1 Kings: Walk Before Me FaithfullySample

Yet again the word of the Lord governs, as it is meant to, not just God’s people but all things. There are three intriguing episodes in this section. 

First, Ben-Hadad, in hiding, appeals to the mercy of Ahab with an offer of towns and access to the Damascus market. Ahab accepts, and Ben-Hadad departs with his life. On the surface, Ahab looks generous in letting Ben-Hadad live. 

Second, a curious incident follows where a prophet refuses to strike another and is then sentenced to death by a lion on his departure. Should that prophet have identified the command to strike the first prophet as a word from the Lord? This death seems unnecessary on the surface. However, the words of judgement make it clear that the man doomed to die did defy the word of the Lord. That is the key all through the Books of Kings: you cannot defy God’s word and live. 

The third episode involves the first prophet demanding another prophet to strike him. This man agrees, presumably making a visible wound. The struck man who instigated this whole episode then tells Ahab a made-up story about how he let a prisoner of war go, for which Ahab condemns him to death (vv. 39–40). Ahab’s hypocrisy is thus exposed in that he spared Ben-Hadad, but condemns one of his own prophets for doing the same. 

What is wrong with Ahab letting Ben-Hadad go? Isn’t mercy a characteristic of God? The laws of warfare in the Old Testament do not allow such mercy to one who attacks the people of God. Ahab, like Saul sparing Agag in 1 Samuel 15, defies the word of the Lord. Therefore, just as the prophet of verse 36 was devoured by a lion for his disobedience, Ahab is under sentence of death (v. 42). 

Though God is a God of mercy, he desires obedience to his word. Sometimes we practise mercy but run the risk of condoning disobedience and not upholding the moral standards of God’s word. We especially face that dilemma when our society pressures us to adopt its own lower standards.

Reflection

Are there times when we appear too merciful and do not uphold the moral demands of God?