And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria. (1 Kings 20:43, ESV)
And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. (1 Kings 21:4, ESV)
I woke up whining.... and when it was pointed out, I became like Ahab...vexed and sullen....still whiny and now mad at the “person” who pointed out to me my sin. When King Ahab didn’t get what he wanted he pouted like a child. Me too, sometimes.
After Naboth and sons(heirs)(2 Kings 9:26)had been stoned the word of the Lord came to him through Elijah the prophet. When Ahab heard the words of Elijah he humbled himself, tore his clothes and repented.
I have to admit that as I read these next words from Elijah that I felt a little like Jonah might have when the people of Nineveh repented and the Lord relented from His anger.
"Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house." (1 Kings 21:29, ESV)
I went to the BLB and read what some of the commentators had written about Arabs repentance. I liked these two.
ii. “The penitent heart ever meets the merciful eye of God; repentance is highly esteemed by the Father of compassion, even where it is comparatively shallow and short-lived.” (Clarke)
iii. This shows us the character of God’s mercy: it is given to the undeserving. By nature, the innocent do not need mercy. Ahab was a great sinner, but he won great mercy (in this life) through humble repentance. The worst sinner should not disqualify himself from receiving God’s mercy, if that sinner should only approach God in humble repentance.
I am glad our God is a God of mercy...a God of 2nd chances. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, or will He keep His anger forever.He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
Sadly, we will see in the very next chapter that King Ahab’s repentance was pretty shallow and short-lived. Here is a preview:
So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”—1 Kings 22:8
King Ahab’s reprieve, in my view, highlights God’s grace. It also reminded me that, like Ahab, I can become angry when my sin is pointed out...I want to shoot the messenger so to speak. In reality though my problem lies in my own selfish heart that wants what it wants. My battle is with God...not with the people around me. When I am at peace with God...when I surrender the throne of my heart to Him, I am also at peace with those around me. Praying that in the midst of my “me” battles I can remember King Ahab and do an about-face.
Isaiah 66:2 (KJV)
For all those [things] My hand has made, And all those [things] exist," Says the LORD. "But on this [one] will I look: On [him who is] poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
Psalm 34:18 (KJV)
The LORD [is] near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
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