23 ELIJAH AND AHAZIAH

We have here Ahaziah, son and successor of Ahab, anoher wicked king of Israel, under God’s rebukes both by His supernatural, mighty acts and by his prophet; by His rod and by His Word. Christian leaders can learn from what happens between Ahaziah the faithless king and Elijah the faithful prophet.

First,  Ahaziah is trusting the wrong thing. How can anyone expect to prosper who do evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoke Him to anger? When Ahaziah rebelled against God and revolted from His allegiance to Him, Moab rebelled against Israel and revolted from the submission and servitude they had paid to Israel since David’s time. The Edomites had broken their chains earlier and now Moab does the same. If men break their agreements with us and neglect their duty, we must think about whether or not it is because of our first breaking our covenant with God, and the neglect of our duty to him. Sin weakens and impoverishes us. Ahaziah is seized with sickness in body, not from any inward cause, but by a severe accident. He fell down through a lattice, and was bruised seriously with the fall.

Whatever we do, there is but a step between us and death. A man’s house is his castle, but it is not secure against the judgments of God. The broken lattice is fatal to Ahaziah, when God pleases to make it that way, just as the bow drawn at a venture was to his father, Ahab. Ahaziah would not attempt to reduce the Moabites, lest he should perish in the field of battle: but he is not safe, even though he stays in his house. Royal palaces do not always provide firm footing. The trap is laid for the sinner where he least thinks of it. Job 18:9 & 10 say, “He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. 10 He tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope like a tree.” The whole creation, which groans under man’s sin, will at last sink and break under the weight, like this lattice. No one is safe even in their own homes if he or she has God for his or her enemy. Now what did God do about this and whom did He use?

Second, in Ahaziah’s distress he sends messengers to inquire of the god Ekron whether he would recover or not. His inquiry was wrong in two ways: he asked the wrong god and he did not ask how to be healed. His shallow question was only to know his fortune, not to know his duty; his question is only this, Will I recover? He could have learned this if he had only waited just a little time. People should be more thoughtful about what will become of them after death than how, when, or where, they will die. It its better to be more eager to know how we may conduct ourselves well in our sickness, and gain some spiritual benefits to our souls by it, than simply whether we shall recover from it.

Ahaziah sending to Baal-zebub was very wicked and foolish. It was to make a dead and dumb idol his voice-piece for God and was as great an insult to his reason as to his religion. How could a lifeless idol answer his question even if the question was shallow? Baal-zebub, was a Philistine god in the city of Ekron which meant “lord of the flies.” Whatever the belief of the Philistines, we may assume that the devil was behind this idolatry. Belief in Baal-zebub is thought to have originated from a great fly or swarm of flies or pestilent disease possibly related to a pile of bodily waste. What a filthy source to produce a god to whom usually rational, but unthinking people would inquire! Later in the Bible, as Matthew 12:24 says, it evidently referred to the prince of devils, and possibly of all non-Jewish devils, this one became most famous. “But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.’” Baalzebub was certainly not a dependable source for good or accurate counsel! 

Third,  Elijah, by direction from God, meets the messengers and turns them back with an answer that will save them the trouble of making a trip to Ekron. Had Ahaziah sent for Elijah, humbled himself, and requested his effective and good prayers, he might have had an answer of peace, but if he sends to the god of Ekron, instead of the God of Israel, he will surely increase his own sins. Remember Saul consulting the witch increased his sin by consulting the wrong source? But at that time at least Samuel appears and gave him accurate information. In this case Ahaziah increased his wrong-doing and still could not have really expected to receive an accurate or true answer to his question. He brought on himself his own sentence of death. Anyone who will not inquire of the Word of God for their comfort and instruction will miss the benefits of both. They miss the comfort God can give and they do not have the instruction that could save them from destruction. Christian leader, learn to always seek God; not other inferior, incapable, deceptive or unreliable sources. That is the lesson to learn from this part of Ahaziah’s story.

Fourth, Elijah faithfully reproves Ahaziah’s sin. “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? 4 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” (3,4) The “therefore” included in Elijah’s speech indicates that, in addition to whatever else were Ahaziah’s sins, consulting with a source other than God was the sin that condemned him to death. “You go to enquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, an idolatrous town of the Philistines, long since conquered by Israel?” The sin was bad enough, giving that honor to the devil which is due to God alone, which was done as much by their enquiries as by their sacrifices. It is a very wicked thing, under any circumstances, to consult with the devil. This wickedness reigned in the heathen world and remains too much even in the Christian world. The devil’s kingdom is supported by it.

What does Isaiah 47:12-14 say about consulting with demons? “12 Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood. Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror. 13 All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. 14 Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. These are not coals for warmth; this is not a fire to sit by.”

Oh man of God, woman of God we have a good, reliable, trustworthy, wise and kind Source from Whom we can receive beneficial counsel. Thank God! The logical construction which Elijah, in God’s name, puts on it his question, makes it much worse: “It is because you think not only that the God of Israel is not able to tell you, but that there is no God at all in Israel, else you would not send so far for a divine answer.” How foolish we are when we forget there is a God in God’s Church and we can consult with Him! Surely we think there is no God in Israel when we make flesh our arm, and seek something in the things of this world. We honor God when we inquire of Him. And honor Him more when we obey Him. So Elijah, accommodates Ahaziah. He wants to know his fate He will know it and let him make the best of it. Was Ahaziah fearful? Now let him have cause to be really fearful. “Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” How very unlike what our wonderful Jesus says to you and me. “I will be with you always.” “I will never forsake you.” “I go to prepare a place for you.” Ahaziah was cut to the heart by Elijah’s message, but you and I can be fortified and encouraged by what our Savior says to us. Christian leader, be strong, be confident, be courageous. Have you fallen into a lattice? Consult with your loving heavenly Father.

Fifth, Ahaziah wanted to know from whom his messengers heard their message. Ahaziah inquires of them by whom it was sent to him, and concludes, by their description of him, that it must be Elijah, His dress was the same that he had seen him in his father’s court. He was dressed in a hairy garment and had a leathern belt around him, was plain and homely in his dress. John the Baptist, the Elijah of the New Testament, resembled him, for his clothes too were made of hair and he was equipped with a leather belt. He who was clothed with the Spirit despised all rich and gay clothing. Elijah’s message was like what he used to deliver to Ahaziah's father, Ahab, to whom he never prophesied good, but evil. He that was a thorn in Ahab’s eyes will also be one in the eyes of his son while he walks in the steps of his father’s wickedness. If we don’t like the message we are receiving, we could alway change our ways so that the message God sends to us would also change accordingly. I wonder if Ahaziah ever thought of that!

Sixth, the king issues out a command to capture Elijah. If the God of Ekron had told him he would die, it is probable he would have taken it quietly, but now that a true prophet of the true Lord tells him so, reproving him for his sin and reminding him of the God of Israel, he cannot bear it. So far is he from making any good change because of the warning, he is enraged against the prophet. See how illogical the people are whom God may expect you to influence, win or lead. Did the king think Elijah was a true prophet? Why then does he persecute him? Did he think him just a common person? Then why send such a force to seize him? If the message was from a man, don’t fear it. If it is a true message from a true God, fear it a lot, accept it and change! 

Seventh, The captain that was sent with his fifty soldiers found Elijah on the top of a hill. Elijah was now so far from hiding, as he did earlier at Horeb, in the close recesses of a cave, that he makes a bold appearance on the top of a hill. The experience of God’s protection now makes him more bold. The captain calls him a man of God, not that he from his heart believed him to be so, or reverenced him as such a one, but because he was commonly called this. Had he really looked on him as a prophet, he would not have attempted to make him his prisoner. Had he really thought of him as entrusted with the Word of God, he would not have pretended to command him with the word of mere man.

Eighth, Elijah calls for fire from heaven to consume this haughty daring sinner, but not just to protect or avenge himself. God could protect him and it was not his own cause that placed him in danger. Elijah was proving his mission and to reveal the wrath of God from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. This captain had, in scorn, called him a man of God: “If I be so,” says Elijah, “you will pay dearly for making a joke of it.” Elijah will let him know that the God of Israel is superior to the king of Israel and has a greater power to enforce His commands.

It was not long since Elijah had brought fire from heaven, to consume the sacrifice  on Mount Carmel to demonstrate God’s acceptance of that sacrifice as an atonement for the sins of the people. But missing the message of that fire, now this fire falls on the sinners themselves. God is faithful to His prophets. What the Spirit of God in them prayed for, the power of God effected. Elijah only spoke, and it was done. He who earlier called down fire then water from heaven now calls down only fire. Oh the power of prayer! God is faithful to His prophets. God was always ready to plead their cause, and avenge the injuries done to them, Kings will still be rebuked for their sakes, and charged to do His prophets no harm; one Elijah is more to God than 10,000 captains and their fifties.

Ninth, Jesus draws a line. There is no question but that Elijah called down fire by a divine leading, and yet our Savior would not allow the disciples to make it become a precedent. Luke 9:54, 55 make this clear. “When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’ 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” The disciples were then not far from the place where Elijah did his act of justice on provoking Israelites, and thought they too would like to call for fire to fall on those provoking Samaritans. ‘No, says Jesus, by no means, you do not know of what manner of spirit you are, You do not consider the manner of spirit, as disciples, to which you are called. You do not realize how different from Elijah’s day this day is. What was agreeable enough to that time of terror, and of the letter of the law which made it right for Elijah to call for fire, does not make it right in this time of the Spirit and of grace. I will by no means allow it. You are not aware of what manner of spirit you are now and how different this day is from that of Elijah. He did it in holy zeal, but you in passion; he was concerned for God’s glory, you for your own reputation only.’

Tenth, Elijah’s fire is repeated; would one think it? Ahaziah sends, a second time, to capture Elijah as if he were resolved not to be baffled by God almighty Himself. Obstinate sinners must be convinced and conquered, at last, by the fire of hell, for fire from heaven, it seems, will not subdue them. Another captain is ready with his fifty men, who, in his blind rage against the prophet and equally blind obedience to the king, dares to become involved in a project that had already taken the lives of the first fifty. This man not only says, ‘come down,’ he says ‘come down quickly.’ How does Elijah respond to this man’s brazen defiance of God? Elijah does not back down, but calls for another flash of lightning, which instantly lays this captain and his fifty dead on the spot. Those that will sin like others must expect to suffer like them; God is firm in His justice.

Eleventh, the third captain, however, humbled himself and cast himself on the mercy of God and Elijah. It does not seem that Ahaziah ordered him to take another, softer, humbler approach, but the third captain learns from the experience of the first two captains. He took warning by the fate of his predecessors, who, perhaps, lay dead before his eyes; and, instead of summoning the prophet down, himself fell down before him, and begged for his life and the lives of his soldiers, acknowledging their own sinfulness and the prophet’s power. Let my life be precious in your sight. There is nothing to be gained by contending with God: if we want to prevail with Him, it must be by humble, submission. If we respectfully prefer not to fall before God, we must eventually bow before Him. Anyone is wise who learns submission from the fatal consequences of the stubbornness and obstinacy of others.

Twelfth, Elijah does more than grant the request of this third captain. God is not so severe with those who stand against Him that He is not ready to show mercy to those who repent and submit to Him; no one ever found it in vain to cast themselves on the mercy of God. This captain, not only has his life spared, but is given success; he goes down with Elijah to the king. Elijah then comes boldly to the king, and tells him to his face what he had sent to him before, that he shall surely and soon die. Ahaziah is so thunder-struck is with this message, when it comes from the prophet’s own mouth, that neither he nor any of those with him dared offer him any resistance. Out of that den of lions Elijah emerges unhurt, like Daniel. Who can harm those whom God will protect?

The prediction is accomplished and in a few days Ahaziah died. The only fire I suggest that you call down from heaven is the fire of the Holy Spirit which will energize and refine each of us and those to who we minister.

Let’s pray for that fire.