Today’s passage: 1 Kings 22:29-53
Helpful thoughts:
- The king of Syria was Ben-Hadad, the one whom Ahab had spared.
- In the account of this event in 2 Chronicles 18, we learn that Jehoshaphat cried out to the LORD specifically. And, that God heard his prayer and steered the Syrians away from him.
- Perhaps hearing the king cry out to the LORD for help was part of their realization that this wasn’t Ahab!
- From man’s perspective, that arrow was drawn at random. With God, nothing is random.
- There is a prophecy fulfilled in verse 38. See chapter 21, verse 19.
- There is also an illustration presented. Ahab here represents the spiritual harlotry of Israel, having left her covenant with the LORD, and now these harlots are bathing with the blood of the king who continually drew them away.
Questions to consider:
- In what ways was God’s word shown to be reliable in this passage? What promises of God will encourage you today?
- In what way does it looked like Jehoshaphat learned his lesson? Compare verses 43-44 and 48-49. Why would it have been difficult for Judah and Israel to truly be united at this time? What set them (Or should have set them) apart?
- As we complete this book of the Old Testament, what have you learned about man? What have you learned about God? What have you learned about Israel’s (And all peoples’) need of redemption? How has the overall narrative of the Bible moved forward?