January 19, 2025, 1 Kings 20:1-12
January 19, 2025, 1 Kings 20:1-12
20 Ben-hadad
the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were
with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria
and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers
into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says
Ben-hadad: 3 ‘Your silver and your gold are mine;
your best wives and children also are mine.’” 4 And
the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all
that I have.” 5 The messengers came again and said,
“Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me your silver and
your gold, your wives and your children.” 6 Nevertheless
I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search
your house and the houses of your servants and lay hands on whatever pleases
you and take it away.’”
7 Then the
king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, “Mark,
now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me for my wives
and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did not refuse
him.” 8 And all the elders and all the people said
to him, “Do not listen or consent.” 9 So he said to
the messengers of Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first
demanded of your servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the
messengers departed and brought him word again. 10 Ben-hadad
sent to him and said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of
Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow
me.” 11 And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him,
‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it
off.’” 12 When Ben-hadad heard this message
as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his men, “Take
your positions.” And they took their positions against the city.
Now in this passage we see
a conflict begin to arise between Ahab and Ben-hadad. The king of Syria
(Ben-hadad) was claiming to come into Samaria and take the silver, the gold as
well as the wives and children of the people of Samaria. Initially Ahab tells King
Ben-hadad that “I am yours and all that I have.” It isn’t until King Ben-hadad
claims his servants will search the house of Ahab as well as the houses of the
servants and take what they want that Ahab begins to see the problem with the
king. He calls the elders together and seeks their earthly wisdom.
Therein lies the problem.
How many times have you or I failed to ask God for direction when we find
ourselves in a difficult situation? May we reach out to God for his will as
well as his good and perfect plan.
Debbie Walker
Comments
Post a Comment