1 Kings 20:22-43
Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.”
Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.
The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Because the Arameans think the Lord is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
His officials said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.” Wearing sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, “Your servant Ben-Hadad says: ‘Please let me live.’”
Ahab said, “On the basis of a treaty I will set you free.” So he made a treaty with him, and let him go.
So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.
Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life, or you must pay a talent[b] of silver.’ While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”
“That is your sentence,” the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”
Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have set free a man I had determined should die. Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people.’” Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.
Ahab spares his life, but in doing so stores up trouble for Israel. He has made the same mistake as Saul: in a 'holy war' everything is made over to God in sacrifice. This was meant to demonstrate that hills and plains alike are under God's dominion.
Why?
God is the Lord of all universal, Our God is beyond all.
God has made good chances for Ahab, but Ahab didn't listen to the word of God, he has no sense to honor the Holy God.
That is your sentence, everyone has to face his own sentence before the Lord.
Therefore it is your life for his life, your people for his people. This is the destination of Israel. Because they turned away from the Lord to idols.
神來的話是就是是,不是就是不是,我們常因為不合理,而打折扣,因為真情,因為愛心,因為愛國情操,因為人情而扭曲神的話,神的話不見得合我們的理!謹記!我們是否就像亞哈王一樣考慮事情?
How?
My God is the only God in this world. Obey the word of the Lord and honor God's Holy name is my honor and joy.
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