Bad Choices
Life Lessons From Elijah • Sermon • Submitted
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1 Kings 22:51-2 Kings 1:18
51 Ahaziah son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.
52 But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.
53 He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
1 After King Ahab’s death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel.
2 One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.
3 But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?
4 Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’ ” So Elijah went to deliver the message.
5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned so soon?”
6 They replied, “A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. ‘This is what the Lord says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’ ”
7 “What sort of man was he?” the king demanded. “What did he look like?”
8 They replied, “He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.” “Elijah from Tishbe!” the king exclaimed.
9 Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”
10 But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.
11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”
12 Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.
13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.
14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”
15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.
16 And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”
17 So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
18 The rest of the events in Ahaziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
INTRODUCTION:
A- Background
1- Ahab died in battle, just as God said that he would.
2- Arab's and Jezebel’s son, Ahaziah, ascends to the throne Of Israel.
a- This one brief account is all we have in scripture about Ahaziah, King of Israel.
(1) This Ahaziah is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:35-37.
b- Another Ahaziah mentioned later in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles is the King of Judah, son of King Jehoram.
B- The key to understanding the events of 2 Kings chapter 1 is found in 1 Kings 22:52.
52 But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.
TS: Notice some disastrous mistakes King Ahaziah, son of Ahab and Jezebel, made that cut his reign and life short.
I- HE CHOSE TO FOLLOW THE WRONG EXAMPLES. (1 KINGS 22:51-53)
I- HE CHOSE TO FOLLOW THE WRONG EXAMPLES. (1 KINGS 22:51-53)
51 Ahaziah son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.
52 But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.
53 He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
A- He followed the examples of his parents.
A- He followed the examples of his parents.
1- King Ahab was known for his wickedness and misleading of Israel deeper into idolatry.
(1 Kings 16:29-33)
29 Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.
30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.
31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.
32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria.
33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.
2- Queen Jezebel was idolatrous, conniving, ruthless and selfish.
(1 Kings 19:2; 21:7-10)
2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”
7 “Are you the king of Israel or not?” Jezebel demanded. “Get up and eat something, and don’t worry about it. I’ll get you Naboth’s vineyard!”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and other leaders of the town where Naboth lived.
9 In her letters she commanded: “Call the citizens together for a time of fasting, and give Naboth a place of honor.
10 And then seat two scoundrels across from him who will accuse him of cursing God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
3- Together, Ahaziah’s parents provided the worst possible role models.
B- He followed the example of King Jereboam, son of Nebat, of Israel.
B- He followed the example of King Jereboam, son of Nebat, of Israel.
1- Jereboam was the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel after the ten tribes split from following King Rehaboam, son of Solomon. Effectively dividing the united Israel into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah).
2- Jereboam’s story is found in 1 Kings 11:26-14:20.
a- Jereboam was appointed by God to be king of the northern 10 tribes (Israel) (1 Kings 11:26-38) (1 Kings 12:15)
b- Out of fear, Jeroboam instituted idolatry in the northern kingdom to preserve his power and position. (1 Kings 12:26-28)
26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David.
27 When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.”
28 So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!”
c- He appointed priests to head up his false religion against the will of God and in opposition to God’s Word. (1 Kings 12:31)
31 Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people—those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi.
d- Jeroboam instituted religious festivals that competed with the feasts prescribed by God. (1 Kings 12:32-33)
32 And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made.
33 So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.
C- We must be careful whose example we choose to follow!
C- We must be careful whose example we choose to follow!
1- Making the wrong choice is easy.
(Matthew 7:13)
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
2- We must ask some serious and searching questions to keep from making wrong choices.
(a) Does this choice lead me into a deeper relationship with Christ?
(2 Peter 3:18)
18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
(b) Will this choice leave a godly legacy for those whom I will leave behind?
Example of Joshua
(Joshua 24:15)
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
(c) What kind of testimony does the person have whose example I am wanting to follow?
(1 Corinthians 11:1)
1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
II- HE CONSULTED THE WRONG GOD FOR ANSWERS. (2 KINGS 1:1-4)
II- HE CONSULTED THE WRONG GOD FOR ANSWERS. (2 KINGS 1:1-4)
1 After King Ahab’s death, the land of Moab rebelled against Israel.
2 One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.
3 But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?
4 Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’ ” So Elijah went to deliver the message.
A- Ahaziah consulted the wrong god For the answer. (2 KINGS 1:2)
A- Ahaziah consulted the wrong god For the answer. (2 KINGS 1:2)
2 One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.
1- He sent his servants to consult with Baal-Zebub, the false god of Ekron.
a- Baal-Zebub means “Lord of the Flies.”
1- He was considered to be the god of healing.
(a) It’s image was a large file with the head of Jupiter.
(b) thought to have power over disease-carrying insects such as flies.
2- His choice was likely due to the Baal worshipping of his parents.
B- Ahaziah asked the wrong question. (2 KINGS 1:2-4)
B- Ahaziah asked the wrong question. (2 KINGS 1:2-4)
2 One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.
3 But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?
4 Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’ ” So Elijah went to deliver the message.
1- He did not seek healing, just information.
a- Wanted to know the future. “Will I recover?”
2- He could have asked God for healing.
a- example- Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1-6)
1 About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
3 “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.
4 But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord:
5 “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.
6 I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’ ”
C- We must be careful who we turn to for life’s answers.
C- We must be careful who we turn to for life’s answers.
1- We sometimes turn to the gods of this world to find life’s answers.
a- Wealth
b- Popularity
C- politics
2- We fail to ask the right answers.
(James 4:2)
2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
III- HE CONSIDERED GOD’S SERVANT TO BE HIS ENEMY. (2 KINGS 1:5-13)
III- HE CONSIDERED GOD’S SERVANT TO BE HIS ENEMY. (2 KINGS 1:5-13)
5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned so soon?”
6 They replied, “A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. ‘This is what the Lord says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’ ”
7 “What sort of man was he?” the king demanded. “What did he look like?”
8 They replied, “He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.” “Elijah from Tishbe!” the king exclaimed.
9 Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”
10 But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.
11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”
12 Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.
13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.
A- Ahaziah reacted in fear and anger when he found out who had sent the message. (2 Kings 1:5-8)
A- Ahaziah reacted in fear and anger when he found out who had sent the message. (2 Kings 1:5-8)
5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned so soon?”
6 They replied, “A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. ‘This is what the Lord says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’ ”
7 “What sort of man was he?” the king demanded. “What did he look like?”
8 They replied, “He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.” “Elijah from Tishbe!” the king exclaimed.
1- He knew that the messengers returned too quickly to have gone to Ekron.
2- He questioned his messengers as to the source of their message.
3- He realized that the messenger was Elijah, the old enemy of his father and mother.
4- He decided that Elijah was his enemy, too.
B- Ahaziah sought revenge against Elijah. (2 KINGS 1:9-13)
B- Ahaziah sought revenge against Elijah. (2 KINGS 1:9-13)
9 Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”
10 But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.
11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”
12 Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.
13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.
1- Due to Jezebel’s and Arab's hatred of Elijah, a bounty was likely still on his head.
2- Ahaziah ordered the capture (and likely execution) of Elijah.
3- He sent 50-man companies of soldiers to seek out and capture Elijah.
4- Elijah calls upon God to confirm that he was God’s man.
C- We must choose to respond correctly to the word of God.
C- We must choose to respond correctly to the word of God.
1- We need to accept the word of God for what it is - God’s word!
(2 Timothy 3:16)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
(1 Thessalonians 1:6,9)
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.
2- We must recognize that the messenger of God is not our enemy.
IV- HE CALLOUSLY REBELLED TO THE BITTER END. (2 KINGS 1:14-18)
IV- HE CALLOUSLY REBELLED TO THE BITTER END. (2 KINGS 1:14-18)
14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”
15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.
16 And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”
17 So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
18 The rest of the events in Ahaziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
A- Elijah delivered God’s message. (2 Kings 1:14-16)
A- Elijah delivered God’s message. (2 Kings 1:14-16)
14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”
15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.
16 And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”
1- Elijah was encouraged by God to trust Him and go deliver the message.
2- Elijah went to Ahaziah and delivered God’s message.
B- Ahaziah refused to repent and suffered the consequences. (2 Kings 1:17-18)
B- Ahaziah refused to repent and suffered the consequences. (2 Kings 1:17-18)
17 So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
18 The rest of the events in Ahaziah’s reign and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.
1- He made the decision to continue in his rebellion.
2- He could have repented and asked for grace.
Even his father Ahab had the sense to repent.
(1 Kings 21:27-29)
27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.
28 Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah:
29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.”
C- We must repent of our rebellion and seek God’s mercy.
C- We must repent of our rebellion and seek God’s mercy.
1- The greatest mistake we can make is to continue in a pathway of rebellion against God.
2- It is God’s desire that we repent and receive his mercy.
(2 Peter 3:9)
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
CONCLUSION: