 
'This is what the Lord says: "In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth's 
blood they will also lick up your blood -- yes, yours!"'"

21:20 When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, "So, you have found me, my 
enemy!" Elijah replied, "I have found you, because you are committed to 
doing evil in the sight of the Lord. 21:21 The Lord says, 'Look, I am 
ready to bring disaster on you. I will destroy you and cut off every 
last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and 
incapacitated. 21:22 I will make your dynasty like those of Jeroboam son 
of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah because you angered me and made Israel 
sin.' 21:23 The Lord says this about Jezebel, 'Dogs will devour Jezebel 
by the outer wall of Jezreel.' 21:24 As for Ahab's family, dogs will eat 
the ones who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones 
who die in the country." 21:25 (There had never been anyone like Ahab, 
who was firmly committed to doing evil in the sight of the Lord, urged 
on by his wife Jezebel. 21:26 He was so wicked he worshiped the 
disgusting idols, just like the Amorites whom the Lord had driven out 
from before the Israelites.)

21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on 
sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 
21:28 The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, 21:29 "Have you noticed how 
Ahab shows remorse before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will 
not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the 
reign of his son."

Ahab Dies in Battle

22:1 There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years. 22:2 In 
the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit the king of 
Israel. 22:3 The king of Israel said to his servants, "Surely you 
recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to 
reclaim it from the king of Syria." 22:4 Then he said to Jehoshaphat, 
"Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to 
the king of Israel, "I will support you; my army and horses are at your 
disposal." 22:5 Then Jehoshaphat added, "First seek an oracle from the 
Lord." 22:6 So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets 
and asked them, "Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?" They said, 
"Attack! The sovereign one will hand it over to the king." 22:7 But 
Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not a prophet of the Lord still here, that 
we may ask him?" 22:8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is 
still one man through whom we can seek the Lord's will. But I despise 
him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His 
name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say 
such things." 22:9 The king of Israel summoned an official and said, 
"Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah."

22:10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting 
on their respective thrones, dressed in their robes, at the threshing 
floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were 
prophesying before them. 22:11 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns 
and said, "This is what the Lord says, 'With these you will gore Syria 
until they are destroyed.'" 22:12 All the prophets were prophesying the 
same, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the Lord will 
hand it over to the king." 22:13 Now the messenger who went to summon 
Micaiah said to him, "Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that 
the king will succeed. Your words must agree with theirs; you must 
predict success." 22:14 But Micaiah said, "As certainly as the Lord 
lives, I will say what the Lord tells me to say."

22:15 When he came before the king, the king asked him, "Micaiah, should 
we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?" He answered him, "Attack! You will 
succeed; the Lord will hand it over to the king." 22:16 The king said to 
him, "How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the 
Lord to tell me only the truth?" 22:17 Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel 
scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the 
Lord said, 'They have no master. They should go home in peace.'" 22:18 
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you he does not 
prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?" 22:19 Micaiah said, "That 
being the case, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his 
throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his 
left. 22:20 The Lord said, 'Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack 
Ramoth Gilead and die there?' One said this and another that. 22:21 Then 
a spirit stepped forward and stood before the Lord. He said, 'I will 
deceive him.' The Lord asked him, 'How?' 22:22 He replied, 'I will go 
out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The Lord 
said, 'Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.' 
22:23 So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of 
all these prophets of yours; but the Lord has decreed disaster for you." 
22:24 Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and 
said, "Which way did the Lord's spirit go when he went from me to speak 
to you?" 22:25 Micaiah replied, "Look, you will see in the day when you 
go into an inner room to hide." 22:26 Then the king of Israel said, 
"Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the 
king's son. 22:27 Say, 'This is what the king says, "Put this man in 
prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I safely return."'" 
22:28 Micaiah said, "If you really do safely return, then the Lord has 
not spoken through me." Then he added, "Take note, all you people."

22:29 The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth 
Gilead. 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise 
myself and then enter into the battle; but you wear your royal robes." 
So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the 
battle. 22:31 Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot 
commanders, "Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers; 
fight only the king of Israel." 22:32 When the chariot commanders saw 
Jehoshaphat, they said, "He must be the king of Israel." So they turned 
and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 22:33 When the chariot 
commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from 
him. 22:34 Now an archer shot an arrow at random, and it struck the king 
of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his 
charioteer, "Turn around and take me from the battle line, because I'm 
wounded." 22:35 While the battle raged throughout the day, the king 
stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the 
evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the 
chariot. 22:36 As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, 
"Each one should return to his city and to his homeland." 22:37 So the 
king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him. 22:38 They 
washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the 
prostitutes bathed); dogs licked his blood, just as the Lord had said 
would happen.

22:39 The rest of the events of Ahab's reign, including a record of his 
accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, 
are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 
22:40 Ahab passed away. His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.

Jehoshaphat's Reign over Judah

22:41 In the fourth year of King Ahab's reign over Israel, Asa's son 
Jehoshaphat became king over Judah. 22:42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five 
years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in 
Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. 22:43 He 
followed in his father Asa's footsteps and was careful to do what the 
Lord approved. (22:44) However, the high places were not eliminated; the 
people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high 
places. 22:44 (22:45) Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

22:45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat's reign, including his 
successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the 
Annals of the Kings of Judah. 22:46 He removed from the land any male 
cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father 
Asa. 22:47 There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled. 
22:48 Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships to travel to 
Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were 
shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. 22:49 Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to 
Jehoshaphat, "Let my sailors join yours in the fleet," but Jehoshaphat 
refused.

22:50 Jehoshaphat passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the 
city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.

Ahaziah's Reign over Israel

22:51 In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat's reign over Judah, 
Ahab's son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for two 
years over Israel. 22:52 He did evil in the sight of the Lord and 
followed in the footsteps of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of 
Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin. 22:53 He worshiped and bowed down to 
Baal, angering the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.



      Prayer


Lord, those who fail to follow Your teaching and who fail to listen to 
Your voice of correction are doomed to disaster. May I be 
always-accountable to You through faithful fellow believers who 
prayerfully hold me to Your Word, and obedient in my choices.



      Commentary


Ahab wanted the land of Naboth and offered to buy it or trade better 
land for it but Naboth refused to sell land that had been in his family 
for generations. When Queen Jezebel heard of it she schemed to have 
Naboth falsely accused and stoned to death on Ahab's behalf.


When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead he went to take the land but the 
Lord God sent Elijah to confront him with a terrible prophesy of for the 
murder of Naboth and Ahab's persistent rebellion.

When Ahab responded with a repentant heart the Lord God postponed the 
punishment, obliterating Ahab's entire family, until his son took the 
throne.

Ahab of Israel and Jehosophat of Judah joined forces to attack the 
Syrians who occupied Ramoth Gilead. The consulted the 400 false prophets 
who encouraged them but Jehosophat insisted that they consult a true 
prophet. Ahab resisted because he did not like bad news and surely the 
true prophet, Micaiah, after mocking Ahab and the false prophets a bit, 
prophesied disaster.

Ahab and Jehosophat ignored the prophet of God and attacked and were 
defeated and Ahab was mortally wounded, his blood licked up by the dogs, 
just as Elijah had prophesied.

Jehosophat ruled Judah for twenty-five years and continued the 
mostly-faithful example of his father Asa, removing all male cultic 
prostitutes that escaped Asa's purge, but also failing to remove the 
pagan places of worship on the high places. His son Jehoram followed him 
as king.

In Israel Ahaziah followed Ahab as king and was as evil and rebellious 
as his father and mother.


      Faith in Action

Consider

Ahab knew that when his evil wife Jezebel said she'd take care of things 
with Naboth she would have him murdered, and he said nothing, which is 
why God held him responsible for the murder.


        Discuss

Since Micaiah, like Elijah, had a history of speaking truth why would 
Ahab and Jehosophat ignore him at risk of disaster?



        Reflect

Jehosophat incrementally improved things in Judah by removing the last 
of the male cultic prostitutes, and continued his personal obedience to 
the Lord God, but inexplicably failed to remove the pagan places of 
sacrifice which ensnared many of the people.


        Share

When have you observed a leader who tried to live faithfully, and who 
made small efforts to deal with bad doctrine within the fellowship that 
they led, but seemed blind or unconcerned about an obvious terrible 
place of sin?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where you have been dealing 
decisively with a place of sin in your life, or business, or family, or 
fellowship, or other association, and one to which you have been blind.



        Action:

Today I will celebrate with a fellow believer what the Holy Spirit has 
done in and through me to the glory of the Lord God. I will ask that 
same believer to pray in-agreement that I will have the courage to 
respond decisively to repent (turn away from) the sin that He reveals to me.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________


             Sunday's text will be:
             2 Kings 1



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! http://ixquick.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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