Elijah Denounces Ahaziah. 2 Kings 1:1-8
The Decline and Fall of Israel and Judah
INTRODUCTION
The Second Book of Kings is a continuation of the First. It records the reigns of fifteen kings in Judah and of eleven kings in Israel. In Judah the dynasty of David continued to the end, while in Israel there were nine changes of dynasty.
The northern kingdom maintained an unbroken course of idolatry, until the nation was ripe for destruction. The end came in 722 B.C., when Samaria was taken by the Assyrians. Judah continued her course for nearly 150 years longer. But in spite of the efforts of prophets and good kings, the tide of idolatry could not be stayed, and Jerusalem fell before the Babylonians, 586 B.C. Nothing but the Exile could avail to purify the nation and restore the spirit of true worship.
I. FROM THE REIGN OF AHAZIAH TO THE FALL OF SAMARIA, 1Ki_22:51 – 2Ki_17:1-41; 2Ki_18:9-12
1. The Reign of Ahaziah, 1Ki_22:51 – 2Ki_1:18
1. What was the result of Ahaziah’s attempt to inquire of Baal-zebub?
ELIJAH DENOUNCES AHAZIAH
Now Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
Ahaziah [the king of Israel] fell through the lattice (grid) in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became sick [from the injury]. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this sickness.”
But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘You [Ahaziah] will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.'” So Elijah departed.
When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he said to them, “Why have you returned [so soon]?”
They replied, “A man came up to meet us and said to us, ‘Go, return to the king who sent you and tell him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you send to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed on which you lie, but you will certainly die.'”‘”
The king asked them, “What was the appearance of the man who came up to meet you and said these things to you?”
They answered him, “He was a hairy man with a [wide] leather band bound around his loins.” And Ahaziah said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”
ELIJAH DENOUNCES AHAZIAH
A MESSAGE FROM THE TRUE GOD
The king’s accident was probably due to the giving way of the balustrade that surrounded the roof of his palace. The Law expressly provided that this lattice-work should be made very strong to obviate just such an occurrence, Deu_22:8. Let us be careful to maintain the barriers of good custom, whether of purity, or total abstinence, or the observance of the Lord’s day. In this manner we shall preserve our children and ourselves from peril. All good habits are strong battlements.
To reach Ekron the messengers must pass Jerusalem. What a direct insult to Jehovah! Even Ahab had some regard for Micaiah, but Ahaziah went beyond his father in openly flouting the religion of David and Moses. In the interests of the whole nation, this insult could not be passed over in silence, and at God’s bidding Elijah appeared upon the scene. He rebuked the messengers for their idolatrous quest and told them that the king would surely die. They returned with the report that a man clad in a hairy garment had met them, and had said that the king would not recover. It was enough. The apprehensions of Ahaziah’s guilty conscience were confirmed, and he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite!”
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