#31 – Selling Out to Evil
May 5, 2020
Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.”
So Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy? ”And he answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.’
And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field. But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. ”
I Kings 21:17-26 NKJV
How are you known by others today? How will you be remembered at your death? How does the Lord know you right now? Ahab who sinned against God more than any of the wicked kings of Israel before him is remembered for this: he sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord (vs. 20 and 25). Some people “sell out” for money or other reward. A traitor will sell secrets of his own country for money or promises of security from another country. Many will compromise morals and principles in exchange for financial reward. Ahab sold himself for this purpose: to do evil.
Naboth’s blood cried out before the Lord, who sent His servant Elijah to condemn Ahab’s sins. Jezebel hatched the plan against Naboth, but it was Ahab who initiated it with his complaining, allowed it to take place, and took the rewards of Jezebel’s treachery. While Ahab was taking possession of the vineyard, the Lord sent Elijah.
Once again, before Ahab could enjoy his sin and wickedness, the Lord’s condemnation weighed heavily on him. After the second battle of Ben-Hadad and the great victory of Israel over Syria, Ahab went home heavy of heart because of the prophecy of the Lord against him. So again, when Ahab went to take the fruits of his wickedness, the Lord sent His prophet to give Ahab the worst news of his life.
When he met Elijah before Mt. Carmel, Ahab lied in calling Elijah the “troubler of Israel” (18:17). When he met Elijah outside of the vineyard, Ahab did not lie but truthfully called Elijah his “enemy” (21:20). Ahab set himself against the Lord, which set Ahab against the Lord’s prophet. Those who set themselves against the Lord set themselves against the Lord’s people. Christians may fall into great harm if they reject that the world hates the Christian because it hates God. Do not seek friendship with the world but rather seek the salvation of the world.
The message of the Lord to Ahab was quite terrible. Ahab’s family line would be cut off from the earth just like wicked kings Jeroboam and Baasha. It would be a terrible destruction because Ahab and Jezebel did not sin alone but caused all Israel to sin. The death of Ahab and Jezebel would be violent, and dogs would lick their blood just as dogs licked the blood of righteous Naboth who was executed as a blasphemer.
Never had there been someone who had sold himself to wickedness like Ahab. Never had a wife stirred up a husband to wickedness like Jezebel. Great would be the punishment of the Lord.
If we think of sin lightly we have erred greatly. The Lord is against those who are against Him and His holy ways. We must set our hearts, souls, strength, and mind to loving the Lord. How can you love the Lord? Keep His commandments. They are good. They teach you about Christ and His righteous ways, works, and word. Perhaps today you are known by others for sin. Even today, repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ, and be saved. If you are walking with the Lord, thank and praise the Lord. Give yourself over to following Him as He has revealed in His Word. And when your days draw to a close, the Lord will say to you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
.
Copyright ©, LikeTheGreatMountains, 2020
0 Comments