Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Jun 26 2019 - 1 Kings 22:1-40 – The death of Ahab

You will remember that after the death of Solomon, the kingdom of God's people split in two. The larger northern kingdom (confusingly called Israel), had separated from the smaller southern kingdom of Judah with its capital in Jerusalem. Both appear in today's passage with King Ahab referred to as "The king of Israel", and the king of Judah referred to by his name, Jehoshaphat.

Aram was a kingdom that lay to the North-East of Israel. It was later to become part of the empire of Syria. The chapter begins with Aram and Israel having been at war for three years.

In the third year, "Jehoshaphat king of Judah went … to see the king of Israel." Jehoshaphat may have been hoping for a reconciliation between the two kingdoms but he was clearly entering dangerous territory. Despite the showdown on Mount Carmel, Ahab was still committed to the worship of idol gods. Ahab saw this visit as a chance to try to gain an ally in his war against Aram: "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?" he asks.

Jehoshaphat replies "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." He recognises that the two kingdoms are one people, the descendants of Abraham, the children of Israel whom God brought out of slavery and into the Promised Land. But Jehoshaphat will not join forces with Ahab unless the Lord gives his blessing on their plans (v. 5).

Ahab first calls his tame prophets who naturally endorse his plans. But Jehoshaphat insists that they must hear from a prophet of the Lord – a prophet of Yahweh. The only prophet Ahab can lay his hands on is Micaiah of whom Ahab says, "he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad" (v. 8). Micaiah seems to have been held in prison by Ahab (see vv. 26-27).

At first Micaiah gave Ahab the same message as the false prophets. But he must have done so in a way that made it clear that he was mocking Ahab, for the king asks him to speak what the Lord has given to him. Micaiah then prophesied that Israel will be scattered on the hills with no-one to lead them. He added that the Lord had prompted the false prophets to give Ahab a message which would encourage him into war and result in his death. For Micaiah's pains he is returned to prison.

But Ahab has another trick up his sleeve. He persuades the naïve and foolish Jehoshaphat to go to war with him clothed in all the regalia of royalty while he, Ahab, goes in the ordinary dress of a soldier. As might easily have been expected, Jehoshaphat then becomes the focus of the attacks of the Aramean army – though he manages to escape with his life. An Aramean archer however, firing his arrow at random into the mass of his enemies, hits Ahab between the sections of his armour. Ahab was propped up in his chariot where he bled to death. The chariot was later washed clean at a pool in Samaria where prostitutes bathed. There dogs licked up his blood, just as Elijah had prophesied.

In this sad story we see that behind all the schemes of human history the hand of God is at work to accomplish his own purposes. That arrow, fired at random, was directed to Ahab by the hand of God. More than that, it hit just the right spot to get between the sections of his armour and pierce his body. God's directing providence is accurate and effective.

We also can mount all manner of defences to protect ourselves from submission to God's word. We may make careful plans to live our life our own way and to accomplish our own goals. But God is able to direct his arrows, pierce our armour and strike the heart: "the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Thank you Heavenly Father that you pierced the armour of my defences not to kill me but to give me life in the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach me always to listen to your word and respond readily to the call of the Saviour on my life. Keep me from naïve and foolish schemes.

Jun 26 2020 - Acts 22:17-23:10 – The hope of resurrection

The Roman commander who had arrested Paul was astounded when he learnt that he was a Roman citizen. It meant that Paul could not be flogged or subjected to any other form of punishment without the due process of the Roman law. The commander needed to find out exactly what Paul had done to draw such opposition and hatred from the Jews. So he called the Jewish authorities to meet in his presence and set Paul before them. They could then bring their accusations against Paul and Paul would have the opportunity to defend himself.

As Paul declared that he had served God with a good conscience right down to this day, the high priest commanded that he be struck on the mouth. Paul was indignant in his response; he had come to be judged by the law yet had been struck unlawfully. Paul could see that he was not going to get a fair hearing in this setting.

So, knowing that his accusers were made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees, Paul proclaimed that he was a Pharisee and was on trial because of his hope of the resurrection of the dead. This divided the opposition with many of the Pharisees now siding with Paul and saying that they could not see that he had done anything wrong while the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection (or perhaps any form of afterlife) now argued not only against Paul but against the Pharisees in their party.

Paul’s words were more than a clever trick to divert attention from himself; his statement was genuine. For Paul, the gospel message centred in a belief in the resurrection of the dead. Much that Paul had learned at the feet of Gamaliel and had fired his imagination as a Pharisee remained with him to this day. He had believed all that was spoken in the Law and the prophets. He believed that God had determined to liberate his people from oppression as he had done before in the days of Moses. He believed that God would send a king to govern his people who would be greater than King David. He believed that when the Messiah came to establish his kingdom a new age would dawn, an age marked by the resurrection of the dead and the drawing of the Gentiles to the God of Israel. All this Paul had believed before; all this he continued to believe now.

But in another sense, all that Paul had believed had been turned upside down. He now knew that the Messiah had come. Jesus the crucified Messiah had been raised from the dead; he is the firstborn from the dead, the beginning and the guarantee of the general resurrection. His resurrection is a powerful demonstration by God that Jesus is the Christ and is Lord of all. The age to come has broken into the middle of history and God’s saving purposes have burst out of the confines of Judaism. The resurrection of the dead – Jesus’ resurrection – was foundational to Paul’s ministry, including his ministry to the Gentiles. Paul had not thrown off his Pharisaic beliefs; they had been confirmed, fulfilled and transformed with the coming of Jesus the Christ.

Father God, thank you that Jesus who died for us has been raised from the dead, exalted in the heavens and declared to be both Lord and Christ. Thank you that nothing can ever be the same again. By you Spirit, fill us with resurrection life and resurrection hope. And may that life burst out of the confines of our lives to embrace many of those whose lives we touch that at the name of Jesus every knee may bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Peter Misselbrook