Alas Poor Ahab
by Bill Somers
 
 

September 13, 1998
I usually go out each morning to pick up a newspaper and coffee. This morning's headline told of continued defiance on the part of the White House. As soon as I saw it, I began to tremble in my spirit. I was reminded of another case where a ruler had expressed some remorse, but did make a true or lasting repentance.
 
 





The story of King Ahab and all that went on during his reign takes up quite a few chapters in the bible. More space is devoted to him, because of end time significance, than to any of the other kings that followed after the death of Solomon. One thing often overlooked is that the Lord spent a great deal of time and effort in dealing with Ahab. At one point, Ahab is even brought to humble himself in repentance!

I Kings 21:
20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, …." Here the prophet Elijah has brought a word of judgment against Ahab and his kingdom. 27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.1 Kings 21: 20 -29 And here we see that the Lord has delayed the judgment somewhat because of Ahab's humbling himself. Note that the scripture does not say that he repented or that he called upon the Lord for mercy. In fact he went right back to his old ways shortly thereafter. Because of this the Lord brought personal judgment on Ahab and when he was out of the way brought further judgment on Israel. 1 Kings 22:
1 And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.
2 And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. Here Ahab is about to go to war against Syria, whom the Lord has allowed him to beat in the past. But this time it is to be his undoing. 5 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him? The reason Jehoshaphat has to ask twice for a word from a prophet of the Lord, is that Ahab is calling on his prophets, the prophets of Baal. So now we hear from a true prophet, Micaiah. 14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.
15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD? Here Ahab rebukes Micaiah even though he has spoken exactly what the others have said! And then Micaiah drops the sarcasm and tells what is really about to happen. 17 And he said, upon the hills, I saw all Israel scattered as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.
18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? …. " That is the Lord has set up king Ahab to take a fall when he foolishly goes to war against Syria. And then to bring chaos and confusion to Israel afterward, for it says I saw all Israel scattered …."
 
 





Our Syria may well be Iraq. A recent news item stated that the United States has informed it's major allies that it will expect their support in case it decides to launch an attack against Iraq this coming October.
 
 

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