Friday, September 19, 2014

Disobeying God's Command from 1 Kings 20:31-43


3/19/2011 8:42:40 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Disobeying God’s command

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Kings 20:31-43

 

            Message of the verses:  “31 ¶  His servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings, please let us put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will save your life." 32  So they girded sackcloth on their loins and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-hadad says, ’Please let me live.’" And he said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother." 33  Now the men took this as an omen, and quickly catching his word said, "Your brother Ben-hadad." Then he said, "Go, bring him." Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he took him up into the chariot. 34  Ben-hadad said to him, "The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Ahab said, "And I will let you go with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him and let him go. 35  Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another by the word of the LORD, "Please strike me." But the man refused to strike him.  36  Then he said to him, "Because you have not listened to the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have departed from me, a lion will kill you." And as soon as he had departed from him a lion found him and killed him. 37  Then he found another man and said, "Please strike me." And the man struck him, wounding him. 38  So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39  As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, "Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ’Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40  "While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone." And the king of Israel said to him, "So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it." 41  Then he hastily took the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him that he was of the prophets. 42  He said to him, "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, and your people for his people.’" 43  So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.”

 

            This section can be described as an action sermon, which is used a few times throughout the OT to get a point across to a person who is spiritually hard hearted.  Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all used action sermons in their ministries. 

            The victory belonged to the Lord, yet Ahab did not say one word of praise to the Lord for this victory, and therefore trouble would be brewing for Ahab.  This story gives a reminder of Nathan talking to David about his sin with Bathsheba, and also the story of Joshua 9, where Joshua was deceived by a foreign group of men. 

            The king of Syria, Ben-hadad pulled a fast one on Ahab.  Dr. Wiersbe points out that if Satan can’t get a person as a roaring lion he will come as an angel of light, and so it was with Ahab, who would then make a covenant with the enemy.  God gave him the victory over his enemy and he makes a covenant with him, not to smart.

            Now because of this covenant one of the young prophets gives Ahab an action sermon and just as David told Nathan what he would do for punishment of the fictitious man in his action sermon and David receives the exact punishment, so it turns out that Ahab condemns himself with a death sentence and will latter pay for this with his life.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I believe the point of this story that is convicting to me is that when the Lord answers a prayer of mine that I remember to give glory to the Lord, and there have been times when I have not done this, and it needs to be done, for God to answer a prayer that I pray is all about His grace and mercy to me and I surely need to praise Him for that answer.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Remember to praise the Lord for answered prayers.

2.      Seek the Holy Spirit to search my heart.

3.      Continue to learn contentment.

4.      Give myself to the Lord for worship and service.

5.      Seek the Lord to direct my path today.

 

3/19/2011 9:10:01 AM  

 

 

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