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1 Kings 20:23-22:9; 2 Chronicles 18:1-8<\/strong><\/span> Alas, even though King Ahab was given victories by God\u2019s grace in our readings, he goofs things up by letting King Ben-hadad of Aram go free. Then, as we get into First Kings chapter 21 today, things go from bad to worse for Ahab in terms of his relationship with God.\u00a0 Chapter 21 is a sad story of Naboth and his vineyard\u2026\u00a0 Would it be safe to say that King Ahab was coveting Naboth\u2019s vineyard?\u00a0 Would Ahab be breaking a commandment in the Mosaic Law here in this image\u2026?<\/span><\/p>\n I couldn\u2019t quite remember why Jezebel was cast in such a bad light in our readings a few days ago.\u00a0 Today I remember why\u2026\u00a0 It is great to see Elijah show up on the scene and say to Ahab in verse 20 \u2013 \u201cI have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the LORD\u2019s sight.\u201d <\/em>How sad.\u00a0 Do you think people today can still sell themselves to what is evil in God\u2019s sight?\u00a0 Below is an image of Elijah denouncing Ahab for the evil that transpired over Naboth\u2019s vineyard in today\u2019s readings.<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s 1 Kings readings titled \u201cIsrael\u2019s Deliverance\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and \u201cAhab Buys the Farm or Payday Someday\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Ahab is not happy about the Arameans occupying Ramoth-gilead at the beginning of chapter 22.\u00a0 \u00a0 Ramoth-gilead was on a hilltop that could have looked something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n King Jehoshaphat of Judah wisely suggests that they should consult God before going into battle against the Arameans.\u00a0 At which time King Ahab of Israel trots out his 400 yes-men \u201cprophets\u201d who say they should definitely go to war and that they will be victorious.\u00a0 I love Jehoshaphat\u2019s reaction to these 400 yes-men in verse 7: \u201cBut Jehoshaphat asked, \u201cIsn\u2019t there a prophet of the LORD around, too? I would like to ask him the same question.\u201d\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>Ahab\u2019s reaction in verse 8 is quite telling\u2026\u00a0 \u201cThere is still one prophet of the LORD, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but bad news for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This verse really stands out for me in a big way in our world today.\u00a0 I wonder if sometimes we \u2013 you and me \u2013 look for supposed \u201cprophets\u201d of the Lord that are yes-people to our particular likings \u2013 instead of looking for Truth.\u00a0 Meaning\u2026\u00a0 and I\u2019m just putting this out there, so bear with me.\u00a0 Do we sometimes maybe even decide to attend a particular church because it tells us basically what we want to hear?\u00a0 It keeps us in our comfortable place\u2026 we get yes-messages\u2026\u00a0 When, instead, should we be okay with attending a church that will give us some challenging and convicting messages on occasion?\u00a0 Biblical messages mind you \u2013 which surely can be challenging to our modern ears at times.\u00a0 I heard somewhere once before that church should be a place that \u201ccomforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.\u201d\u00a0 I like that\u2026\u00a0 Now, don\u2019t get me wrong.\u00a0 I am not saying we need to be in super-strict churches per se.\u00a0 I just think we should really watch for churches that are giving a yes-message all the time to our particular likings verses churches that teach the Truth.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think church is the only area of where we might default to looking for yes-messages.\u00a0 I think this can happen in books we read, TV we watch, or even with friends or with work.\u00a0 \u00a0Are we listening to 400 yes-people in our lives or are we okay with 1 Micaiah coming in and sharing a perceived \u201cbad-news\u201d message?\u00a0 (which may ultimately be very good news if we\u2019ll just listen to it\u2026\u00a0 if Ahab had really listened to Micaiah\u2019s message in today\u2019s readings, think he still would have rushed out to battle?) Below is an image of Micaiah and the false prophets before Jehoshaphat and Ahab:<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings remind me of the Britt Nicole song \u201cThe Lost Get Found:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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