20 April

Bible in 365 Days                                            

1 Kings 21-22

1 Kings 21

This is a story in the private life of Ahab. Next to his own broad and rich possessions was a vineyard, the inheritance of a man who by comparison with Ahab was poor. Naboth, loyal to the law of God, and standing within his own personal rights, declined to part with his vineyard. Once more we read that the king was sad and angry. But again his heart was not right with God, and consequently he lacked the one sufficient inspiration of rectitude in conduct toward his brother.

His brooding sadness arrested the attention of Jezebel, and he left himself in her hands. The result was the dastardly crime of Naboth's murder.

Then we see Ahab in Naboth's vineyard, apparently in possession. Men, however, do not so easily possess the things they obtain by unrighteous methods. Right there in the coveted garden, with startling abruptness, the rough prophet of Horeb, Elijah, stood before Ahab. One can imagine the mixture of terror and passion in the voice of Ahab as he cried, "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" Here again Elijah rose to the dignity of the true prophetic office as in words that must have scorched the inner soul of Ahab he pronounced the doom for his terrible wrongdoing. Filled with fear, Ahab assumed the external attitude of penitence, which in all likelihood was as selfish as was his sin. Yet even this was enough to stay the hand of judgment for the moment.

God never smites while the faintest chance remains.

1 Kings 22

The final movement in the downfall of Ahab is here chronicled. Jehoshaphat visited Ahab, who suggested the alliance against the king of Syria. Jehoshaphat suggested an appeal to Jehovah. Ahab produced certain prophets of his own. Jehoshaphat sought a true prophet of the Lord and found Micaiah, who predicted the king's defeat. Evidently in the heart of Ahab there was a suspicion that, much as he hated him, Micaiah was right. By a mean and cowardly act he put Jehoshaphat in the conspicuous place of the battle. An arrow, however, shot at a venture, found its true mark, and Ahab was slain. Thus ended the personal career of the worst man who ever occupied the throne of the chosen people.

The last verses of this book are not in strict chronological order, for the story of Jehoshaphat is resumed in the next book. They serve, however, to give us a general view of Judah and Israel. Jehoshaphat reigned over the former. In all the main set of his government he followed in the footsteps of his father Asa, doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. But, like his father, he failed in the completeness of his reform by allowing the high places to remain.

Following Ahab in Israel came Ahaziah, who continued in all the evil ways of his father and mother. He was by no means as strong as Ahab, but gave himself wholly to the most abominable idolatry by serving and worshiping Baal.