Year 1, Week 50, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 50, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Kings 20.

Today’s reading emphasizes the role of the prophet, and his interactions with Ahab, King of the Northern Kingdom. In the previous day’s reading, Elijah had commissioned Elisha as a prophet. Now in 1 Kings 20, it is an unnamed prophet who takes a dominant role: “And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD” (1 Kings 20:13). This unnamed prophet brings several messages to Ahab throughout today’s reading. The LORD promises to come to the aid of Ahab and Israel as the Syrians pose a military threat. In spite of the LORD’s help, the evidence keeps mounting that Ahab is a terrible king who is incapable of leading the Northern Kingdom: “And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.’” And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have” (1 Kings 20:2-4).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was how the grace of God stands out. Ahab and Israel would be spared from the threat of Ben-hadad, the Syrian King, and this was not due to any initiative on Ahab’s part to seek the LORD. The LORD takes the initiative by sending to Ahab an unnamed and unsolicited prophet. As Ahab consulted the elders of Israel, he sent Ben-hadad a message of resistance. But Ben-hadad replied with a threat of total destruction: “Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me” (1 Kings 20:10). The LORD’s prophet provided not only assurance that Israel would be victorious, as stated in the previous paragraph, the prophet also provided the means by which victory would come: “And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You” (1 Kings 20:14). There is an interesting interplay between, “Thus says Ben-hadad,” (1 Kings 20:2,5), as he claims victory; and, “Thus says the LORD,” (1 Kings 20:13-14), as the LORD claims victory. The LORD secured a smashing victory: “So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the districts and the army that followed them. And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. And the king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a great blow” (1 Kings 20:19-21). Ben-hadad’s arrogance was exposed; whereas, the LORD’s might was displayed.

Ben-hadad survives and would live to fight another day against Israel. Ben-hadad was advised to fight again, but only to attack what they perceived to be the LORD’s weakness: “And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they” (1 Kings 20:23). The the LORD’s prophet had already predicted this attempt: “Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you” (1 Kings 20:22). And as it was time for the battle, the unnamed prophet predicted victory again: “And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kings 20:28). Not only was Ben-hadad arrogant in thinking he could out battle the LORD, he was also ignorant in thinking that the LORD’s might and authority was regional and limited. The LORD’s power and might is universal: "The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers” (Psalm 24:1-2).

Certainly, Ben-hadad, in his defeats, was given the opportunity to learn and be humble before the LORD; but, perhaps more importantly, so was Ahab. Ahad had just witnessed the initiated intervention of the LORD, who gave Ahab great victories. But as Ahab would ignore the Word of the LORD, the prophet illustrated just how serious it was to ignore the Word: “And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him. Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down” (1 Kings 20:35-36). The man, who refused to obey the command of the LORD, was in fact, attacked and killed by a lion. Because of his disobedience, Ahab would receive a Word of judgment: “And 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 be for his life, and your people for his people.’” (1 Kings 20:42). Tragically, Ahab chose sulking over repenting: “And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria” (1 Kings 20:34).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe