Sat.’s Devo - Ahab’s End -

Read: 1 Kings 22:1-53; Acts 13:16-41; Psalm 138:1-8; Proverbs 17:17-18 In verse 41 we learn that Jehoshaphat became the ruler of Judah in Ahab’s fourth year of his reign over Israel. Jehoshaphat made peace with Ahab, where his father Asa had been in constant wars with Israel. Jehoshaphat reigned for 25 years and walked with the Lord. He had the male prostitutes who served Baal exterminated from the land. *** Israel had experienced peace with Syria for three years. In Jehoshaphat’s third year of reigning over Judah he went to visit Ahab in Israel. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat if he would join him in getting Ramoth-gilead back from Syria. Jehoshaphat agreed to help him. When it came time to go to fight, Jehoshaphat asked if they could find a prophet of the Lord and ask him if they would have success. *** Ahab brought all of his false prophets out who all agreed that they would win. Jehoshaphat asked if their was a true prophet of the Lord they could ask. Ahab knew one named Micaiah but he said Micaiah didn’t like him and always prophesied evil against him. Jehoshaphat still wanted to ask him, so Ahab had him brought to them. *** Micaiah was prepped to agree with Ahab’s prophets who prophesied success. He said he would only say what the Lord says. But, he sarcastically told Ahab to go and he would triumph. Ahab knew he was lying and told him to give him the truth. Micaiah told him he saw the Lord on his throne asking his host who could entice Ahab to go to battle so that he might die. One of the host said he would go and be a lie in the mouth of his prophets. The Lord told him that that would work and sent him. *** Zedekiah, one of the false prophets struck Micaiah on the cheek and asked him if the Spirit of the Lord left him and went into Micaiah. Micaiah answered and told him that he would find out when he has to flee into an inner chamber. *** Ahab had Micaiah seized and taken back to the city and put in prison till he returned. Micaiah said if Ahab returns then what he said was not from the Lord. *** So Ahab and Jehoshaphat went to battle against Syria in Ramoth-gilead. Ahab told Jehoshaphat to go out in his royal robe and he would disguise himself as a regular soldier. Jehoshaphat fell for Ahab’s “set up.” But, the commander of the Syrian army had told his officers to only contend with the king of Israel. They thought Jehoshaphat was him until Jehoshaphat cried out. Then they knew he was not Ahab. *** One of the Syrian soldiers sent a random arrow into the midst of the battle and it hit Ahab right in the narrow space in his armor between the armor and the breastplate. He sat on the battlefield propped up in his chariot where he died watching the battle. They washed the blood from his chariot at the same place he had had Naboth stoned. The dogs came and licked his blood just like the prophet had prophesied. Ahaziah, Ahab’s son reigned in his place. He only reigned for two years because he was so evil. He served Baal just like his father had done. *** When Jehoshaphat died, Jehoram his son reigned over Judah. *** In Acts, Paul and his companions were in Antioch and had gone to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Law on the Sabbath. The rulers of the synagogues asked them to come and give the people a word of encouragement. Paul stood up and told them about God’s plan starting with God’s promise to give them the land of Israel. Then Moses led them out of Egypt into the land. They were led by judges and prophets. Then, they asked for a king and God gave them Saul for 40 years. Then he removed him and gave them David who was a man after his heart and did his will. Of David’s offspring, he gave Israel a Savior who was Jesus. John had prophesied his coming. *** The people of Jerusalem did not recognize him or understand the prophecies concerning him which they read every Sabbath. They condemned him just like the prophets said they would. Though they found no fault in him, they had him crucified and put in a tomb. He rose on the third day and appeared to those who had come from Galilee to Jerusalem and Paul and his companions were now his witnesses. Jesus was the first, not to die, but to have eternal life. Now he is offering forgiveness of sins to everyone and freedom from the law of Moses. Everything they were going through had been foretold by the prophets. *** We are going through a similar transition from the Church Age to the Kingdom Age. It has all be prophesied by the prophets and is written all through the Bible. We will see God’s changing of the guard and will see God’s people exalted to rule the mountains of society in the world. We will see a great revival of souls and the taking away of the evil followers of Satan. We will do the works of Christ and prosper on the earth. *** Lord, may we not grow weary in doing good, but endure till the end. Those that wait upon You will receive strength to rise up like eagles and fly. Thank you for your great promises.