Tag: Ahab and Jezebel

Refined Like Silver

2 Kings 9-10    

Psalm 66           

2 Corinthians 6

-Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)

Psalms 66:8-10(NKJV)

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

9 Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to be moved.

10 For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

There is a theme going through all the sections  we are reading  today.  We are slaves to sin before we receive Christ, but then after, we can walk with righteous new life before our Father.  Our hearts need to become like the heart of Christ and not the heart of disobedience which is what we had before we became children of God.  Silver is refined by heat, a process carried out multiple times.  Our heart needs continual refining towards the goal of becoming like Christ.  We don’t start out that way and the lifetime fight with the deceitful heart is something all of us will have with our walk with God.

Genesis 8:21(NLT) And the LORD was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.

The nation of Israel had as king Ahab and the queen his wife Jezebel who led their nation into a continual and total worship of Baal.  This was the time of Elijah and then Elisha.  Remember the contest on the mountain between the prophets of Baal and the prophet of God Elijah?  This became a time of such idolatry in the 10 tribes’ nation of Israel that God calls out and then sends Jehu, one of the commanders in Ahab’s army, to settle the situation.  God has the prophet tell Jehu that he will be king, but he must kill Ahab and all his family.  He also was directed to destroy all the temples and prophets of Baal.

2 Kings 10:25-31(NLT) Then Jehu’s men went into the innermost fortress of the temple of Baal. 26 They dragged out the sacred pillar used in the worship of Baal and burned it. 27 They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.

28 In this way, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel. 29 He did not, however, destroy the gold calves at Bethel and Dan, with which Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin.

30 Nonetheless the LORD said to Jehu, “You have done well in following my instructions to destroy the family of Ahab. Therefore, your descendants will be kings of Israel down to the fourth generation.” 31 But Jehu did not obey the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.

Many questions come to mind as I read the passage.  Why does God choose Jehu to become king when God knows that Jehu will not settle the issue of the golden calf worship that was started by Jeroboam.  This was after Solomon died and the nation split.  The refining mission of Jehu on the nation of Israel is partial but not complete.  The true worship of Yahweh would include going to the temple at Jerusalem three times per year and apparently Jehu did not want to let the people go there.  Instead, he kept the worship of the calves which the people were told that they should do instead of going to the feasts at the temple.  His desire to control the people outweighed a decision to follow God’s law.  Further refinement will be on the way for the nation of Israel.

Also, why does the whole family, children and servants of Ahab and Jezebel have to die in the process?  Worship of Baal and the Astaroth was a fertility worship that included a great deal of activities that would be shocking to us even to today.  (Or maybe not.)  When the king of Israel led the people to do evil continually the smell of their sacrifices and altars was so putrefying to God that He sent the ultimate judgement against their whole family. By eliminating the many sons of Ahab there would be no palace intrigue against Jehu and his sons as kings in Israel.  The deaths of so many that did evil is truly a refining process. 

It was a bloody, violent and gruesome ending for them and especially Jezebel who ends up crushed and eaten by dogs to leave only a few of her bones.  The pit they dug for others is where they died.

Psalms 9:15-16(NLT) The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.

Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.

16 The LORD is known for his justice.

The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

Why does God execute such judgement against people in the Old Testament time?

Should we look for this judgement today against those that do evil?  

The New Testament brings us the teaching of Jesus and the apostles and prophets of the early church.  Now we are admonished to love our enemies, to turn our cheek, and to give grace to all we meet.  Sometimes this is used by Christians to justify a completely pacifist view.  Certainly, Jesus does not call or lead us to dominate our world by military power or war.  But the viewpoint we should have should be to see that sometimes evil is so great that God will lift his hand of protection against those people and the destruction of war and violence will come from this time of unbelief.  They will be refined by falling into their own pit that they have dug, and captured by the net they have set.  Unbelief and greed coming from evil leaders is certainly the source of most conflicts in history and in the world today.  Evil and deceit come from the heart of man to do evil continuously and leaders who lead from this deceit are responsible for most misery and war. 

We have no promise of peace in this administration of grace but are admonished by God not to be the cause of the disharmony or conflict.  We are to be light in the world showing others the way to Christ and God.  If our country and leaders lead us into wars which are based on greed and deceit there may be Christians caught up in these conflicts.  The records of the Word show many times the strength of warriors who do righteous battle for nations and we are certainly not immune from war today.  

In Hebrews 11 we find a list of men who battled for their nation from the weakness of being the hand of the army of God.  They include David, Gideon, Barak, and others.  These are armies which depend on the living God to help them to victory and show us a pattern of righteous action. Not armies dependent on their own strength.

What is it to fight from weakness and how does that work?

Our 2 Corinthian reading also shows us further refining the silver of our lives.  Yokes of livestock need to be closely matched in order to get the best effort for their work.  You can pair a small horse with a large ox, but the results will be a very crooked plowing path.  In the same way God tells us to look to our family in the church for those to be paired up in our work.  We will be both pulling in the same way in the same direction.  Our efforts will work together for righteousness,

2 Corinthians 6:11-16(NKJV) O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

Leviticus 26:12-13(NLT) I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.

Do you see yourself and the church today as the chosen people of God?

Our warfare as the church today, we pray, will not be with the weapons of this world, but our national identity is the true people of God and our weapons are spiritual.  Our authority is established with God as our Father and leader and any state mandated statues must be subservient to this authority.  God calls for us to not be unequally yoked with the unbeliever.  We should not be yoked to the sin and passion of this world.  We need to support and strengthen each other in our spiritual family and relationships. God has not delivered us from the slavery to sin of this world for us to willingly go back to its authority. We cannot change the world’s violence in every situation but rather we teach and preach Christ the prince of peace to all we meet.  God continues to refine us as silver in our thoughts and actions when we trust Him.

Reflection Questions – see above and …

Has this discussion changed your view of the conflicts of this world?

Prayer

Father God, we lift all our people that may be involved in the conflicts of this world.  We ask Your protection for all of us from the evil that is so pervasive.  Continue to refine our lives to become like Christ and help us to act from our new hearts.  Give us today the bread of our need and deliver us from the pit others have dug for us.  Thank you Father for all that Your do to protect and keep us in every way.  In the precious name of Jesus Christ, we pray this day.

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The Cost of Ignoring Truth

1 Kings 21–22

Psalm 63

2 Corinthians 1

-devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

1 Kings ends with two powerful reminders:

God sees injustice.
And truth does not change simply because people refuse to listen to it.

Chapter 21 tells the heartbreaking story of Naboth’s vineyard.

King Ahab wanted Naboth’s land, but Naboth refused to sell it because it was part of his family inheritance under God’s law. Ahab responded like a spoiled child — sulking, pouting, and lying in bed angry because he could not have what he wanted.

Then Jezebel stepped in.

She arranged false accusations, manipulated the legal system, and had Naboth executed so Ahab could seize the vineyard.

It is one of the clearest examples in Scripture of powerful people abusing authority for personal gain.

And God saw every bit of it.

Elijah confronted Ahab with devastating words of judgment. Yet something remarkable happened afterward: Ahab humbled himself temporarily, and God delayed part of the judgment.

Even here we see God’s mercy mixed with justice.

But chapter 22 may be even more sobering.

Ahab wanted reassurance before going into battle. So hundreds of prophets told him exactly what he wanted to hear:

“Go, for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

Only one prophet, Micaiah, told the truth.

And everybody hated him for it.

Ahab openly admitted:

“I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad.”

That sentence reveals something deeply dangerous about human nature.

Many people do not actually want truth.
They want reassurance.
Validation.
Comfort.
Approval.

They want spiritual voices that confirm their desires rather than challenge their hearts.

False prophets often become popular because they remove the discomfort of repentance.

Micaiah stood alone and spoke the truth anyway.

And he was imprisoned for it.

Ahab ignored the warning, disguised himself in battle to avoid danger, and still died exactly as God had foretold. A random arrow struck him between the armor plates.

No disguise could hide him from God.
No political power could override truth.
No amount of denial could change reality.

That is one of the major themes running throughout 1 Kings:

Human leaders repeatedly fail.
Human wisdom repeatedly collapses.
Human kingdoms repeatedly drift toward corruption.

But God remains faithful.

And despite all the darkness in these chapters, Scripture continues pointing forward to a better future — a righteous King who will judge perfectly, defend the innocent, and establish true justice forever.

Unlike Ahab, that coming King will not abuse power.
Unlike false prophets, He will speak truth completely.
Unlike earthly kingdoms, His reign will not end in corruption and death.

That is where the story of Scripture is heading.

Toward resurrection.
Toward restoration.
Toward the Kingdom of God.

Three Things to Remember
  1. God sees injustice.

Naboth’s murder was not hidden from the LORD.

  1. Truth is often unpopular.

Micaiah was hated precisely because he spoke honestly.

  1. Human kingdoms fail, but God’s Kingdom will endure.

Ahab’s reign ended in death, but God’s promises continued forward.

The end of 1 Kings leaves us with an important question:

When truth confronts us, will we humble ourselves before God…

Or only listen to voices that tell us what we already want to hear?

Reflection Questions

  1. What do you do with truth that contradicts what you want to hear? Give some examples.
  2. Where do you see injustice? How might God want you to respond?

Prayer

Dear God – Thank you for your faithfulness! Give me a discerning heart that knows truth and stands strong against lies and injustice. Thank you for your love and guidance today and your Coming Kingdom where truth and righteousness will reign forever.

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A Nation of Halfheartedness

*1 Kings 15–16

Psalm 62

1 Corinthians 14

-Devotion by Brian Froehlich (IL)

As these chapters unfold, the kings begin to blur together.

One ruler rises.
Another falls.
One dynasty begins.
Another ends violently.

1 Kings chapters 15–16 read almost like a tragic cycle repeating itself over and over again. Many of the kings are summarized with painfully similar words:

“He did evil in the eyes of the LORD…”

Again and again, leaders repeated the same sins, especially the idolatry introduced by Jeroboam. The nation became spiritually unstable because its leaders continually drifted away from wholehearted devotion to God.

Yet in the middle of this decline, a few bright moments appear.

King Asa of Judah was not perfect, but he genuinely sought reform. He removed idols, confronted corruption, and tried to turn the nation back toward God. Scripture says:

“Asa’s heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.”

That phrase stands out.

Not because Asa was flawless.
But because his heart belonged to God.

There is a profound difference between perfection and faithfulness.

Some people become so discouraged by their failures that they stop pursuing God altogether. Others excuse their sin by claiming nobody is perfect anyway. But Scripture repeatedly points us toward something deeper: a sincere heart that keeps turning back toward God even after stumbling.

Unfortunately, most of Israel’s kings did not do that.

Instead, spiritual compromise became normalized. Idolatry became politically convenient. Corruption became routine. Violence became common. Kings assassinated one another, families were wiped out, and power struggles consumed the nation.

One of the saddest realities in Scripture is how quickly people can become accustomed to spiritual darkness.

What once shocked the conscience slowly starts feeling normal.

That danger still exists today.

A culture can slowly lose its moral compass.
A family can drift spiritually one compromise at a time.
A believer can become numb to things that once troubled the heart deeply.

And usually, it happens gradually.

That is why these chapters feel so repetitive. The repetition itself is part of the warning.

Sin unaddressed tends to multiply.

By the end of chapter 16, Ahab rises to power — and Scripture describes him as worse than the kings before him. He married Jezebel, aggressively promoted Baal worship, and led the nation even further into rebellion.

The spiritual condition of Israel was collapsing.

Yet even then, God had not abandoned His larger plan.

Prophets would still speak.
Truth would still be proclaimed.
And God’s promise of a coming righteous King still remained alive.

Human governments repeatedly fail because human hearts are broken. But the Bible points forward to a future Kingdom ruled by a King who will not tolerate corruption, injustice, or idolatry.

That future hope matters in a world where compromise often feels normal.

Three Things to Remember
  1. Faithfulness matters more than perfection.

Asa was flawed, but his heart remained committed to God.

  1. Sin becomes dangerous when it feels normal.

Spiritual compromise often grows gradually over time.

  1. God’s plan continues even in dark times.

Corrupt leaders could not stop God from moving history toward His coming Kingdom.

The repeated failures of Israel’s kings remind us of something important:

Humanity does not merely need better politicians, better systems, or better laws.

We need transformed hearts.

And ultimately, we need the righteous King that God has promised.

Reflection Questions

  1. Who do you know whose heart could be described as Asa’s – “fully committed to the LORD all his life”?
  2. What about your heart? What percentage of your heart would you, or those closest to you, say is committed to the LORD? Is there one certain part of your heart that has difficulty becoming or remaining fully committed to the Lord?
  3. What can be done to increase your faithful commitment to the Lord? What could be helpful in creating this change?
  4. What assurance do you have when going through dark times?

Prayer

Dear Great & Mighty God, You are worthy of my whole heart. Forgive me for the days I come to You with halfheartedness. Help me hold nothing back but be fully committed to You, Your Son and Your wonderful plan.

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Still Not Alone

1 Kings 20-21

1 Kings 20 13 NIV sgl

I neglected to mention at the end of yesterday’s “You are Not Alone” devotion that one excellent way to battle the weary, lonely depression that sometimes falls upon those who speak for God is to find a partner in ministry – work together with one you can mentor.  At the end of chapter 19 Elijah found Elisha.  Some Bible scholars suggest they worked together about 6 years, but I found another that thought it could have been closer to 23 years.  Regardless of the length of time, I believe it is safe to say the apprenticeship was a mutual blessing to both Elijah and Elisha – and likely multiplied the work that either one could have done on their own.  Elisha will have a very long and powerful ministry for the LORD, but what would it have looked like if he had not had the opportunity to serve under Elijah?  Who are you serving under?  Who are you mentoring?

It is interesting that in the next chapter neither Elijah nor Elisha are mentioned, but at least twice a prophet or son of a prophet speaks to evil King Ahab – once to tell him how to be victorious over the attacking Ben-Hadad of Aram, and once to reprimand him for being too leniant on Ben-Hadad when God delivered him into Ahab’s hand.  This is further proof that Elijah was indeed not the only one left to stand for and speak for God.  And proof, that while Elijah had very faithfully performed many deeds and sermons for God – God did not need Elijah.  The Almighty can call any man or woman – or rock – to work for Him.  I do believe when the city walls fall down on 27,000 fleeing enemy soldiers God’s rocks were at work – perhaps others would have merely called it a coincidence or an earthquake (1 Kings 20:30).

It can truly be amazing who and what God uses – even the evilest king who had ever lived.  Sure, enough, when God wanted to show HIS strength against the advancing foreign army – He tells Ahab the winning battle plans through a prophet and Ahab somewhat surprisingly listens and follows along – to a point.  And, in the last chapter of today’s reading we will even see Ahab repentant – for a time.  There is no heart God can’t soften and change or use for His glory.

But, you are just asking for trouble if you choose to hang out with the bad girls (or in Ahab’s case, his wicked wife).   They have done a lot of evil things but how many commandments do they manage to break when Ahab decides he would love to have a vegetable garden for his second palace?  Once, again, sin snowballs.  One leads to another and it grows larger and larger. With serious consequences.

Following the violent murder of innocent Naboth and the stealing of his property, Elijah is sent to condemn Ahab and Jezebel and foretell their own violent deaths – only partially put on hold by Ahab’s repentant spirit.  Isn’t it good to know that God still sees the  cruelty and injustice of the world today and His timeline is put in place to make all things right.  There will be a time when all humanity meets their judge and will be held accountable for all their deeds and the condition of their hearts.  Until that day may we faithfully carry His word – knowing that we are not alone!

Marcia Railton

 

Today’s Bible reading can be read or listened to at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Kings+20-21&version=NIV

Tomorrow’s Bible reading will be 1 Kings 22 & 2 Chronicles 18 as we continue the seekgrowlove.com 2020 Chronological Bible Reading Plan