God of Mercy. God of Forgiveness. God of Second Chances.
1 Kings 21:17-29
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:
Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say to him,
Ahab failed to act upon the humility he'd found.
"Thus says the Lord: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood."
Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?"
Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?"
He answered, "I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin. Also concerning Jezebel the Lord said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.' Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat."
(Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He acted most abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.)
When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
(Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He acted most abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.)
When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:
"Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster on his house."
Ahab. Seventh King of Israel. His grandson will be put into the Davidic Line as he marries this Not Davidic line in to Israel's Davidic Line. God has a sense of Humor. Yes, He does. The 3rd Commandment is to not have graven images. What you see is a Graven Image of Ahab. This just might be the awful Ahab.
Ahab's corpse blood ended up being licked up by the dogs. Why did God go to the effort with Ahab, when the death of Ahab is 1 Kings 22 and the next prophet, Micaiah, condemns Ahab again.
Shalmaneser III's (859-824 BC) Kurkh Monolith names King Ahab
Why point out Ahab is Samaritan and rules Samaria. Ahab fails to have Gratitude in an amazing scale. Astonishing. Every problem he can find, he believes points out he isn't first or appreciated. Ahab always feels he is in lack of blessings. He sees the men of God as enemies. The King of Israel doesn't see glory. He ruled the Jews and doesn't know to listen to God or find His Beauty and Love. Ahab whines a lot.
Jesus knew the Samaritans had not always had Justice. John 4. A very early Gospel Chapter. The first person Jesus tells He is the Messiah of God is Samaritan and is a woman. Jesus didn't call down fire on the Samaritans when His Disciples asked Him to. Jesus understands and still would ask Ahab for gratitude and for humility. John 4 explains the Mercy of God didn't merely slide away.
When God speaks a Word of God, like the Goodness He finds in Creation, He is saying, "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." When someone hears from God, it's rare as Hezekiah when God gives Grace instead. A Word of God given to us is meant to be understood for Eternity.
And in whining and pouting, Ahab has lined up 'yes Sayers'.
1 Kings 22:8-9
8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat (The King of Judah) replied.
9 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”
Why did God go to the effort with Ahab?
"Cowboys and Aliens" Movie answers.
Preacher: You just gotta have faith.
Doc: Faith, yeah, God’s been real good to me lately. Now either he ain’t up there, or he don’t like me.
Preacher: Certainly you don’t expect the Lord to do everything for you, right?
You gotta earn His presence,
and then you gotta learn to recognize it,
and then you gotta act on it.
1 Kings 21 ends pretty quickly. Bam. Done.
The Lord has mercy on Ahab. Yet very, very unusually, He doesn't ask Elijah to return with the good news.
Like the hands in the photos, there isn't a connection, the hands do not hold.
Ahab failed to act upon the humility he'd found.
2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Recently, we talked about calamity revealing hearts. Elijah leaves no reply. More importantly, neither does Ahab.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it – I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while – 9 Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you, became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
Ahab explains in 1 Kings 22, very well what God has seen in Ahab.
Ahab wants to listen to happy news only and has his own soothsayers to give Ahab what he wants. He doesn't want to hear from Micaiah. And when Ahab finds out the whole, intricate truth, Ahab feels God will let it all slide by while he hides, in plain sight, in plain garb. Ahab believes he can dance around and past God.
One has to applaud the Holy Spirit of God. He has given intricate truth to Ahab and given him every chance.
This detailed approach of God to save Ahab, again, is what we hope for in God's heart for us.
When we gaze at the details God gives to make the chance possible. Not a Word of God is wasted. See the Samaritans in John 4 as Blessed. See the Samaritans in Luke 9 as Blessed.
Matthew 5:17
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Abba, Father God,
We are praying for Peace, Prosperity, Kindness, Justice,
Mercy, Gentler Times. Restoration. Joy.
Dwell in us, Father God,
Every Day to have Joy and Strength.
Bless those we Love.
We Believe You Will.
In Your Abundant Willingness.
We are asking You, Father God,
For Mercy for Donald Trump
We don't want to see the Right and Left Argue.
Let Peace Begin.
Mercy over Power.
Peace and Unity for our Nation.
Blessings for our Republic.
Blessings for all the Nations Seeking Bringing
Your Light Forth.
In Your Mercy, Father God
Covid Pandemic Historically Upset Minds
will Renew and Have Hope again.
We pray Specifically for Elliott's Blood and Body
to have many Good Cells.
Fighting the Good Fight.
We Give Specific Thanks
Elliott's Body is showing Signs of Better Health even
as the Journey Begins.
We pray the Tumor on Elliott's Spine to be gone
and never this returns again.
The Blessing of feeling Safe in this new place to receive Treatment.
Word of God Speak
just as Hezekiah knew and was told.
God is Good.
Jesus will always be part of Elliott.
Thank You, Father God,
for specifically answering a Prayer Today.
Blessings and Thank You.
Blessings of faith, hope and Love.
Faith is Flowing like a River
Faith isFlowing like a River,
setting captives free.
Love is Flowing like River
Love is Flowing like River
Just like Hezekiah
to you and me.
More Warm and Kind Hearts in 2021,
In the Highest Name of Jesus
we pray. Amen.
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