1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18; Matthew 2
1 Kings 22
The story of Jehoshaphat and his alliance with Ahab presents several spiritually significant facts:
- After Ahab allowed his wife Jezebel to kill Naboth to take his vineyard deceitfully, God declared that dogs would lick Ahab's blood at the same place where Naboth's blood was shed (1 Kings 21:19). This prophecy was fulfilled exactly (1 Kings 22:38), despite Ahab's attempts to avoid it.
After Baal's prophets were defeated, Ahab gathered hundreds of prophets of Jehovah (1 Kings 22:6). However, instead of proclaiming what Jehovah honestly said, these prophets told the king what he wanted to hear. This common practice reflects the foolishness of making God say what we desire rather than seeking His true will.
- Zedekiah, one of the false prophets, performed a dramatic ceremony with iron horns to impress the two kings (1 Kings 22:11). When Micaiah spoke God's accurate word, Zedekiah struck him, saying, "Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?" (1 Kings 22:24). In his arrogance, Zedekiah genuinely believed he spoke for the Lord.
- God can use a deceptive spirit to lead those who have already turned from Him into further ruin and destruction (1 Kings 22:19-22).
- Ahab's fate is a stark illustration of people who live by pagan values yet acknowledge God and even attempt to heed His words to some extent.
Matthew 2
The evangelist Matthew continues to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the King God sent to His people. The visit of the Magi from the East confirms this. These wise men acknowledged and affirmed kings according to their special wisdom. Their journey and gifts to Jesus signify the recognition of His kingship by even the Gentile nations.
Matthew also underscores how Jesus' early life fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, such as being born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-6), being called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15), and the lament in Ramah (Matthew 2:18). These fulfillments further establish Jesus as the promised Messiah, the King of the Jews, who brings salvation to all who believe in Him.
The story of Jehoshaphat and his alliance with Ahab presents several spiritually significant facts:
- After Ahab allowed his wife Jezebel to kill Naboth to take his vineyard deceitfully, God declared that dogs would lick Ahab's blood at the same place where Naboth's blood was shed (1 Kings 21:19). This prophecy was fulfilled exactly (1 Kings 22:38), despite Ahab's attempts to avoid it.
After Baal's prophets were defeated, Ahab gathered hundreds of prophets of Jehovah (1 Kings 22:6). However, instead of proclaiming what Jehovah honestly said, these prophets told the king what he wanted to hear. This common practice reflects the foolishness of making God say what we desire rather than seeking His true will.
- Zedekiah, one of the false prophets, performed a dramatic ceremony with iron horns to impress the two kings (1 Kings 22:11). When Micaiah spoke God's accurate word, Zedekiah struck him, saying, "Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?" (1 Kings 22:24). In his arrogance, Zedekiah genuinely believed he spoke for the Lord.
- God can use a deceptive spirit to lead those who have already turned from Him into further ruin and destruction (1 Kings 22:19-22).
- Ahab's fate is a stark illustration of people who live by pagan values yet acknowledge God and even attempt to heed His words to some extent.
Matthew 2
The evangelist Matthew continues to demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the King God sent to His people. The visit of the Magi from the East confirms this. These wise men acknowledged and affirmed kings according to their special wisdom. Their journey and gifts to Jesus signify the recognition of His kingship by even the Gentile nations.
Matthew also underscores how Jesus' early life fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, such as being born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-6), being called out of Egypt (Matthew 2:15), and the lament in Ramah (Matthew 2:18). These fulfillments further establish Jesus as the promised Messiah, the King of the Jews, who brings salvation to all who believe in Him.
Posted in Reading Bible Together