Ahab’s Payday

Transcript

GRS 2-99
2/17/2008
Ahab’s Payday
1 Kings 22
Gil Rugh

We come to the conclusion of First Kings in our study together so if you want to turn to First Kings Chapter 22, we are moving through the history of Israel and remember the focus in the Kings on the northern kings. In the Book of Chronicles you have more of a development of the southern kings. They cover the same history time framework but a little different focus on who gets the attention. We are coming to the conclusion of Ahab’s reign. Ahab, a godless king ruling over the northern kingdom if you the colored sheets of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel, you will notice Ahab is the eighth king in Israel and Jehoshaphat who will come into the picture in Chapter 22 as well is the fourth king in the southern kingdom Judah the capital in Jerusalem, the capital of the northern kingdom is at Samaria.

Ahab’s wife you remember is the infamous Jezebel and we are going to see an intermingling of the families of Jehoshaphat and Ahab in the time period that we are talking about and that will have disastrous results. The only woman to reign in either the northern or the southern kingdom will come out of this mingling of these two families, the family of Jehoshaphat, and the family of Ahab. The seventh ruler in Judah will be the infamous Athaliah, not as well known as her mother Jezebel, but a woman of equal godlessness. In many ways a sorry period in not only the northern kingdom but the southern kingdom although Jehoshaphat is a godly king; he just stumbled in some significant ways that have longer term impact.

Well, in First Kings Chapter 20, Ahab, king of Israel had two major battles with the king of Aram, Ben-Hadad whose capital is at Damascus. Aram being the region we know today as Syria. He had victories in both of those wars in Chapter 20, but the second victory turned out to be a disastrous defeat for Ahab. Just turn back to Chapter 20 verse 42, you remember after defeating the armies of Ben-Hadad, Ahab decides to enter into a covenant with Ben-Hadad, the enemy of Israel, the enemy of God, and it was God’s intention that Ben-Hadad be executed. Ben-Hadad is spared as a covenant with Ahab.

So in verse 42, the prophet tells Ahab, “Thus says the Lord because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction therefore your life shall go for his life, your people for his people.” I believe it was Robert Lee the southern Baptist preacher of the past generation had a famous sermon, I think he said he preached it over a thousand times; some of you have heard some of my sermons more than once, but none of them a thousand times. It was called “Payday Someday.” Good old style, old fashioned preaching if you ever get a chance to hear the tape of that sermon, but that’s what we come in Chapter 22, payday someday for Ahab. The prophecy of Chapter 20 verse 42 will be carried out because we are going to have another battle with the king of Aram, Ben-Hadad. Only in this third battle the prophecy of Ahab’s death will come to pass. He will die at the hands of this opposing army.

All right, the Chapter opens up three years past without between Aram and Israel. So between the battles of Chapter 20, the second battle there, and now this situation three years have gone by. In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. He comes down from Jerusalem to Samaria. Now geographically you might say he went up to Samaria since that’s north of Jerusalem, but you always go down from Jerusalem, remember, no matter which direction you are going. So he comes from Jerusalem to visit Ahab. On your sheet you will notice if you have that sheet with you under the kings of Judah, Jehoshaphat ruled from 873 to 848. He is king for an extended period of time and as I mentioned he is basically a godly king. However he has entered into a political alliance with Ahab and Jezebel by having his son who will be the next king over Judah, married the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Now for what we know of what you know of Ahab and Jezebel that can only be trouble.

Turn over to Second Chronicles, so after Kings is Chronicles and the Second Book of Chronicles Chapter 18 verse 1, “Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. Some years later he went down to visit at Samaria.” That’s where we pick up in Kings where he went down to visit Ahab but we are told here in Chronicles that he had allied himself with Ahab. So why is he going to visit. Well, they have a relationship now; they have now entered into an agreement and cemented that with the marriage of their children to one another.

While you are here look over in Chapter 21 of Second Chronicles and following Jehoshaphat the chapter opens up Chapter 21 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers. Jehoram his son became king in his place, verse 5, Jehoram was 32 years old when he became. He reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. Now he is king of Judah but he is conducting himself like the kings of the northern kingdom did, just as the house of Ahab did, why? For Ahab’s daughter was his wife and she becomes an ungodly influence in his life that will not excuse his guilt. Just like when one of your children does wrong and you know that some of his companions may have been influencing in the wrong well but companions contributed to it even though your child is still guilty for his own actions.

So this disaster while you are here you might as well jump to Chapter 22 Ahaziah, verse 2, is the son of Jehoram. So when Jehoram passes off the scene Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king. He reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri who is the father of Ahab. He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab. His mother was his counselor to do wickedly. So Ahab and Jezebel have a daughter Athaliah. Jehoshaphat the godly king of Judah gives his son in marriage to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and now you see an unraveling, this godless influence from the family of Ahab and Jezebel has an impact on the next king of Judah and the next king of Judah and then Athaliah will become the queen, ruling over Judah.

So little did Jehoshaphat know the terrible decision he made in a compromise would have such ongoing impact. We become then to First Kings Chapter 22. We read that Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to meet and visit with the king of Israel some years after their children had been joined in marriage, it’s not unusual while he is there visiting we are told the setting the king of Israel Ahab said to his servants do you know that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hands of the king of Aram. Back in Chapter 20, three years earlier when Ahab defeated Ben-Hadad and then instead of killing him entered into an agreement with him. Part of that agreement Ahab said I will return the cities I have taken including Ramoth Gilead, three years later he hasn’t returned it.

Now Ahab is saying you know three years have gone by, we still don’t have Ramoth Gilead we got to do something about this. So verse 4, he said to Jehoshaphat will you go with me to battle 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. Second Chronicles Chapter 18 puts it this way, “That Ahab enticed Jehoshaphat to go to battle with him.” Remember Ahab is quite a military commander and even though he is a wicked man he is a man of persuasive powers. So he talks Jehoshaphat into joining him. You see Jehoshaphat is now going to be involved in a battle aligning himself with Ahab the godless king of the northern kingdom. And they are going to go to war against Ben-Hadad, king of Aram.

Jehoshaphat does have some reservations. I mean he is a godly man, he knows something of the character of Ahab and Jezebel. He knows the ungodly character of the worship system of the northern ten tribes with their calf worship, with the worship of Baal that Jezebel has brought into the northern kingdom. So here is a man who in Chronicles 18:2 says was enticed by Ahab to join him and ends up saying I am fully committed, my army is your army as we just read. But he has some reservations and so he says in verse 5, “Moreover Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel please enquire first for the word of the Lord.” They have already agreed we will go to battle.

Now having entered into alliance by marriage sometime earlier with the family of Ahab now being down here visiting and hobnobbing with Ahab and then agreeing that he will put his army if you will at the disposal of Ahab and go to war with him, after having done all that then he says well let’s check it out with the Lord. I don’t know sometimes we make our plans and then we pray evidently looking just for approval. Now we give Jehoshaphat credit here, he wants to hear what the Lord has to say but you know what when all said and done he is just going to go ahead and do what he planned to do anyway as will Ahab.

So verse 6, the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, 400 men, and said to them shall I go up against Ramoth Gilead to battle or shall I refrain, they all said go up for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king. Now these are 400 prophets from the northern kingdom. They are not prophets of the Lord, the God of Israel. Jehoshaphat is uncomfortable, verse 7, Jehoshaphat said is there not a prophet of the Lord here we may enquire of him. I mean Jehoshaphat is a godly man. He knows that these false prophets don’t speak for the Lord. So having heard 400 prophets agree on the course of action he still is not comfortable. Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord that we may enquire of him? We know that priests are pretty scarce up there. Jezebel took care of most of them. Elijah remember, but Ahab said to Jehoshaphat there is yet one by whom we may enquire of the Lord but I hate him. Why does he hate him? Because he does not prophesize good concerning me but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah. You know isn’t it amazing, here is a prophet of the Lord here, I hate him. Why? He doesn’t say what I want to hear. In other words I want prophet to tell me what I want to hear. So I don’t want a prophet who tells me what the Lord is saying, I want a prophet who will act like he is speaking for God but really he is just telling me what I want to hear. Something has never changed.

Remember Paul wrote to Timothy in Second Timothy Chapter 4 and says there will come a time when they will endure sound teaching, healthy teaching but they will heed to themselves teachers having itching ears, teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. You know we conduct much of the Lord’s business today by polls and what do people like, what do people response to, what are they attracted to and then we try to develop ministries accordingly, that’s all that’s going on here. Ahab doesn’t like Micaiah, Micaiah doesn’t tell me nice things because I am sinner and I am always acting in rebellion against God. So he always speaks evil.

All right, the king said, Jehoshaphat said oh don’t say that maybe he won’t say something bad this time. Then the king of Israel said quickly bring Micaiah here. Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were each sitting on his throne arrayed in their robes at the threshold-floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria and all the prophets were prophesying before them. Here is this regal setting, you have two kings. One came to outdo the other so they each have brought their throne; they are sitting at the gate at Samaria with all their splendor and the entourage that has to be present. You have the 400 prophets, false prophets there and they are giving prophesies.

Verse 7, then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and says thus says the Lord with these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed. All the prophets were prophesying thus saying go up to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king. I mean if you are going to a poll here it is unanimous. We are all in agreement. We all can’t be wrong. And Zedekiah is quite impressive. He has horns of iron that he has made and this picture that you will be able to drive back your enemy with the power of those horns drawn from a picture in Deuteronomy 33:17, a similar kind of picture. It sounds impressive; I mean you think they are all lying.

Well, the messenger goes to get Micaiah verse 13 and he has some words for Micaiah. The messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying behold now the words of the prophets are uniformly favorable to the king, please let your word be like the word of one of them and speak favorably. Nobody wants to hear anything from the Lord they don’t want to hear. Don’t tell me bad things. Now all the prophets are saying good things, it’s unanimous, they are uniformly favorable. Don’t come and spoil the party. Doesn’t it amazing? You know just a reminder nothing changes. Sinners are sinners; they are not open to hear what God says. Micaiah said as the Lord lives what the Lord says to me that I shall speak. You call for me you are going to get the word of the Lord. If it agrees with them, it doesn’t agree with them, it doesn’t matter I am just going to tell you what the Lord says. When he came to the king, the king said to him Micaiah shall we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle or shall we refrain? Micaiah’s answer take him back because he goes along and says, go up and succeed for the Lord will give it into the hand of the hand.

Now in verse 14 he had said I will just say what the Lord says, now he says that but obviously he says it in such a way that Ahab recognizes that he is making a mockery of this. Go up, succeed, Lord will give it into your hand, and the way he does it Ahab knows he is mocking in this. For the king said to him how many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord? Well, he tells him the truth. So he said I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep which have no shepherd. The Lord said these have no master; let each of them return to his house in peace. Ahab understands very clearly.

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesize good concerning me but evil?” Common metaphor in the ancient near east was that of the shepherd and the sheep for the king and his people. It is used several times in The Old Testament when Moses prayed for his successor that was that the Lord would provide a shepherd for Israel so they won’t be like sheep without a shepherd in Numbers 27:17, Ezekiel 34 there is a scathing denunciation of the kings of Israel because they have been unfaithful in caring for God’s sheep, God’s people; unfaithful shepherds and so on.

So the description here all Israel scattered on the mountains, obviously the armies in disarray. They are like sheep that have no shepherd. There is no one to lead them. They have no master so the only thing to do is the army to dissipate. Everybody heads for home and he was pronouncing something’s happened to Ahab. The king is no longer able to lead the battle. Ahab understands the message from the Lord and it is not good and he is upset. Micaiah follows through, Micaiah said therefore hear the word of the Lord I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, what a striking thing, here is Jehoshaphat sitting on his throne, here is Ahab sitting on his throne in all their splendor, Micaiah comes and says I saw the Lord sitting on his throne. All the host of heaven standing by him on his right and his left. Here is Jehoshaphat and Ahab all their attendants gathered around their throne but Micaiah saw the Lord in throne with the host of the heaven gathered on his right and on his left.

The Lord said who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead. One said this while another said that, then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said I will entice him. The Lord said to him how? He said I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. Then he said you are to entice him and also prevail, go and do so. Now therefore behold the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets and the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you. What an awesome prophesy, an awesome word from the Lord? What an insight into the throne room of heaven? A unique glimpse into a behind the scenes activity of the Lord working in world events.

The host around the throne of the Lord is obviously angelic beings. The angelic beings here obviously include fallen angels as well as unfallen angels, demonic beings as well as the heavenly angels who did not sin. They have gathered before the throne of the Lord. Fallen angels come before him as well as unfallen angels. And on these occasions God gives permission to fallen angels to do certain things. So these false prophets had supernatural inspiration. It does come from the spirit world but it does not come from God, it comes from a demon, and they are given permission to go and put in the mouth of these false prophets a false prophecy to entice Ahab to go to battle at Ramoth-Gilead so he can die there.

Now be careful God is not causing these false prophets to sin because they are false prophets, they are men opposed to the true and living God. So they are servants of their father the Devil and they always do his will. You simply have here that God is controlling what the demon will do and the plan that will be carried out so it is within the plan of God. Also these false prophets will not make Ahab do what he wouldn’t want to do because when all said and done Ahab will have heard both from the false prophets and from the prophet of the Lord and Ahab will do what he wants to do. But behind the scene you see the sovereignty of God in it.

We have to look at a few passages. Go to Job perhaps the most familiar on this, just before The Book of Psalms, The Book of Job Chapter 1 verse 6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them.” I take it that is the setting, same kind of setting, at certain times evidently the angels fallen and unfallen are required to appear before the Lord in heaven before his throne gathered on his right and on his left I assume; the unfallen angels are on his right, the fallen angels are on his left. Satan is the key figure here. You see we have the angelic beings fallen angels as well as unfallen angels.

Chapter 2 verse 1, “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord.” So this is a later time, you have a repeat, this evidently goes on according to the determination of there are times when angelic beings have to present themselves in the throne room of heaven. Satan came also among them to present himself before Lord. Even though Satan is the focal point in Job I take it his demonic beings are there and we see one of them coming to the fore in First Kings Chapter 22.

Turn over to Psalm just after Job, Psalm 89, look at verse 5, “The heavens will praise your wonders o Lord, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones for who in the sky is comparable to the Lord. Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord, a God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones awesome above all those who are around him. O Lord God of host who is like you, o might one.” Here you have seen in the midst of his holy angels that surround the throne that are in the presence of his throne in glory. Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord?

Look over in Psalm 103 verse 19, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens. His sovereignty rules overall.” You see even the sin of fallen angels; the sin of sinful men accomplishes the purposes of God. He doesn’t cause them to sin but his sovereignty rules overall, their sin never frustrates his purposes. So Ahab will choose again to rebel against the prophecy from Micaiah and he will go to his death even as God has planned. Bless the Lord you who his angels mighty and strength to perform his work obeying the voice of his word. Bless the Lord all you his host, you who serve him doing his will. A specific occasion where Satan again is in the presence of the Lord comes at the end of The Old Testament next to the last book of The Old Testament, Zechariah.

We are going to Chapter 3 of Zechariah, next to the last book of The Old Testament, great prophecy of the prophet Zechariah Chapter 3 verse 1, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him and the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you Satan, indeed the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you, is this not a brand plucked from the fire”. Joshua was clothed with filthy garments standing before the angel. He spoke and said remove the filthy garments from him. I have taken your iniquity away from you, clothe you with festal ropes.” You see the presence here of Satan before the Lord. Why he is there? He is standing to accuse him.

Similar scene that we had in Job, what did he do? He accused Job before the Lord. So similar setting here, same kind of situation again and Revelation Chapter 12, Satan and the demons I take it still to this day at their appointed times come with the angels to present themselves before the Lord, and the activity of Satan has not changed, he still accuses God’s people before the throne. In Revelation Chapter 12, we are in the middle of the coming seventieth week of Daniel, the seven year tribulation. There is war in heaven. Michael the archangel and his angels war against the dragon, verse 7, there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels wage war. They were not strong enough; there was no longer place for them found in heaven. In other words the dragon and his angels lose access to heaven. Satan and his fallen angels, the angels who followed him in his rebellion, lost their position in heaven.

The anointed cherub that covered the throne of God, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28. He doesn’t have that exalted position but he still has his access. In the middle of that seventieth week of Daniel he loses access. He is cast down from heaven to the earth. The great dragon was thrown down. The serpent of old who was called the Devil and Satan who deceives the whole world, he was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying now the salvation and the power in the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

So you see that line there is not a lot unfolded about what is going on in the spirit world because that’s not primarily where we function. We are influenced by that and impacted by it but our responsibility is in this realm. We know the Devil works and tries to delude people, deceive people, he accuses God’s people. Paul wrote to Timothy in his first letter of First Timothy and warned him about doctrines of demons that infiltrate the church. So this activity of the Devil goes on. He is called the God of this world and he has access to heaven. That’s one of the terrible things about our sin; we all want to give any excuse for him to accuse us. The fact that Christ is there at his right hand and he is the propitiation for our sins. He is our salvation and the security since Hebrew 7:25 says “He ever lives to make intercession for us.” Our salvation is secure for a time in eternity.

Come back to First Kings Chapter 22. So a unique insight that is given only in a few passages in Scripture to what is going in the spirit world behind activities that take place in the physical realm. Disaster has been prophesized. Verse 24, Zedekiah the son of Kenaanah, remember that false prophet who had the iron horns who had such a striking presentation and it’s like with these horns you will drive back your enemy and defeat him, he came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said how did the spirit of the Lord passed from me to speak to you. Micaiah said behold you shall on that day when you enter in a room to hide yourself. You will know who have the Spirit of the Lord in the day that you are hiding for your life. Whatever told when this is fulfilled may have been in the days of Jehu who will be used to bring judgment on the family of Ahab and those associated with him.

Then the king of Israel said Jehoshaphat we ought to reconsider maybe this isn’t a good idea, no? He takes Micaiah and return him to Amnon the governor of the city to Joash the king’s son and thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water till I return safely.” You see the word of the Lord doesn’t make any difference to Ahab. Sadly it doesn’t make any difference to Jehoshaphat on this occasion. Both these kings are going off to war, why did they even want to have a prophet from the Lord come? What was Jehoshaphat’s motivation? You know a good intention, I am sort of out on a limb here I have already committed myself to Ahab, I don’t want to go back on that I mean our kids are married with one another. I mean so why call for the prophet of the Lord? Sadly it makes no sense but that’s what they do? Micaiah said if indeed you return safely the Lord has not spoken by me.

He said listen all you people this word if Ahab returns from battle then I haven’t truly spoken from the Lord. Remember the mark of a true prophet, it comes fulfilled. What he said comes to pass. Ahab is not coming back from battle; you cannot escape the word of the Lord. You can choose to reject it; you cannot escape from it. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Ahab will die at Ramoth Gilead. That’s the way it will be; God has spoken. Now you can put the prophet who brought the message from the Lord in prison and feed him bread and water, you can do that. But you can’t escape the word of the Lord. It will overtake Ahab.

All right, we have to go to battle. Verse 29, now you note here remember that spirit that stood before the throne of the Lord and was given permission to go and deceive the prophets to entice Ahab didn’t make Ahab do what he didn’t want to do. Ahab but wants to do what he wants to do. He has all his prophets come just to confirm to him what he wants to do, right? He already talks to Jehoshaphat about going to battle. He only brought the prophets in because Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from prophet. So Ahab’s mind is made up. So he cannot say well the Devil made me do it. You know the Devil works to encourage me in my rebellion as a fallen being but he doesn’t make me do what I don’t want to do. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah will now begin to Ramoth Gilead.

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, I mean Ahab is a cunning man to the end, he has rejected the prophecy of Micaiah, but he is troubled there could be some truth in it. So he says to Jehoshaphat I will disguise myself and go into the battle but you put on your robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle. Now the king of Aram had commanded the 32 captains of his chariots saying do not fight with small or great but with the king of Israel alone. So when Ben-Hadad comes he knows cut off the head of the snake and that will take care of everything else. Now that tantamount to you concentrate on one goal, you get Ahab. Now Ahab comes out with his army, they are only looking for one king and there is only person there and the king comes out as a king and he is in a visible place with his armies going out before him. Naturally the leaders of Ben-Hadad’s army assume that the king would be Ahab. They didn’t think it was Jehoshaphat. Ahab thinks I am just out here as another soldier. So he is out into battle in his chariot. None of the enemy are looking for him. So they go after Jehoshaphat.

So verse 32, when the captains of the chariot saw Jehoshaphat they said surely it is the king of Israel, meaning the king of the northern tribe Ahab. They turned aside to fight against him. Jehoshaphat cried out when the captains of the chariot saw it was not the king of Israel they turned back from pursuing him. So Jehoshaphat’s crying out and it becomes clear that’s not Ahab. So remember they are not supposed to continue chasing him. They got to back and find Ahab. Well, it is hard to find Ahab in the middle of this battle out here because he just looks like another charioteer out here in the battle.

So I guess he got away with it but a certain man drew his bow at random. You know he is going to launch an arrow in the air. Now these arrows come down strike what they may and struck the king of Israel, just happened it landed at that chariot and you know what it just happened to be right where the arrow could get through the armor. So now he is mortally wounded. He said to the driver of his chariot, turn around take me out of the fight for I am severely wounded. The battle raged that day. The king was propped up in his chariot in front of the Arameans and died at evening. Now here Ahab is a godless wicked man but he is a valiant military man. He does not leave the battle. He has to come out of the fray if you will, but he doesn’t leave the scene of the battle. He has them propped him up in his chariot because his visible presence will keep his army from just turning and running and it just becomes a great massacre. We give him credit for the military man that he is. He dies humanly speaking courageously, but he does a wicked godless man. He died at evening.

So there is safety because they will break off the battle at night. The armies will regroup but what this will do is give his army now recognizing word will spread, the blood ran down into the bottom of the chariot, then a cry passed through the army close to sunset saying, “Every man to his city, every man to his country.” In other words, as evening comes the battle now is broken off words spread among the army of Israel the king is dead. There is no sense in fighting for Ramoth Gilead any longer. Now under the cover of night the army dissipates. So what Ahab by having them prop him up in his chariot and not have his army just turn and flee during the daytime he kept it from being a great massacre of his army when he dies at night they have the cover of night so next morning when the Arameans looked the army of Israel is gone. There is nobody to fight and Ramoth Gilead is still in their hands, of course.

So the king died and was brought to Samaria and they buried the king in Samaria. Two noteworthy things here, the end of verse 35, the blood from the wound, Ahab’s wound, ran down into the bottom of the chariot. So he is propped up here but you know he is bleeding and the bleeding is puddling in the bottom of the chariot. Well, they bring him to Samaria with his chariot. He is dead. So they will bury him in Samaria. They take the chariot to wash it by the pool of Samaria and you wash out the chariot, you wash out the blood and the blood mix with the water out on the ground and you know the wild dogs of that region they come and they lick up the blood. They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up the blood. We are told this is where the harlots bathe themselves. The dogs licked up his blood according to the word of the Lord which he spoke.

Back in Chapter 20 verse 42, “Thus says the Lord because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction therefore your life shall go for his life, your people for his people.” Ahab has died, Chapter 21 verse 21, remember Ahab took the vineyard of Naboth, his wife Jezebel had Naboth killed under the testimony of two false witnesses. So Elijah came with a prophecy to Ahab, Ahab had already been told he was going to have to give his life, now Elijah elaborated in verse 19, “Thus says the Lord have you murdered and also taken possession. You shall thus speak to him saying thus says the Lord in the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.” Remarkable the detail. You know some people think that God’s word can get changed over time. Later revelation changes earlier revelation, it never happens. Remember Jesus said not one jot, not one title can pass away until it is fulfilled. So it is not enough for Ahab to die, not enough for his blood to be poured out; the dogs have to lick up his blood at the same place where they licked up the blood of Naboth.

How did God arrange all these? You understand as we read in the Psalm he is in throne and his sovereignty reigns over all. You know you get your globe and look at this place where all this is taking place, he is controlling things going on in China and other parts of the world, you know, down to the smallest detail also. This is the God we have. The word of God has overtaken Ahab putting Micaiah in prison. Does in prison the word of God I mean as though Ahab could restrain the word of God by putting the spokesman of the word of God in prison. It could not happen. So Ahab has passed off the scene. Ahaziah, his son became king in his place.

Now the chapter concludes with just an overview of matters without any great details. Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. So you have a little overview of Jehoshaphat’s reign. If you want the details, you have to go to Chronicles and read there. Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king. He reigned 25 years in Jerusalem. Verse 43, he walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from doing right in the sight of the Lord.

Verse 44, Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel. When it says that he didn’t turn aside from doing right in the sight of the Lord means the general overview of his life is he was faithful to the Lord. He didn’t abandon the Lord halfway through his life and begin to worship idols and so on. It doesn’t mean that everything that he did was what he should have done like having his son marry the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, making an alliance with Ahab.

Come back over just quickly to Second Chronicles Chapter 19, this is just after the account of the death of Ahab that is not recorded in Kings, in verse 34 of Chapter 18 the battle raged that day, Second Chronicles 18:34, “The battle raged that day, the king of Israel propped himself up in the chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening and at sunset he died.” You see Chronicles doesn’t go into the details of the fulfillment of the prophecies regarding Ahab because Chronicles is more occupied with the kings of Judah. That’s where we get fill in. Now Chapter 19 opens up picking up with Jehoshaphat. In the account in Kings it is just overviews. Jehoshaphat reigns for 25 years. He began to reign at 35 and reigned for 25 years and he was faithful to the Lord. Here you get more details. Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring on yourself wrath from the Lord.”

So you see there is rebuke here for what Jehoshaphat has done even though it is not recorded in Kings. What are you doing aligning yourself with godless Ahab? You are going to bring the wrath of the Lord on you if you keep this up. But the Lord sees good in your heart. I mean you have done foolish things, you have done what you shouldn’t, but you have set your heart to seek the Lord. There is stumble there. So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, verse 4, and went out again among the people and he institutes reforms and he does good things, but he has done some things that will bring terrible damage on Judah in coming days. So it is not like wow at least you know that’s behind me, there are consequences that will be born out with his son and his grandson and the nation who will spend years under the reign of godless Athaliah because of the actions of Jehoshaphat.

Back in First Kings, you are going to read the overview the rest of it tells what Jehoshaphat did, he made ships to go to Tarshish but they were broken up in a storm that was another act of rebellion and so in the Chronicles account you find out that that was the judgment of God to bring destruction on his navy if you will or his merchant ships because he did what he shouldn’t have done and so on.

Just a few lessons as we wrap up this chapter. The first one, the one we have been emphasizing the people of God should not be entangled with the ungodly. Jehoshaphat doesn’t belong in alliance with Ahab. We just read that in Second Chronicles 19:2. He has to be rebuked by the prophet. You see what happens if you get entangled in that and pretty soon it sounds like he is going to be a godly influence, he is calling for a prophet of the Lord Micaiah comes but you know what somehow those kinds of entanglements when the prophet Micaiah speaks Jehoshaphat goes and does what Ahab wants to do, not what Micaiah says from the Lord. So the people of God should not be entangled with the ungodly. Come out among them and be separate, says the Lord. It is planned for his people.

Secondly, which I mentioned earlier, we should seek the Lord before we make our commitments. I mean Jehoshaphat should have been before the Lord before he goes and gets entangled with Ahab. After he has made his commitments he has got a marriage commitment between involvement with his son and Ahab’s daughter then he has made a commitment to bring the armies of Israel into battle with Ahab then after he does all these things that entangled him then he says let’s seek the Lord, see what the Lord has to say. You know what he has entangled himself and set himself on a course when he does hear what the Lord has to say. So first thing is let’s find out what the Lord said.

Let’s analyze carefully what the Lord says. So we are not making adjustments down the road and excuses but determine we won’t start down a road where the Lord wouldn’t have us go. Sometimes we are praying about things and the Lord has already answered we shouldn’t even be involved in the first place. So just don’t do it; you don’t have to pray about that. It is settled, I looked into the word of the Lord and the Lord has spoken and I am not going that road. Thirdly, men don’t want to hear what has to say, Chapter 22 verses 6 and 8. I mean it is not a matter Ahab doesn’t know where to go find out what the Lord says, he doesn’t want to hear what the Lord has to say. I don’t want to have Micaiah come; he always says bad things. Don’t tell me about sin, don’t tell me about judgment. Don’t tell me what I am doing is wrong. I don’t want to hear it; I don’t want to hear it.

Like people today I don’t go to church to hear bad things. I don’t go to church to be condemned. I don’t go to church to hear I am a sinner. I got enough trouble in my life. Some things don’t change. Men don’t want to hear what God has to say. False prophets and teachers can be persuasive. I mean these 400 false prophets they are persuasive. They evidently had at least a certain impact on Jehoshaphat. He knows they are not genuine but he takes the armies of Israel into war in alliance with Ahab. I mean do you think that Zedekiah with his horns of iron made a point. I guess maybe just maybe Micaiah is not right. I don’t know what he is thinking. So be careful, don’t expose yourself to false teaching. You know we underestimate the Devil. You understand there are demonic beings involved here. I don’t want to sit down in the Devil’s camp and say I bet you can’t entice me. I bet you can’t confuse me. I find that is not biblical I am not part of it. I am out. I was in a program of study for a while.

I went into the dean’s office one day and told him I can’t stay. Oh why not? We love having you in the program. I have too many areas that I disagree with you. That’s all right, we love having diversity in our program. No, you don’t understand I am afraid if I stay I will come out like you. That’s the problem. You know you don’t want to think I am stronger, smarter than the Devil. I realize I have the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God tells me not to get involved in certain things, right? Not to be open to it. Not to expose myself to it. False prophets, false teachers can be persuasive. They have that supernatural resource. I don’t want to try to deal with the doctrine of demons. I just hold it up to the light of Scripture and if it is revealed to be wrong I am not going to sit here and listen to it and be taught. Pretty soon I would be getting to thinking oh maybe he has a point; you know maybe I ought to rethink that, you know maybe, maybe. Pretty soon you would be like Jehoshaphat. There I am out there with Ahab where I have no business being.

Another point you cannot hide from the word of God, nobody outruns God’s word, nobody hides from God’s word. Ahab’s best disguise can’t keep him from being overtaken by the word of God. He will die in that battle disguised, just an arrow shot in the air at random, just happens that it hit at the joint in the armor. You cannot outrun God’s word, you can’t hide from God’s word. It will come about as God says. The word of the Lord is always accomplished. When all said and then Ahab died in the battle and the dogs are licking up his blood where they licked up the blood of Naboth. You know we can just be assured every single thing that God has said will take place. I am just sure of the things haven’t happened is I am of the things I am reading that place in past history because it is the same God. Just as sure as he said it, it is as good as done. That’s why we have the prophetic past where often the prophets gave their prophecies of the future in the past tense. When God says it, it is settled.

Let’s pray together. Thank you Lord for your grace. Thank you for your word. Thank you for the history that’s unfolded for us so that we might learn and take these lessons to heart. Lord may we not be dull of hearing, may we not have closed hearts and mind. You know what you say as we sit here. Lord how much like Ahab we can become, how much like Jehoshaphat sit and hear the word of the Lord and go out and disregard it. Lord may we be a people who hear and obey. We pray in Christ’s name, amen.