The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 20:40,
"'That is your sentence,' the king of Israel said. 'You have pronounced it yourself.'"
The King here is Ahab and the verdict he gave was actually to a prophet and was unaware the prophet had approached him with a ruse from the Lord to help him understand his duplicity.
The Lord wanted to replace Ben-Hadad as king of Aram and had provided Ahab a military victory over the Arameans. Rather than having Ben-Hadad put to death, Ahab made a treaty with him and spared him.
Along came a prophet of the Lord to Ahab disguised and with a story that would force him to recognize his failure, "Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, 'Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.' While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared." Ahab's response was, "That is your sentence... You have pronounced it yourself." Verse 40.
Following this we read, "Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. He said to the king, 'This is what the Lord says: "You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people."'" Verses 41-42.
The Lord has used this format in other places to help whomever see the error of their ways. One notable such instance was the prophet Nathan with David in the account of David's adultery with Uriah's wife and then having him murdered.
Why does the Lord employ such a method when bringing his indictment? From my perspective, the guilt of someone is exquisitely illustrated with such precision that the guilty party can only hang their head in agreement. We are told that following this encounter, "Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria." Verse 43.
"'That is your sentence,' the king of Israel said. 'You have pronounced it yourself.'"
The King here is Ahab and the verdict he gave was actually to a prophet and was unaware the prophet had approached him with a ruse from the Lord to help him understand his duplicity.
The Lord wanted to replace Ben-Hadad as king of Aram and had provided Ahab a military victory over the Arameans. Rather than having Ben-Hadad put to death, Ahab made a treaty with him and spared him.
Along came a prophet of the Lord to Ahab disguised and with a story that would force him to recognize his failure, "Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, 'Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.' While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared." Ahab's response was, "That is your sentence... You have pronounced it yourself." Verse 40.
Following this we read, "Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. He said to the king, 'This is what the Lord says: "You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people."'" Verses 41-42.
The Lord has used this format in other places to help whomever see the error of their ways. One notable such instance was the prophet Nathan with David in the account of David's adultery with Uriah's wife and then having him murdered.
Why does the Lord employ such a method when bringing his indictment? From my perspective, the guilt of someone is exquisitely illustrated with such precision that the guilty party can only hang their head in agreement. We are told that following this encounter, "Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria." Verse 43.
Often we are all too aware of our sins. However, we are all susceptible to deceiving ourselves such that we fail to recognize possibly even greater failures. When the Lord is done with us in his judgment, that will never be the case. I am quite certain no argument will be advanced by anyone on judgment day. The Lord will have all agreeing with him their rightful place will be in that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8. Yes, there will be pleading and attempts at bargaining with the Lord, but all will recognize the rightness of God's judgment.
How thankful I am that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for all my sins! Not just the ones I recognize but also those I fail to recognize in my own deceit. In our sinful condition, it is all too easy for us to deceive ourselves.
All the Lord asked of me was to trust in him.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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