This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo)) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to 1 Kings Chapter 20, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In 1 Kings Chapter 20 we have a funny chapter where God is working with Ahab out of patience for him, to show him who the true God is. He is however married to Jezebel which puts him in a tricky position. If Ahab wasn’t committed to Jezebel he may very well have become Israel’s only good king.
Ahab is inside a besieged Samaria, but the Lord directs him to attack the sieging Syrians. It turns out they were drunk, so the Israelites win. After this the Lord continues to help Ahab. This isn’t only to demonstrate that he is God, but as Coffman suggests, because he is protecting Judah too, by retaining a buffer between them and the enemies of Israel.
Many are not aware that God is the Lord of the nations. He is the Lord of all, and not only concerned with Israel only. Many Jews failed to realise this, but these chapters show that God was always wanting to teach the nations about himself, and provided many opportunities to do that. These nations and kings should have realised that there was something more to Yahweh than they thought, but at the same time Israel and Judah didn’t help the Lord out much by not following him wholeheartedly and thereby weakening the example.
After the Lord gives Ahab a second great victory, he spares the life of King Ben-Hadad and makes a very generous treaty with him. Ahab is a strange king. It's hard to explain a number of his choices.... This video suggests that the key to his weird behaviour is could be Jezebel.
Nov 22, 2021 | Message by David Alley