SCRIPTURE: 2 KINGS 1
INTRODUCTION :
2 Kings continues the story of Elijah and Elisha and tells the history of Israel. In spite of the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, the spiritual decay led to political and social deterioration. Israel rebelled against God and was judged. The kingdom was divided into Southern Kingdom of Israel in Samaria and Northern Kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem. Israel was conquered by Assyria in 722 BC while Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BC.
THE LORD’S JUDGMENT ON AHAZIAH (vs. 1-18)
Ahaziah fell down through the lattice of his upper room and was injured. He sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron to see if he could recover from this injury. The angel of the Lord told Elijah to meet the messengers. So he met the messengers and said: “Is it because there is not God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die” (vs. 3-4). Then Elijah left.
The messengers returned to the king and told them what Elijah said. The king was furious and sent a captain with 50 men to Elijah. Elijah was sitting on top of a hill and he asked fire to come down from heaven to consume them. The fire fell from heaven and consume all of them. The king sent another captain with 50 men again. The fire from heaven also consumed them. For the third time, the king sent a captain of 50 men. The captain humbled himself and begged for mercy. The angel of the Lord told Elijah to go down with him to meet the king. He told the king. “This is what the Lord days: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!” (v. 16). So he died according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram succeeded him as king.
THOUGHTS:
Baal-Zebub was not the same god as Baal, the Canaanite god worshiped by Ahab and Jezebel. Baal-Zebub was another popular god to have the power of prophecy whose temple was located in the city of Ekron. King Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire his fate. His action showed disrespect for God.
The first two captains and his 50 men were consumed by fire. But the third captain called Elijah “man of God” and humbly begged for mercy. His respectful attitude had saved himself and his men. Our attitude towards God is very important. We must show respect, humility and servanthood to Him from our hearts.