Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Hearing God's Sentence from 1 Kings 21:16-29


3/24/2011 5:28:34 AM

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Hearing God’s sentence

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  1Kings 21:16-29

 

            Message of the verses:  “16  When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

   “ 17 ¶  Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18  "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19  "You shall speak to him, saying, ’Thus says the LORD, "Have you murdered and also taken possession?"’ And you shall 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."’" 20  Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 21  "Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel; 22  and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you have made Israel sin. 23  "Of Jezebel also has the LORD spoken, saying, ’The dogs will eat Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’ 24  "The one belonging to Ahab, who dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and the one who dies in the field the birds of heaven will eat." 25  Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him. 26  He acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel. 27  It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. 28  Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29  "Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days.’”

 

            Elijah is now on the scene again, as it has not been since Elijah called Elisha have the Scriptures spoke of him, and now he has an assignment from the Lord.  Amos, in his book of the OT says the following, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.”  (Amos 3:7).  The Lord revealed the punishment He was to impose upon Ahab and also on Jezebel and the sons of Ahab, but Ahab repents and so the Lord holds of his punishment until Ahab’s son Joram rules.  The dogs do lick up Ahab’s blood when he is killed in battle, and the lick up his son’s blood at the vineyard of Naboth.  The dogs will eat Jezebel’s body as Elijah told Ahab would happen.  

            One of the biggest problems Ahab had was listening to his wicked wife Jezebel, for she is the one who brought Baal worship into Israel and Ahab knew in his heart that this was wrong, but did it anyway.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am not sure exactly how the verse in Amos 3:7 is carried out today, but I believe that the Lord does reveal what He is going to do through His completed Word and also through the Pastors that He calls, and I am to listen to them along with the Holy Spirit who lives within my heart.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

 

1.      Give myself to the Lord for worship and service today.

2.      Trust the Lord to direct my path.

3.      Remember the fierce battle that I face and the need for the spiritual armor.

4.      Continue to learn contentment.

 

3/24/2011 5:49:43 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment