1 Kings 22.
THIS chapter brings us to the close of Ahab’s life. In the last years there was peace with his northern neighbor, Syria, and during this time the king of Judah came down from Jerusalem to visit Ahab. Jehoshaphat was the godly son of a godly king, of the lineage of David. and until his occupation of the throne of Judah there had been no peace between the two parts of the divided nation. There should indeed never have been an agreement between them, for the kings of Israel, all of them godless men had banished the testimony of God, and brought in idol worship and the associated evils practiced by the heathen nations who were on their borders, while Judah at least made a profession of the worship of the true God.
We shall not find in the Books of Kings the explanation of Jehoshaphat’s changed behavior toward Ahab, but turning to the Books of the Chronicles, which tell of God’s dealings in grace with the house of David, we may quickly find what we seek. Compare 2 Chronicles 17 verses 1 to 5 with the next chapter, verse 1, and it will be seen that Jehoshaphat’s heart became so attached to the riches and honor God had given- him, that his later life was a good deal like that of his great predecessor, king Solomon. So, no longer whole hearted for God, Jehoshaphat made light of Ahab’s evil was and his marriage with Jezebel, daughter of the king of the Zidonians, and he set aside the principles of the Word of God (see Exodus 22:2020He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. (Exodus 22:20) and Deuteronomy 7:3-63Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:3‑6)) so that his son Jehoshaphat’s son and heir — married Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah. He did this at his peril.
God is not mocked, and as there was a sowing by Jehoshaphat, there was a reaping even by himself, though the damage was borne mostly by his children.
Jehoshaphat, who knew God, was now on good terms with Ahab, a rebel against God, slighted the plain purpose of God that His people should be separate from those who walked not according to His Word, (see Exodus 19:5, 65Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5‑6); 1 Kings 5:53).
“Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?”
Jehoshaphat betrayed himself when he said to Ahab (verse 4), “I am as thou art, my people as thy people my horses as thy horses,” but he was nevertheless not quite at rest in Ahab’s company, for he asked (verse 5) that the will of God be sought. It then appears that Ahab’s religion had changed its name; the false prophets he recognized were now professedly the prophets of the Lord. Modernism had appeared in some of its features. (But the worship of Baal had not ceased; see 2 Kings 10:18-2818And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much. 19Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. 21And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. 22And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. 23And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but the worshippers of Baal only. 24And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. 25And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. 27And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day. 28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. (2 Kings 10:18‑28)). Jehoshaphat therefore, not satisfied with these professed prophets of God asked for another, seeking a genuine one who knew God, and might be expected to know His mind. Such there was in Micaiah the son of Imlah, whom Ahab hated.
Micaiah gave a remarkable testimony (verses 19-24) which discloses how God makes use of the power of Satan in the case of a man given up to judgment, but Ahab will have none of his testimony, his day of mercy over. Even the king of Syria was in the battle carrying out God’s will (verse 31), so that Ahab’s effort to conceal himself added only to Jehoshaphat’s danger. In mercy God permitted his escape. And so Ahab died, seemingly as godless as he had lived. The dogs licked his blood, as he had been told would be the case.
The ships Jehoshaphat made to go to Ophir, after the fashion of king Solomon, were broken by an act of God, as he was told by Eliezer the son of Mareshah (2 Chronicles 20:3737Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish. (2 Chronicles 20:37)). This must give the explanation of Jehoshaphat’s refusing to let Ahaziah’s servants go with his in the ships, —i.e., that he feared to go on with an undertaking in which God had shown his displeasure.
Ahaziah, Ahab’s son was king of Israel not more than two years, and he followed his father’s and mother’s, and Jeroboam’s sinful ways.
ML 09/18/1927