Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 22:1-28

If you read the last post, Do Right, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

In this passage we get the conclusion of 1 Kings. We read of the end of Ahab’s life. We read a summary of Jehoshaphat. And we read a little of Ahab’s son who replaces him. Let me take you through these verses and give you our final applications from 1 Kings.

The Application:

The sad part of Ahab’s story is that his son was just like him. You can’t have your cake and eat it to. You have to do right. If you don’t, it will effect those coming behind you. Time after time in scripture we read of sons doing just as their fathers have done.

So it is with us today…it isn’t a rule, but generally…. If parents deny God, children do. If parents are not disciplined, children aren’t. Like father, like son.

So do right for those looking up to you.

The Conclusion:

The good news is, if you are the one looking up to someone, you can
break the chain of poor behavior. Someone eventually has to decide, I am not going to be like my fathers.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 22:1-28

If you read the last post, You can’t have your cake and eat it too, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

In this passage we get the conclusion of 1 Kings. We read of the end of Ahab’s life. We read a summary of Jehoshaphat. And we read a little of Ahab’s son who replaces him. Let me take you through these verses and give you our final applications from 1 Kings.

The Application:

Very little is said of Jehoshaphat here. We read that he did right in the eyes of the Lord. He made peace with Israel. He removed the remnant of idolatry left in Judah. He made some ships that broke.

So he did some things that worked, and some that didn’t!

But for all of time he will be remembered as a King who did right. Many debate Ahab’s actions in going to war. One prophet said go, this is God’s will. Another said don’t go, you will die. So who should he listen to? And if you over think it, you can really get confused here on what is right.

But to you and I, only one thing seems right. He shouldn’t have gone to war. God allowed the prophet to show him this. But to those motivated by things other than God’s will, “right” can become confusing.

Do Right. You will do some things in life that are a success. You will do other things that are not. No matter what, just DO RIGHT.

It is not complicated or hard to figure out.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 22:1-28

The Story:

In this passage we get the conclusion of 1 Kings. We read of the end of Ahab’s life. We read a summary of Jehoshaphat. And we read a little of Ahab’s son who replaces him. Let me take you through these verses and give you our final applications from 1 Kings.

The Application:

One prophet told Ahab to go to war; another told him he would be killed. Ahab decided to do what he wanted to do and go… but, dress like someone else to keep him from getting killed. A stray shot from a random archer killed him!

Many points can be made from these verses, but if nothing else we should learn from this that we can’t have our cake and eat it too. We can’t ride the fence. We can’t have one foot in the world and one in church.

God sent Micaiah with one last chance for Ahab, but he didn’t take it. Elijah had already told him the dogs would get him. This is exactly what happens. He tried to have his cake and eat it too.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 22:1-28

If you read the last post, Ask Someone Else, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

In the text here, Ahab has grown impatient with Syria. After 3 years of peace they still have not fulfilled their treaty and given up the lands promised. Ahab and Jehoshaphat (Kings of Israel and Judah) decide together to go and take Ramoth as it is rightly theirs. Before they do Jehoshaphat asks Ahab to seek God’s wisdom/blessing. Ahab gathers 400 prophets who all tell him it is God’s will to go to war. Jehoshaphat asks if there is not another prophet of the Lord. Ahab says there is Micaiah, but he hates him because he never brings good news!

Micaiah eventually tells the Kings that they should not go to war. This angers Ahab and he decides Micaiah should be put in prison. As we will find out next time, they go to war and Ahab is killed.

The Application:

Obviously, Micaiah could be believed, but the leaders around him wouldn’t believe him. Even though he was trying to go with the flow! Once you become someone who sticks with the Truth, there is no turning back.

Ahab didn’t like what he heard. Even after hearing what he needed to hear from 400 others, 1 man’s words were messing things up. This could alter his plans with Jehoshaphat. This, if true, would mean the end of his life/reign. When you are wrong, the truth hurts. Take the “out” God gives and avoid the pain.

Micaiah suffered physically. He was hit in the face. He was publicly defaced. He was threatened with prison. We aren’t promised that things will always go well for us as we follow truth. At times, the Truth will hurt us.

The Conclusion:

Do you see the contrast here? There is Ahab and his 400 prophets with what seems like a good idea and plan. Then there is Jehoshaphat, seemingly just along for the ride… and Micaiah, the prophet nobody likes and who has bad news.

While much can be said about the contrasting personalities, the methodology, and the forthcoming end result…the key to this entire story seems to be the fact that God is offering Ahab an escape from himself, but he is too “right” to take it.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 22:1-28

If you read the last post, Pray About Everything, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

In the text here, Ahab has grown impatient with Syria. After 3 years of peace they still have not fulfilled their treaty and given up the lands promised. Ahab and Jehoshaphat (Kings of Israel and Judah) decide together to go and take Ramoth as it is rightly theirs. Before they do Jehoshaphat asks Ahab to seek God’s wisdom/blessing. Ahab gathers 400 prophets who all tell him it is God’s will to go to war. Jehoshaphat asks if there is not another prophet of the Lord. Ahab says there is Micaiah, but he hates him because he never brings good news!

Micaiah eventually tells the Kings that they should not go to war. This angers Ahab and he decides Micaiah should be put in prison. As we will find out next time, they go to war and Ahab is killed.

The Application:

Ahab had 400 prophets who agreed this was God’s plan. Jehoshaphat wondered, “Is there anyone else we can ask?” As dominant as mainstream can become, it never hurts to ask someone else. That one person, book, or idea may be the key to getting to the heart of the matter. Ask someone else.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 22:1-28

The Story:

In the text here, Ahab has grown impatient with Syria. After 3 years of peace they still have not fulfilled their treaty and given up the lands promised. Ahab and Jehoshaphat (Kings of Israel and Judah) decide together to go and take Ramoth as it is rightly theirs. Before they do Jehoshaphat asks Ahab to seek God’s wisdom/blessing. Ahab gathers 400 prophets who all tell him it is God’s will to go to war. Jehoshaphat asks if there is not another prophet of the Lord. Ahab says there is Micaiah, but he hates him because he never brings good news!

Micaiah eventually tells the Kings that they should not go to war. This angers Ahab and he decides Micaiah should be put in prison. As we will find out next time, they go to war and Ahab is killed.

The Application:

Jehoshaphat was willing to work with Ahab. He had a family alliance via marriage. He agreed that the move to recover Ramoth was beneficial. But he felt they should seek God’s will before moving forward.

No matter how open and shut a situation is, always seek God’s will. Pray about everything. Why would we ever not pray about something? We have access to the creator and ruler of the universe. We can speak with Him at anytime. Pray about everything.Consult scripture for wisdom. Get advice from trusted Godly friends.

Always seek God’s wisdom no matter how obviously right a situation may seem.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 21:7-16

If you read the last post, Leaders of the City, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

Last time we looked at Naboth and Ahab, this time we will continue this story with a look at Jezebel. In Naboth we saw an example of living by conviction. In Ahab we observe just the opposite, he is a complainer, pouter, liar, manipulative, and greedy.

What does Jezebel do? Jezebel scorns Ahab for being “heavy & displeased”. She tells him to get up and get happy…she will take care of things. So she devises a plot to have Naboth killed so that Ahab can have the vineyard he covets so much.

To grasp the depravity of Jezebel’s actions, we can also look at those around her… Never would we directly say that anyone in her life is the reason she is so wicked. She is just utterly depraved and these people aren’t going to change her. Similarly, you and I are in a world full of wicked people. We cannot change them. While God can, we need to realize that many will never change.

So what are we to do?

What is the only way for evil to triumph? (Good people do nothing…)

Let’s take our application from these verses about Jezebel by looking at those around her and what they did (didn’t).

The Application:

Let me just say simply here: Don’t be a worthless man. Don’t be a “patsy”. Don’t be so eager to please or be liked that you will do anything. If you live and die with nothing else, maintain your integrity.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 21:7-16

If you read the last post, Jezebel, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

Last time we looked at Naboth and Ahab, this time we will continue this story with a look at Jezebel. In Naboth we saw an example of living by conviction. In Ahab we observe just the opposite, he is a complainer, pouter, liar, manipulative, and greedy.

What does Jezebel do? Jezebel scorns Ahab for being “heavy & displeased”. She tells him to get up and get happy…she will take care of things. So she devises a plot to have Naboth killed so that Ahab can have the vineyard he covets so much.

To grasp the depravity of Jezebel’s actions, we can also look at those around her… Never would we directly say that anyone in her life is the reason she is so wicked. She is just utterly depraved and these people aren’t going to change her. Similarly, you and I are in a world full of wicked people. We cannot change them. While God can, we need to realize that many will never change.

So what are we to do?

What is the only way for evil to triumph? (Good people do nothing…)

Let’s take our application from these verses about Jezebel by looking at those around her and what they did (didn’t).

The Application:

In their defense, these leaders were simply working at the pleasure of their King.

Were they that naive? Really?

Were they that devoted to God that they would jump right at the opportunity to stone an accused man? Come on! Baal worship was rampant here. They could have walked out in the street and found 3 guilty people, and they are going to stone this accused. The only person killing off those guilty of anything was Elijah.

These leaders either feared Jezebel or were operating with blind obedience. Neither is a good way to live life. You cannot live a life motivated by fear. Many do as they are told at work for fear of being fired. This is a poor way to spend your working years. This is a disservice to your employer. Get out of debt, set a budget, and be financially able to not be motivated by fear in your work place.

Many act/react socially for fear of being disliked. You know the best solution for this? Stop sharing so much of your business. Some things just need to stay private. Become aware that not everyone is going to like you.

Many have a relationship of fear with God. We are to have a healthy fear of God, but when we only serve Him for fear of what He could do to us or those around us we don’t really have a relationship. You cannot live a life motivated by fear.

You cannot live a life of blind obedience. Yes, we are to obey those who have the rule over us. Yes, we are not to rebuke an Elder in the church. Yes, we are to work as asked by those who employ us. This doesn’t mean we aren’t to determine for ourselves if our employer is “right” and determine if we need a new job. This also doesn’t mean we should never question government and laws. Definitely this doesn’t mean we don’t study the Scriptures ourselves and just take what our church gives us as right. Don’t live a life of blind obedience, you may find yourself indirectly guilty of murder! Educate yourself. Be aware of the world you live in. Stand against evil before it takes over.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 21:7-16

The Story:

Last time we looked at Naboth and Ahab, this time we will continue this story with a look at Jezebel. In Naboth we saw an example of living by conviction. In Ahab we observe just the opposite, he is a complainer, pouter, liar, manipulative, and greedy.

What does Jezebel do? Jezebel scorns Ahab for being “heavy & displeased”. She tells him to get up and get happy…she will take care of things. So she devises a plot to have Naboth killed so that Ahab can have the vineyard he covets so much.

To grasp the depravity of Jezebel’s actions, we can also look at those around her… Never would we directly say that anyone in her life is the reason she is so wicked. She is just utterly depraved and these people aren’t going to change her. Similarly, you and I are in a world full of wicked people. We cannot change them. While God can, we need to realize that many will never change.

So what are we to do?

What is the only way for evil to triumph? (Good people do nothing…)

Let’s take our application from these verses about Jezebel by looking at those around her and what they did (didn’t do).

The Application:

Jezebel’s first words to Ahab were somewhat helpful. You are king! Get up and be happy. If things would have only stopped there, but from there things go down hill.

She writes letters in Ahab’s name. Ahab should not have allowed this. Well, he shouldn’t have allowed the plot at all…but surely he shouldn’t have allowed her to do it in his name. He shouldn’t have allowed it to happen through the office of the King of Israel. Even if Ahab will not stop Jezebel for the sake of himself and his home, he could at least deal with her for the sake of his office, God, or the nation of Israel. We’ll look at the leaders of the city in a moment, but in their defense these letters do come to them with the seal of the king. God help us to not sit idly by while bad people misuse God-given places of authority. Ahab was more concerned with what he wanted and could not have. Really, who is more depraved here? Jezebel, a raised Baal worshipper, or Ahab, King of Israel allowing this to happen?

She devises a plot to have a man wrongfully stoned. No matter your feelings on the ethics of this story, having someone killed is murder. How could Ahab sit by while someone is murdered just so he can have a material possession? (Nothing is worth that) Not only is this murder, but it is also a misuse of OT law. She uses God’s words & law as the means to her end. Can you grasp how awful the thing Ahab is allowing truly is? It’s not just a “let’s kill this guy to get what you want”, this is a “let’s use your God-given office as the power needed to cause others to act upon the Word of God to have them murder Naboth” to get what you want.

No matter how bad you get in this life, eventually there has to be a line drawn where you stand and say, “this is enough.”

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 21:1-6

If you read the last post, Naboth, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

As we left Ahab last he was heavy and displeased. He had twice defeated Ben-Hadad. Neither time was he able to enjoy it & had really gotten things wrong.

Here we find him interacting with Naboth. Naboth has a vineyard next to Ahab’s palace. Ahab would like the vineyard since it is near his property. He offers Naboth another vineyard or money in exchange.

Naboth will not give King Ahab the vineyard. So again we find Ahab “heavy and displeased”.

As Ahab sits around and pouts, Jezebel notices. Hearing Ahab’s sob story, Jezebel decides to take care of things. She has Naboth killed and gives the vineyard to Ahab.

For the application, let’s look in detail at each of the characters we
read.

The Application: Ahab

As we study this text, it should be that the person we attribute great conviction to is Ahab, King of Israel, leader of God’s people. Sadly, this is not the case. All we see about Ahab is that he is a pouter, discontented, makes poor choices, and is driven by emotion (not conviction).

We begin this writing with Ahab in a mood. He just won a battle (2x) and still is not on good terms with God. He cannot seem to get it right. It goes like this in life when you mix allegiance. Ahab was following whichever god suited him best at the time. Things never go right when we operate like this.

Naboth’s reasoning in v.3 should have ended this for Ahab.
“Yes, you can’t give it to me,” should have been his reply. As king of God’s people, Ahab should have been first in line to stick with God’s law. Instead, he goes to bed, pouts, and refuses to eat! So we have a grown man, the king, laying around pouting. All because someone has something they won’t let him have! These are the actions of a 5 year old.

Ahab then lies to Jezebel to get what he wants. He forgets to mention that Naboth had a very good reason. All he tells her is that he offered money or another property. This paints Naboth as just unreasonable.

Hopefully we don’t see ourselves in any of Ahab’s actions. If so, we can also see what we need to work on.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 21:1-6

The Story:

As we left Ahab last he was heavy and displeased. He had twice defeated Ben-Hadad. Neither time was he able to enjoy it & had really gotten things wrong.

Here we find him interacting with Naboth. Naboth has a vineyard next to Ahab’s palace. Ahab would like the vineyard since it is near his property. He offers Naboth another vineyard or money in exchange.

Naboth will not give King Ahab the vineyard. So again we find Ahab “heavy and displeased”.

As Ahab sits around and pouts, Jezebel notices. Hearing Ahab’s sob story, Jezebel decides to take care of things. She has Naboth killed and gives the vineyard to Ahab.

For the application, let’s look in detail at each of the characters we
read.

The Application: Naboth

In refusing to sell, Naboth is not being unreasonable. His reason is honorable. He is not just trying to hold on to land, or be greedy. He isn’t trying to play hard ball with the King.

Naboth feels a biblical conviction not to sell his land. He considers the sale of this land a violation of the biblical law of inherited land. See Numbers 27:8-11.

It would be beneficial for Naboth to sell this land. This was an offer from the King, money was probably not an issue here. Also, the replacement land would likely be very good. Not to mention the benefit of helping the king out.

It is very dangerous for Naboth to keep this land. We read that Naboth is killed over it. Even if they had not killed him, going against the king is a BIG deal.

Aware of all of this…Naboth refuses to sell. He stood on his conviction. A conviction is something we are willing to die for, Naboth died. A preference is something we would like, but don’t intend to die for. A conviction is something you have truth on. (i.e. Num 27) A preference is something just based on facts. Preference is left for us to decide, convictions are truths already decided and out of our hands. Naboth was not left with a decision of, “…can I sell and still be right…” He was left with, “I can sell and be wrong or not sell and be right.” This left the results out of his hands. What a wonderful example of living with conviction. We should all be people of conviction with our decisions guided by the truths of God’s word.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.

Applications from 1 Kings 

1 Kings 20:31-43

If you read the last post, Doing what I don’t want to do, please skip ahead to the application.

The Story:

The story here here has two separate elements that bring us to the conclusion: Ben-hadad comes to Ahab and asks for mercy which he receives. A prophet disguises himself to bring God & judgment to Ahab. The conclusion we reach is that God will punish Ahab for making up with Ben-Hadad.

The Application:

Just as the prophet Nathan dealt with King David, this unnamed prophet deals with King Ahab. (2 Samuel 12:1-12) Similarly Ahab here gives his own judgment. (v.39-40) Ironically, he was judged for disobeying…we the reader get a double warning of this here from the prophet and the king.

See Matthew 7:1-5…

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:2

We will be judged the way we judge others. “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.” (Proverbs 26:27) “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it…” (Ecclesiastes 10:8)

We should be as gracious with others as we would expect for ourselves. How would we want things if we were in their place? Would we see this differently if we had walked a mile in their shoes? We will be judged the way we judge.

Conclusion:

Have you been living unto self, satisfied with “at least having your pride”? Are living in obedience to God, or do you stop when left to do things you don’t want to do? How are you judging, do you give others the leash you would give yourself?

Pastor Chanc Strickland

Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.