1 Kings 21 - 2 Kings 1
God Relents
When We Repent

It's not the atheist who says there is no God involved in the affairs of men; it's the fool. Many nominal “believers” live as practical atheists, going through their days independently of God, consumed by thoughts of satisfying their desires, and not asking what God desires. In the heart, where they make their decisions, there is no consideration of God's will for their time, treasure, nor talents. Thus they are earn the appellation: Fool! (someone who chooses the wrong objectives for their life). “Abominable iniquity” is a code word for idolatry. The fool serves the idols of his temporal pleasure, unfit for doing the good that glorifies God.

Instead of calling on God for His provision, they meet their own needs for power (security/significance), pleasure, and possessions at the expense of others.

The Hebrew word for “quick” means short, as in having a short fuse, lacking self-control or patience. The easily angered person also lacks understanding (14:29), thinking only of themselves rather than the causes of the provocation, and wind up emoting their feelings, committing folly. The person with the longer fuse, does a slow burn, and bitterly plots revenge and they will wind up being hated, by man and God.

Speaking of outcomes, the simple, who fails to develop Biblical prejudices will wind up with folly, while the prudent get crowned with knowledge. The evil will grovel before the good, and the wicked before the rule of the righteous; it just might take a while for it to happen.

Ahab covets his neighbor's vineyard so he can plant some culinary herbs near his own house. Naboth won't trade or sell because it is his inheritance from Yahweh. God forbade the permanent selling of one's inheritance (Lev 25:23,27; Num 36:7; even to kings Ezek 46:18). [David did purchase the threshing floor to offer a sacrifice to stop the plague, it would have reverted back to its inheritor at the year of Jubilee.] With the grace and dignity of a toddler, Ahab does what most people with unsanctified desires do when they can't have what they want, he threw a tantrum and put on his pouty face. Jezebel plays the enabling scheming parent, and fixes things so he can be “happy Ahab”. Worse than David on his worst day, she writes a letter with the ink of deception and murder and gets hubby what he wants. The leadership of the city complies and criminally kills a righteous man. So much for the protection of life and property.

God sends Elijah to deliver a message to Ahab, who's planting basil and dreaming of pesto, “You're dog meat, and your house is bird food.” He elaborates similarly to Ahijah's prophesy against Jereboam (1Kg 14) and Jehu's against Baasha (1Kg 16). Angering God, by doing what is evil in His sight (disobeying) has unpleasant consequences. God attaches painful consequences to our sin so we'll avoid it, much like profs fail poor performance and employers fire bad performers.

Ahab was totally responsible for his sin, making the decision to sell himself in exchange for the benefit he thought he'd get. Recall the number of miracles and unmerited blessing Ahab had experienced in his life, from the drought/rain/Baal scenes to the victories over Syria. The fact that God sends Elijah on cue a number of times should have wised him up to the fact that the God who judges knows what's going on. In order to be this stupid you need help, in his case it's his dear wife, Jezebel, whom he let run the house and kingdom, as long as he got what he wanted. Like a lot of modern “men” Ahab abdicated his role at home. Surprisingly, Ahab listens and repents! Astonishingly, God relents!!!! One of the reasons we get so much written about this evil king, is to show that even the worst sinners can find mercy when they humble themselves and acknowledge God and His ways. God postpones the promised consequence, as He did with David. 

Beaten Syrian king Ben Hadad failed to restore all the cities per his covenant with Ahab (1 Kings 20:34), so Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to join him in getting Ramoth Gilead back. Jehoshaphat was one of the good kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, whose major flaw was that he made alliances with people Yahweh was going to curse for their unfaithfulness, rather than bless. He get's reproved for this involvement (2 Kings 19), but at least says: “Let's see what Yahweh's will is."

Ahab gathers his yes-men of Baal to ask, and they say the lord (not Yahweh) says “Yes” and put on a show. Apparently Ahab had refreshed his supply of false prophesiers after Elijah slaughtered 450 on Mt. Carmel. Jehoshaphat wants a man of Yahweh to ask, but Ahab says there's only one, whom he hates because he doesn't prophesy good things. This is funny and tragic. Rather than recognizing that Micaiah only says what Yahweh says, Ahab engages in the time honored tradition, which continues to our day, of “shooting the messenger.” If Ahab wants good news, he needs to be good. Like many today he'd rather feel good than be good. The chief lying/demonic prophet Zedekiah puts on some horns and puts words of blessing in Yahweh's mouth. All the other false prophets agree.

True man of Yahweh, Micaiah, has a sarcastic repartee with Ahab, who says he wants the truth (as most hypocrites do, until you tell them it).

Micaiah then tells Ahab what he actually “sees,” which is what seers are supposed to do. Israel will lose their "shepherd" (that's Ahab) and be scattered, so everyone should go back home while they can. Ahab objects, and Micaiah tells him more of what he sees: Yahweh has planned to entice Ahab to his death at this battle, by putting a lying spirit in the mouths of his prophets. Zedekiah punches Micaiah in the face (usually bogus religious leaders stab truth speakers in the back), and Micaiah is tossed (back) in prison, knowing he did the job God gave him. Sometimes God let's His servants get beat up, but He more than compensates them when they retire.

Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Jehoshaphat must have been drinking to go into battle with Ahab and agree to be the only one wearing the “kill me, I'm king” robes. Fortunately God protected Jehoshaphat in his gullibility, and a “random” arrow pierces Ahab's disguise. He eventually got God's point; he should have listened. The dogs licked up his blood as prophesied by Elijah (1 Kings 21:19).

A flashback gives a brief bio of good King Jehoshaphat, who followed in the godly footsteps of his father, good King Asa, in cleansing the land of evil pagan practices. 2 Chronicles 20 will record one of the greatest victories in the Scriptures, under Jehoshaphat's leadership. Listening to Ahab was not wise, but he avoided at least one entanglement with Ahab's son bad King Ahaziah, who followed the evil footsteps of his father.

Ahaziah sends a captain of 50 with his men to capture Elijah, who calls down fire from heaven upon them. Ditto the next captain. The third captain shows a little more respect for the man of God and begs Elijah not to kill him and his men.

God tells Elijah to go, not be afraid, and he delivers the message in person. God protects Elijah and Ahaziah dies as God said.