Elijah (22) God’s Ways in Evil Days (1 Kings 21)

Morning Service, John Stasse, 10 Jan 2010

As we look at the world with wrong often prevailing over right, where the godly are persecuted and some are even killed, don’t we at times wonder what is happening? Are we not tempted to ask ‘Where is God?’ If God is a righteous God why does He allow sin, why not stop it?

The world certainly throws that question at us as if it is the definitive proof against God’s existence or at least of His love and power to do anything.

This is the picture of world events that is brought into focus in 1 Kings 21, but it also brings into focus the way God works.

Now we are deliberately skipping chapter 20 for the reason that Elijah is not mentioned in it. However, we do need to note its impact on this chapter. There we see that Ahab through the mercy of God gained 2 mighty victories against the invading Syrians. As a result his kingdom enjoyed a large measure of peace and security, and could now turn his attention to domestic ad personal matters.

We are told that Ahab was not at Samaria, which was his capital, but at Jezreel which was a kind of summer palace, a place where he could relax and refresh himself away from the duties of state.

Here Ahab is found looking out from his palace, surveying his property, and not unlike many do today he gets the idea of doing some extensions. In fact he sees the adjoining vineyard of Naboth as ideal for this and his heart covets it. Ahab goes to Naboth and makes an offer for it, to buy or exchange. But to Ahab’s surprise Naboth was not interesting in selling – at any price.

In this way Naboth is introduced to us as a godly man in an ungodly age.

We notice in v.3 that he refers to God as Yahweh, making it clear his allegiance was not to Baal but to the God of Israel. Indeed that he used that name before this king, who had previously embraced Baal and had only recently and reluctantly acknowledged God, shows that he was a man of serious and earnest spiritual commitment. He did not hide his faith even before an unscrupulous and inconsistent and self-serving king.

We also notice that he knew the Word of God, quoting to the king the principle of Numbers 36:7 which forbids the permanent transfer of property. By this law God intended each of the tribes to retain their inheritance instead of it all ending up in the hand of one or two tribes and as a result displacing the others. This was no bargaining technique, nor was it a legalistic observance but principled obedience for we see that Naboth had a genuine concern for he recoils from breaching it; a feeling of horror filled his heart. He put God and His Word above financial gain (which would’ve been significant in a ‘name your price’ market) and personal favour before the mightiest in the land, the king.

In short here is a godly man who was subject to the revealed will of God, and prepared to face any consequence from this self-serving petulant king rather than deny the Lord and ignore His Word. In this he showed tremendous spiritual grace and strength.

Ahab’s reaction was certainly petulant. He threw a tantrum, storming back to Samaria and to sulk like a little child deprived of getting his own way, which is the condition that Jezebel found him in – sulking on his bed.

Jezebel’s true character is also shown as she devises a plot on the spot. It even has a religious flavour! Despite the fact that she hated the Law of God she uses it against Naboth, as if to say. ‘You want to use the Law; well I will use that law against you, to create your destruction!’ Jezebel knew the Law!

She commits forgery, hypocrisy (proclaiming a fast giving the impression that the city was under God’s judgement for some undisclosed reason), and then when the city fathers are predisposed to think there is sin in their camp and whilst Naboth is given a place of prominence at the subsequent feast she commits perjury by the hands of others accusing Naboth of blasphemy. It is hardly surprising that they took him out and stoned him (v.13). Nothing then stood in Ahab’s way but as king to seize this land and to enact his original covetous plans. Such selfish disrespect for and the abuse of the life of others, just to satisfy their whims and desires! As far as Jezebel was concerned Naboth’s life was not as important as her desires. Other people don’t matter, except as a means to an end – it is only what she wanted that mattered.

Is this not the spirit that is increasingly seen in our day? Trampling over others in business, school or social groupings to get to the top. The life-ruining unfaithfulness in marriage relationships where a spouse wants their sexual desires satisfied no matter who they hurt in the process – spouse, children, family, friends. Tantrums, manipulations, legal thuggery… all too often met with a turning of the blind eye and a passive smirk of acceptance.

Yet as a preservative against despair by the apparent triumph of evil over good, of Ahab and Jezebel getting away with the perfect crime, we are informed in the second half of the chapter that Ahab is encountered by Elijah and receives the prophet’s terrible message of judgement on Ahab, Jezebel and their family. By which we are reminded that there is always more to be told, more to happen, and that we ought not be hasty to comment on circumstances let alone God’s dealings, and God’s promise to withhold His judgement for a time, until after Ahab’s death. It will not be immediate, and though he knows about it, he will not have to see it completed.

Now considering this we notice, firstly, that

This record identifies what God saw done in the private chamber of the King, the secret deal between Jezebel and Naboth’s accusers; it even reveals the secrets of Ahab and Jezebel’s hearts. Nothing of their wickedness is missed, nothing is neglected, nothing is ignored.

Jezebel’s plan seemed to be the perfect crime, it was accomplished perfectly, and Ahab had thought he had gotten away with it. Then he saw Elijah who effectively says, God knows!

The perspective of Scripture is that all things are uncovered before the eyes of God. That is the lesson that Adam and Eve learnt, that Cain learnt, but the lesson too readily forgotten by all people.

We have all done things we are confident we have gotten away with – no one in your family, at work, in the church knows; as time goes by the sigh of relief becomes more confident, and eventually you don’t think about it anymore. It may be different to the things I have done, but we all know many such things. But though it is almost forgotten in our mind, it is fresh in God’s mind!

Jesus warned that this can happen even in true Christians, “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” (Lk 12:1-3) How holy we can appear before the faithful, yet what hypocrites we may be underneath.

What if Jesus should reveal to me some of these sins now. How would you react as I then confronted you in the presence of all these here? Would your face be drained of blood, your heart beat quicken as a backlog of sins you thought you had buried are resurrected?

Praise God there is no secret sin that cannot be cleansed by the blood of Christ, such that God’s searching eye can’t find anything against which to bring accusation, it being cast away as far as the east from the west (Ps 103:12).

But God doesn’t say that about any sin that you are hiding in the shadows of impenitence; only of those you bring out to Him in honesty and repentance. In 1 John 1:9 the blessing promised is “to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” but the pre-condition on the believer’s part is “If we confess our sins”. Yes Jesus’ death dealt with that sin and enables pardon, but we are still required to confess. In Prov 28:13 we read “He that covers his sins shall not prosper”.

God calls the unbeliever to repent and seek His mercy. But even the child of God will not know rest while they bury their sin. (See also Psalm 6)

Obviously God could have stopped Ahab and Jezebel from realising their sinful, and Naboth from being falsely condemned and executed.

But it is as if God had His hand tied behind His back, and no one could pull it out, as we read in Ps 74:10-11, “O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.”

God watches all the events, but seemingly does nothing.

Jesus’ death is the ultimate example of the triumph for a while of evil over good. But we all know to our comfort that God permitted this for a greater good – our salvation. We need to remember the reality of God’s permissive will in allowing evil to triumph over good for a time. Failure to understand this truth produces:

(i) arrogance and false security in the sinner. In Ps 50:21 God says to such “These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you”. But how foolish they were for God adds, “But I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes.”

(ii) perplexing and shaking of faith in the believer, as we see in Psalm 73. It was only when he adopted the perspective of eternity and remembered that what is seen in life is not mirrored after death, and that God is a righteous Judge who will respond, that his faith is returned.

In such times we ought to commit our case to God who judges righteously and rest in God whose thoughts and ways are above ours (Isa 55:8-9).

But notice here: it is only for a time. In time God’s judgement will come and the triumph of evil will be seen for what it is – temporary and over-ruled for a greater purpose. God will eventually fulfil His promised judgement upon sinners. This is what we see in the unfolding of Ahab’s story, where we see the reality of judgement against Ahab (1 Ki 22:34, 37-38), his sons (2 Ki 10:17), and Jezebel (2 Ki 9:30-37).

The point is that God is a God who even though He permits evil to triumph for a time it is only for a time, and while His judgement may seem to be way off, He is a God who will eventually punish. This point was well made by the sermon title of an old Baptist preacher on Jezebel’s death. He called it ‘Payday Someday’.

Elijah’s rebuke and Ahab’s discovery that his sin was known led him to a repentance of sorts, a surface repentance (v.27). As a result God says that He will not destroy Ahab’s house in Ahab’s lifetime (v.29). It is delayed for a season, but not forever. That is, God delays His judgement as long as He can and yet remain consistent with His character.

This is the principle taught in Ezekiel 33:11, “Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” Though He will execute judgement God takes no delight in it. His anger is not a malicious, vindictive rage in which He enjoys the suffering of His enemies.

The reverse is often how the anger of God is falsely presented by the world and as quickly rejected out of hand by them as unworthy of a real God – and they use this to then dismiss faith in the Christian God. The great tragedy is that their cause is often helped by unwise and untaught Christians who also present God like this. Yes He will judge, He will not minimise His judgement one bit, but it is a holy anger. His wrath is nothing more than they deserve and He takes no delight in it.

God effectively gives Ahab more time to come to true repentance. In Romans 2:5 we read “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”. Whilst it is a picture of the sinner’s defiance, it also demonstrates God’s patience and longsuffering.

To the unrepentant sinner this chapter asks, Why are you still here? Why hasn’t God executed judgement against you? The answer is His longsuffering, giving you time to repent. Note the delay it is not forever.

And to the child of God it says, Do not begrudge God’s mercy in tolerating the injustices that might be directed your way as God is withholding judgement upon others. Rather in mercy pray that God might add to His longsuffering His gracious mercy. Like Stephen pray as Jesus did “Father, forgive them.”