Year 1, Week 50, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 50, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 1 Kings 21-22.

Today’s reading continues an assessment of King Ahab. Ahab’s moodiness continues as 1 Kings 21 notes Ahab desire for another man’s vineyard: “And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food” (1 Kings 21:4). But Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, figures out a way to get rid of Naboth so that Ahab can obtain his vineyard. Elijah reappears to confront Ahab: “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbit…“Thus says the LORD, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood” (1 Kings 21:17-19). Ahab humbled himself and the LORD postponed judgment: “And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “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 upon his house” (1 Kings 21:28-29). 1 Kings 22 records Ahab’s joint operation with Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, for the purpose of battling against Syria. Before battle, the prophet Micaiah was summoned to reveal what would happen as they went up against Syria: “And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace” (1 Kings 22:17). Ahab would be killed in battle.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was Ahab’s attempt to circumvent his death and thus, thwart the Word of the LORD even as he imprisoned Micaiah: “Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.” And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!” (1 Kings 22:27-28). The plot began with Jehoshaphat’s request to seek the LORD before they entered into battle: “And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD” (1 Kings 22:5). The plot thickens as Ahab pulls together 400 prophets who give a unanimous report: “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king” (1 Kings 22:6b). But when Jehoshaphat was still uncertain and requested a word from still another prophet, Ahab replied: “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kings 22:8). Surprisingly Micaiah initially declares: “Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king” (1 Kings 22:15b).

Ahab did not believe the word that Micaiah spoke in favor of him. So Ahab demanded that Micaiah tell him the truth. As noted above, Micaiah then announced that Ahab would fall in battle. When Ahab bemoaned the fact that Micaiah never spoke any good toward him, Micaiah provided the backstory to what was unfolding: "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” (1 Kings 22:19-20a). What Micaiah revealed was the plan for Ahab to be allured into his own destruction. The LORD had planned a ruse to entice Ahab: “Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you” (1 Kings 22:23). There is an irony here in that there actually was no deceit carried out in this arrangement, for the LORD clearly revealed to Ahab what His plans were: the LORD planned to put Ahab to death. What this incident reveals is that Ahab did not believe the LORD.

Ahab believed he could outwit the LORD’s plans: "And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle” (1 Kings 22:30). The strategy by the King of Syria was to aim for the leaders and not worry about the basic soldier. Thus, Jehoshaphat became the prime target until the Syrians realized that he was not the king that they were looking for. The Syrian strategy seemed to fail as they were unable to locate Ahab. However, the LORD was able to locate Ahab underneath his disguise. Ahab was not hidden from God’s providential dealings: “But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded” (1 Kings 22:34). A random arrow is never really random. After the LORD, the first person to realize that the king had been wounded was Ahab himself. Micaiah was correct: “So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria…according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken” (1 Kings 22:38-39). In spite of Ahab’s unwillingness to acknowledge it, the Word of God came to pass.

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

Pastor Joe