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1Ki22b-2021N.docx

THE LAST DAYS OF TWO KINGS

1 Kings 22:29-53

Key verse 43

“In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.”

Introduction

Jehoshaphat might have been wondering what would happen in the war despite Micaiah’s prophet. But he ended up ignoring God’s truthful word through the prophet and joined the war with Ahab. But Ahab was killed in accordance with the word. This event must have taught him a lot of things about who God is and what he should do from that time on. For instance, instead of acting based on his own desire or seemingly good will to help others, he might have decided on obeying God and His words of truth more sincerely. That was why he reformed the land to love God more. May the Lord help us to grow up in our absolute attitude toward the word of God to have strength to deny our way and to love and serve God.

Read verses 29-40. Describe how the declared words of God were fulfilled in regard to the death of Ahab? (29-38) What did the author say about Ahab and his successor? (39-40)

1-1, Read verses 29-40.

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel.” 32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33 the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.

34 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 35 All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 36 As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town. Every man to his land!”

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. 38 They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed),[b] and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.

39 As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory, and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 40 Ahab rested with his ancestors. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.

1-2, Describe how the declared words of God were fulfilled in regard to the death of Ahab? (29-38)

The word through the Prophet Micaiah proved to be true. King Ahab never returned to Samaria or Israel in peace.
Also the words of God in chap. 20:42 was fulfilled that Ahab spared Ben-Hadad’s life at the expense of his own life.

1-3, What did the author say about Ahab and his successor? (39-40)

The palace which he built and adorned with ivory and the cities he fortified and all he achieved humanly as a king were in vain. What really counts is whether he loved and obeyed the Lord with all his heart and fought the good fight for God.

Read verses 41-49. What did the author say about Jehoshaphat son of Asa? (41-47) Why might he have refused a joint venture with the son of Ahab? (48-49, 2 Chronicles 20:35-37)

2-1, Read verses 41-49.

Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.[c] 44 Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

45 As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 46 He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. 47 There was then no king in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.

48 Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships[d] to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. 49 At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

2-2, What did the author say about Jehoshaphat son of Asa? (41-47)

Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 44 Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

The author now summarized many of the remarkable achievements of Jehoshaphat. He was considered to be one of the good kings in Judah.
Although his works were described succinctly here, we can see more detailed descriptions in 2 Chronicles 17.

“7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. 8 With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people. 10 The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats. 12 Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah 13 and had large supplies in the towns of Judah

God blessed his heart devotion so much that the fear of the Lord came upon all neighboring nations so that they did not make war against him.

Despite his good achievements, he did not remove high places and maintain a friendship with Ahab.
As a result, he was ashamed in the battlefield by the fulfillment of what Macaiah prophesied. Then on his way back he was rebuked by a seer.(2 Chronicles 19)

“When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. 3 There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”

According to 2 Chronicles 19:8-10, he resumed his whole dedication to the Lord by commanding the Levites, Priests and the leaders of Israel to serve God faithfully.

2-3, Why might he have refused a joint venture with the son of Ahab? (48-49, 2 Chronicles 20:35-37)

Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber. 49 At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

Later, Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose ways were wicked. 36 He agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.[f] After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked and were not able to set sail to trade. (2 Chronicles 20)

After a disastrous shipping venture, Jehoshaphat might still be tempted to make an alliance with Israel, because nothing is harder to break his bad habit.
But he learned the lesson of not entering a partnership with the ungodly. James 4:4-8 reads, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Read verses 50-53. What can we learn from Jehoshaphat who had an affinity toward Ahab and Jezebel? (50, 2 Chronicles 18:1, 21:6, 22:4-4) Why was the God of Israel angry with Ahaziah son of Ahab? (51-53)

3-1, Read verses 50-53.

50 Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David, his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.

51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years. 52 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53 He served and worshiped Baal and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.

3-2, What can we learn from Jehoshaphat who had an affinity toward Ahab and Jezebel? (50, 2 Chronicles 18:1, 21:6, 22:1-4)

Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David, his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.

Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. (2 Chronicles 18:1)

He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. (21:6)

He too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly. 4 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, (22:3-4)

Jehoshaphat’s wrong move to have a close relationship with Ahab and Jezebel resulted in bad influence over his successors.

3-3, Why was the God of Israel angry with Ahaziah son of Ahab? (51-53)

The book of 1 Kings was begun with David’s solemn oath that God would fulfill his promise by establishing his son, Solomon as the next king.
But the book ends with two last kings in the divided kingdom, Judah and Israel. In Particular, northern Israel, which consisted of 10 rebellious tribes, had a sad ending through Ahab and his sons.
But God continued to send his messengers to both Judah and Israel so that they may honor God and obey His command rather than rely on their own.
Praise the Lord who is working as the Good Shepherd always until we may come closer to Him and live by faith, not by sight.
May God help us to not repeat the mistake of Jehoshaphat who was eager to make friends with evil kings. We may devote ourselves to God and to preach the word instead until we may join in advancing His kingdom on earth and our children may join in the holy work down the road for God’s glory.

One word: He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord!