Ahab Condemned
February 18, 2022
Commentary
Once again Israel was severely outnumbered by the Syrians (vv. 26-27). In comparison with the vast host of the Arameans the Israelite forces looked like two small flocks of goats (v. 27). God was their only hope of victory and He was about to demonstrate His power in a most vivid way. The sovereign God of all creation was fighting for Israel.
When they engaged in battle the Syrians faced the proverbial “out of the frying pan and into the fire” experience (vv. 28-29). They lost l00,000 men and the rest of their troops took refuge inside the city walls of Aphek (v. 29). But God killed an additional 27,000 by causing the city wall to collapse on them (v. 30).
While Ben-hadad was hiding in an inner room of a city building, his officials advised him to give himself up and plead for mercy. Ben-hadad’s servants appealed for Ahab’s sympathy. As a result the two kings met and an agreement was made where Ben-hadad pledged to return the cities his father had taken from Ahab’s father (vv. 31-34). In addition Ben-hadad offered trade privileges to Ahab in Damascus. Ahab’s motive was to use Syria as a buffer in the event of an invasion by Assyria.
Ahab’s action called for God’s judgement (vv. 35-36). It was not his prerogative to dictate terms of peace for a victory God had won. Ahab’s motive for sparing Ben-hadad revealed a lack of trust in God to exercise His power against Assyria as He had done against Syria. As in Nathan’s story to David (2 Sam. 12:1–7) the king responded to the prophet in words that judged himself (vv. 37-43).
Application
“By their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:20). I need to be examing my “fruits” to see if they are good or bad, useful or wild?
Isaiah 5:1– 7 (NET)
1 I will sing to my loveā a song to my lover about his vineyard. My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill.
2 He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine. He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a winepress. He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead.
3 So now, residents of Jerusalem, people of Judah, you decide between me and my vineyard!
4 What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done? When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead?
5 Now I will inform you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture, I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there.
6 I will make it a wasteland; no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, and thorns and briers will grow there. I will order the clouds not to drop any rain on it.
7 Indeed, Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heavenās Armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he gotādisobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he gotācries for help!
Illustration: Don’t Bruise the Fruit
To pick an avocado off a tree, you attach a coffee can to a long pole and raise it up under the avocado and then you jiggle the fruit. If it is ripe it will come off the tree easily. If it is not yet ripe, don’t be rough with it because you don’t want to bruise the fruit. So also in sharing Christ, if the person is not ready, don’t bruise the fruit. (Kent Tucker – Sermon Central)