Note: For clarity the Kings of Israel are coded in Orange and Kings of Judah are coded in Blue.
1 Kings 22 – Prophesies Against Ahab
King Ahab of Israel asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help him in a dispute against Syria. Ahab asked his 400 prophets if he should go to war. Keep in mind these prophets were called by Ahab not by God. They agreed with Ahab to go to war, but Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from the true prophet of the God, Micaiah.
Ahab hated Micaiah because of his prophesies even though Ahab’s real conflict was with God. It’s natural to respond negatively to truth, especially when it’s something you don’t want to hear. You should take time to reflect on your plans, seek God and make sure you are going in the right direction.
The unfaithful 400 prophets tried to get Micaiah to agree with them, but he would only speak what God said to him. At first Micaiah agreed with the unfaithful prophets to go to war. Maybe he spoke in sarcasm or maybe he was mocking them. Scripture doesn’t say. Then he spoke the truth and predicted there would be failure in battle. He described there would be confusion and disunity because of their ungodly leader, Ahab. The king didn’t like Micaiah’s honesty and it landed him in prison.
Did you notice 1 Kings 22:23? “So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster on you.” Scripture teaches that God is truth and impossible for Him to lie. He commands us not to lie. Ahab was very wicked and had hardened his heart. He had already made up his mind and just needed his false prophets to tell him what he wanted to hear. God used an evil spirit to put lies in the prophets’ mouths. The spirit couldn’t do this on his own. He had to get permission from God (see 1 Kings 22:21-22). God has authority over all even the forces of evil which He used to accomplish His good purposes. God is not promoting lying, but permitting it to bring judgment on evil.
Principle: Before making a decision, seek Godly counsel.
What is a prophet? A true prophet speaks for God. He interprets what God reveals to him. He always speaks the truth. Prophets are sometimes persecuted for their messages. Micaiah was a true prophet. This is the only place we read of this Micaiah, but his courage in the face of intense political pressure stands as a model for us. His truth-telling led to persecution, but his words came true since they were from God.
Ahab didn’t listen to Micaiah and led the armies into battle. Ahab and Israel were defeated just a Micaiah predicted. Ahab died and was brought back to Samaria and buried. 2 Chronicles 18:31 we’re told that during battle Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord and the Lord rescued him. He rededicated himself to the spiritual reform of Judah (2 Chronicles 19:4). The words of the prophet Micaiah were true and the fulfillment of God’s word came through Elijah in 1 Kings 21:19.
We don’t know exactly why Jehoshaphat agreed to have a temporary unity with Ahab. Maybe he understood that their kingdoms were related and he sought to strengthen Judah by strengthening ties with their brothers in the north. The kings wanted two different things. Ahab wanted land and Jehoshaphat wanted unity.
Principle: Cry out to God in the midst of trouble, He can still redeem and protect.
Jehoshaphat was a good king and followed in the footsteps of his father Asa. “… he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” – 1 Kings 22:43b. 1 Kings 22:41-50 gives us a summary some of the accomplishments of Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 17-20 tell us his other accomplishments. He sent teachers of God’s word to the entire kingdom, stablished a permanent military along the northern border, trained and equipped his army, implemented judicial reforms, and controlled the caravan route to the south. God blessed his reign so that neighboring nation were afraid to make war with him.
Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father. Jehoram his son succeeded him. He gave his son Jehoram to Athaliah in marriage. She was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (2 Chronicles 18:1). This was a serious error.
Ahab reigned 22 years then his son Ahaziah became king and reigned only two years. “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, because he walked in the ways of his father and mother and in the ways of Jeroboam …” – 1 Kings 22:52. He served and worshiped Baal and provoked the Lord to anger.
2 Kings 1 – Judgment on Ahaziah
After King Ahab died and his son Ahaziah became king, the people in Moab rebelled against Israel. Ahaziah had a serious accident by falling through a window in his palace. He sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub the god of Ekron to see if he would recover. God told Elijah what was happening and sent word to the messengers that the king would not recover and because of his sin he would die in his bed. His sin was he worshiped and sought Baal-Zebub instead of God.
King Ahaziah knew who Elijah was and sent soldiers to capture him. Two times he sent a captain and fifty men. The proud officers opposed God and tried to arrest him. Each time God send fire from the sky and killed the captains and their men. He sent a captain and fifty men a third time, but this time the captain was humble and recognized Elijah was a man of God. He asked him to be merciful to them. God told Elijah to not be afraid so he went with them. Elijah delivered the message to the king that he would die because of his sin.
God hates when you turn somewhere else before you turn to Him. Three times the message was declared, ”Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” – 2 Kings 1:3, 6, 16.
God wants you to come to Him first when there is something you want or need. Where you turn first is your idol. In your difficulty and desperation, did you think to pray first? He is waiting for you and He is hurt when you don’t turn to Him. He hates it when you don’t turn to Him. He wants you to give your concerns to Him.
God showed mercy to Ahaziah. He told him something that few people know. His death was imminent but he had time to repent and prepare to meet God. Elijah’s prophecy was fulfilled and the king died. He had no son so his brother, Joram succeeded him as king.
We can learn from the behavior of the third officer He was humble and had the right attitude to have in front of a man of God. He respected God’s servant and he respected God. We must always respect God. He deserves the greatest honor. He is not a cruel God. John 12:47 – “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.”
Principles:
This week’s attribute of God: He is Just. He has perfect justice. He doesn’t show favoritism. All His judgments are fair and right, because He is righteous. If you continue to refuse to follow God, it is only fair that you face God’s judgment. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23.
Next week we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided with 2 Chronicles. Hope to see you here. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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