The death of an evil king

I Kings Chapter 22

For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. Then King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to visit King Ahab and they discussed Arameans still living in Ramoth-gilead. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join him in fighting Ramoth-gilead and Jehoshaphat agreed but not until they consulted with the Lord's prophets. King Ahab consulted the 400 prophets of his own and they said go to war. But Jehoshaphat wanted to ask the prophet Micaiah whom Ahab did not like because he always prophesied gloom and bad news. But Jehoshaphat found Micaiah and asked his opinion on going to war.

At first Micaiah told them to go ahead with their battle. But after the king admonished him, Micaiah replied that in a vision he saw Israel scattered on the mountains without a shepherd and the Lord said their master had been killed. then Micaiah said he saw the Lord sitting on a throne and asking "Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed there?" And a spirit spoke up and said that he could entice Ahab by having all his prophets speak lies.

So Kings Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to war and Ahab disguised himself, but Jehoshaphat wore his royal robes. The Arameans attacked Jehoshaphat until they realized he was not the king of Israel. Meanwhile an Aramean soldier wounded Ahab in battle. Ahab's blood ran down the floor of his chariot and he died. As the sun was setting, his chariot was washed beside the pool of Samaria and dogs came and licked his blood,just as the Lord promised. Then his son Ahaziah became the new king for two years. But he also did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord by worshiping Baal and rousing the anger of the Lord as his father had done.

Jehoshaphat, son of Asa reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years, but failed to remove all the pagan shrines and the people still offered sacrifices there and he banished shrine prostitutes. When he died, his son Jehoram became the next king.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: the 400 prophets used by Ahab were probably the Asherah prophets left alive by Elijah at Carmel. Jehoshaphat knew there was a difference between the pagan prophets and the prophet of the Lord. But he disregarded the message of God and went to war.

This chapter began with a nation united under David and ends with a divided kingdom and death of Ahab, the most wicked king. The people forgot to acknowledge God as their leader and appointed human leaders who ignored God. Soon wrongdoing turned into a way of life. Their blatant wickedness could only be met with judgment from God.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Ahab thought he could escape judgment by wearing a disguise. How many people today do you know who try to escape reality by disguising themselves? Perhaps changing jobs, moving to a new town, changing spouses But nobody can escape. God sees and evaluates the motives of each person and disguise is futile. God hates all evil and one day will do away with it forever. We don't have to understand every detail of how God works in order to have confidence in his power over evil and his total goodness toward us.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, 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.