Ahab and Micaiah. I kings 22

 

I Kings 22 – Ahab and Micaiah

 

Ramoth-Gilead was one of the chief cities of the tribe of Gad, and it had been lost to Syria.

Jehoshaphat should have followed the advice given to him by the prophet of the Lord. This was not Jehoshaphat's fight. Gilead did not belong to him -it belonged to Ahab. It was Ahab’s quarrel.

Jehoshaphat was God’s man. He wanted to know what God’s will was. He asks, “Is there not a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him?” Ahab then introduces Micaiah. Ahab hates him and Jehoshaphat says, “you really don’t mean that you hate a man of God.”

The apostle Paul once said, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth.” Gal. 4:16. They brought Micaiah in from where Ahab was keeping him in prison.

Four hundred prophets were running around saying to Ahab, “Go up against the king of Syria, you will win.”

The messenger that brought forth Micaiah warned him that all the prophets are telling the king to fight, and he should do likewise. Micaiah said sarcastically, “Go and prosper for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king. The king replied, “I know you are kidding me because you have never agreed with the false prophets.” Macaiah says, “you smart little fellow! I wish I would have thought of that.” This was the nicest way Micaiah could call these prophets a bunch of liars. Then Zedekiah, the prophet slapped Micaiah on the cheek. Micaiah said to Ahab, “In view of the fact that you won’t be coming back, I want the people to witness that what I have spoken is truth, that you shall die in battle.

Israel lost the battle and Jehoshaphat almost lost his life because of Ahab’s deception. The soldier did not shoot at Ahab – yet the arrow found him. That which God had predicted through Elijah came to pass: Ahab died, and his blood was licked up by dogs in the same place that Naboth had died.

No one gets by with sin. He is still on the throne. The son of Ahab now wants to align with Jehoshaphat, but he had learned his lesson and refused to deal with him. Jehoshaphat died and was succeeded by his son, Jehoram. Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, began to reign over Israel in Samaria. He reigned for two years and followed in the steps of Ahab and Jezebel.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Naboth's Vineyard. I Kings 21

 

I Kings 21 – Naboth’s Vineyard

 

As lovely a palace as Ahab had, you would think he would be satisfied. But, no, he wants that vineyard. Naboth does not want to sell it for the very simple reason God had given to it to his ancestors and had been passed down from father to son.

 

Ahab doesn't get his way, so he goes home and pouts like a little boy. Ahab is like a spoiled brat and won't eat now because he cannot have what he wants.

 

Jezebel is going to work out something that will enable her husband to get it. She was a dominant and domineering woman. She contrives a nice little plot and arranges to have two lawless men witness against Naboth. They say that he blasphemed God and the king. Naboth is then carried out of the city and stoned to death. So, Jezebel came in and announced to her husband, Ahab, “Naboth is dead, and you can have the vineyard.”

 

Thank God that there is a man around who will declare the word of God! “be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”

 

God says to Ahab, “I'm removing your house, your line will not reign here. now God is not through: Both of these judgments very definitely came to pass.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Israel is Attacked by Syria. I Kings 20

 

 

I Kings 20. Israel is attacked by Syria

 

God is now permitting the enemy to come in from the outside. Up to this time God had not permitted it.

 

The promise of God’s deliverance in this situation was not based upon Ahab’s fidelity but on God’s love for His people. We must never believe that we receive blessings because we deserve them.  God was telling Ahab, “I have given you a victory now, but don’t return to the worship of Baal. The king of Syria is going to come against you again at the return of the year.”

 

Once again God gave Ahab victory over the enemy, but unfortunately, Ahab made the mistake of sparing Ben-hadad’s life. Ahab was told to eliminate the enemy, but he did not obey. There can be no compromise with sin.

 

It is very hard for one sinner to judge another sinner. This was the case with Ahab- that is why he spared Ben-hadad’s life. In the end Ahab pronounced his own death sentence with his disobedience to God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Elijah Runs From Jezebel. I Kings 19

 

I Kinga 19 – Elijah Runs From Jezebel

 

Elijah did a strange thing when he heard Jezebel’s message threatening to kill him. Elijah lost his courage and ran. He got as far away as Beer-sheba. When he reached the desert, he left his servant there and continued another day’s journey.

Jezebel hated Elijah and she was not going to let him live if she could help it.

He took his eyes off the Lord and ran to an area that was beyond the farthest outpost of civilization. Elijah was overworked, Overwrought, over worried, and physically exhausted. He was worn out from the hard task of standing for God against so much opposition. He went under the juniper tree because he was exhausted. Elijah was a rough and rugged man, but he concealed a sensitive soul. He was ruled by his emotions, and he could go from elation to dejection. Then he cried out to God to take his life. Elijah needed rest and the Lord knew it, so He put him to sleep. He awoke to some bread being baked. The Lord who comforted him, fed him, and put him back to sleep. When He fed Elijah the second time, He told him, “The journey is too great for him.” The journey of life is too great for us, we are going to need a Savior.

Strengthened by the food, Elijah continued to run. First there was a great, strong wind that split the mountains and broke the rocks. Then the mountain rolled and shook under his feet. After the earthquake there was a fire. After the fire, there was a still small voice. God moves in a quiet way. God uses small things to open mighty doors. That is what Elijah had to learn. God tells him to return to the north country because he has more work for him to do. He is to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria and Jehu, king over Israel. Then God tells him about his successor, Elisha. He also told Elijah that there was a remnant of seven thousand people who have not bowed to Baal. They were true to the God of Israel. God then prepares Elijah to die and will train Elisha to take his place.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Elijah Versus Baal, I Kings 18

 

I Kings 18 – Elijah Versus Baal,

 

God is ready to use Elijah. This man can now step out with boldness -he has learned that he is nothing and God is everything. He goes out to meet Ahab, and he is prepared.

There was a famine and much of the vegetation had dried up and the cattle could no longer find places to graze. So, Ahab and his servant, Obadiah set out to find pastureland. They went in different directions. Obadiah was a God-fearing man, and he had hidden one hundred prophets of God from Jezebel’s wrath. Obadiah met Elijah and Elijah told him to tell the king that he was here. Obadiah does not want to deliver Elijah’s message because he is afraid that Elijah will disappear before Ahab sees him. He was fearful for his own life. With Elijah’s assurance that he will certainly meet Ahab, Obadiah goes to the king. Elijah always tells it like it is.

Ahab blames Elijah for the problem in the land.  He accuses Elijah of stirring things up. Then Elijah challenges Ahab to a contest between him and the prophets of Baal. It was actually between the Lord and Satan. Outwardly it was a battle of Ahab and Jezebel with 450 prophets against Elijah.

The people of Israel have assembled at Carmel. They were pretending o worship the living and true God, but they were also worshiping Baal. Elijah says, “let us taste of the Lord and see whether His is good or not. If Baal is God, then let us worship him. And if he is not, then let’s kick him out.

The prophets of Baal put on quite a performance. Elijah sits and watches with a great deal of cynicism. Their actions almost become hysterical. All the people of Israel were watching. Elijah stood alone arrayed against the prophets of Baal.

Elijah is now going to have to depend on God. The altar of the Lord has been broken, and Elijah spends some time cementing it together. Then he made a trench around the altar, put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces. Finally, he ordered that four barrels be filled with water and poured on the sacrifice and on the wood.  Under his breath Elijah probably said, “Lord, if You don’t do it, it won’t be done.” “Let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.” Then the fire fell and consumed the sacrifice. Then he took all the prophets of Baal down to the Brook Kishon and slew them there.

When the people turned to God, the rain came, and the blessings came.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

God Trains Elijah I Kings 17

 

I Kings 17- God Trains Elijah

 

Elijah walked into the court of Ahab and Jezebel and gave them the latest weather report. He told them that it wasn’t going to rain unless he said so and that he was leaving town. He had no intention of saying when it would rain again. He was a man who spoke boldly.

God told Elijah to go to the desert by a little stream in which he was to drink from. His food was to be delivered by Ravens. All was well with Elijah until the stream began to dry up. Elijah then learned a valuable lesson; he saw that his life was a dried-up brook. God was telling Elijah that he was not a strong, big, rugged individual. You are no stronger than the dried-up brook. There will be no strength for you until the water of life flows through you.

Elijah had to learn that. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confuse the things which are mighty.” I Cor. 1:27.

Then Elijah got up and went to Zarephath where a widow woman was gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and asked her to bring him a vessel of water. After the widow told him her story, Elijah told her to go into the house and make the cake. He assured her she was not going to die. Her and Elijah lived off the flour bin for many days. This nothing became something.

We are nothing until the water of life and the bread of life has been put into us.

Later, we read that the widow’s son died, and Elijah made contact with the boy’s body three times “and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”

Until we recognize that we are nothing, God can do nothing with us. We need to recognize that the water of Life and the bread of Life is Jesus. His Holy Spirit must dwell within us for God to use us. We are nothing without Jesus in our life.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

 

Baasha, Elah, and Zimri. I Kings 16

 

I Kings 16 – Baasha, Elah and Zimri

 

Baasha reigned twenty-four years in the northern kingdom. He chose to share in the sins of the house of Jeroboam, he would also share in the severe penalty, even to the point of being devoured by dogs. Baasha slept with his fathers and Elah reigned two years and Zimri conspired against him and led a rebellion. When Elah got drunk, Zimri went in and killed him. Zimri began to reign but did not last but seven days. Another conspiracy and rebellion got rid of Zimri. He died when he burned the kings house with him in it.

 

Omri’s conspiracy succeeded in establishing him as king, another problem arose. A rival of Omri’s also claimed to be king – his name is Tibni. Omri put Tibni to death and then Omri reigned. He ruled for twelve years. He was a bad king and exceeded the other kings in his evil deeds. He slept with his fathers and was succeeded by his son Ahab.

 

Omri had been the most corrupt ruler up to that time, but his son Ahab exceeded him in evil and his wife, jezebel helped him with his evil ways. She was a mean woman. The combination of Ahab and Jezebel was the worst possible. Jezebel was the daughter of a king who was also a priest of Baal and who murdered his brother. She was strong-willed and possessed a dominant personality, but she had no moral sense. She was hardened into insensibility.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.