Elijah relates message to Ahab

1 Kings Chapter 21

King Ahab had a palace in Jezreel with a vineyard nearby owned by Naboth. One day the king said to Naboth that he wanted to buy the vineyard to use as a vegetable garden and in return he would give Naboth a better vineyard or pay him for the land. Naboth replied that the Lord forbid he should give away an inheritance that had been passed down by his ancestors. So the king was angry and sullen and refused to eat. His wife Jezebel asked what was the matter and he told her Naboth refused to sell or trade his vineyard. She reminded him that he was King of Israel and she would get the vineyard for him.

Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name and used his seal and sent them to elders in the city where Naboth lived. In her letters, she commanded all the citizens to come together for fasting and prayer and give Naboth a place of honor; then find two scoundrels who would accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take Naboth out and stone him to death.

The elders and leaders followed Jezebel's instructions and Naboth was dragged outside the city and stoned to death. When Jezebel heard the news, she told the king that Naboth was dead and now they could have his vineyard. King Ahab went down and claimed it as his own.

But the Lord said to Elijah for him to go meet King Ahab in the vineyard in Jezeel and give him the message that "because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood outside the city just as they licked the blood of Naboth!"

Elijah told Ahab also that he had come because Ahab had sold himself to what is evil in the Lord's sight. Elijah said that the Lord would bring disaster upon Ahab and sweep him away and not one of his male descendants, slave or free, would survive in Israel. Elijah said the Lord would destroy Ahab's family as he did the family of Jeroboam, son of Nebat and the family of Baasha, son of Ahijah, for they had made the Lord very angry and led Israel into sin. Furthermore, Elijah told him that the dogs of Jezreel would eat the body of Jezebel at the city wall. All members of Ahab's family who died in the city would be eaten by dogs, and those who died in the fields would be eaten by vultures.

When Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in sackcloth and fasted. He went into deep mourning. Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah and the Lord said because Ahab humbled himself, nothing the Lord promised earlier would happen in Ahab's lifetime. But it would happen to his sons; and the Lord would destroy all his descendants.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Jezebel devised a scheme that appeared legal to get the land her husband wanted. Two witnesses were required to establish guilt and the punishment for blasphemy was death by stoning.

Ahab was more wicked than any other king of Israel, but he repented in deep humility. God took notice and reduced his punishment.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This chapter points out that people can twist the law and legal procedures to get what they want. They still do to this day. And they are still as guilty of the same sin as in Elijah's time.

Isn't it amazing that God reduced Ahab's punishment? This is the same Lord who can show mercy to you. No matter how many evil things you have done, it is never too late to humble yourself and ask for forgivness. Pray to him today for your sins and ask his blessing on your life today and always.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.