Humble Ahab?

Bible Bites

David Maxson
04/13/13 - Bulletin

And when Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “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” (1 Kings 21.27ff).

Without question, Ahab was the worst king in Israel.

He did more evil that all the kings before him (1 Kings 16.30).
He worshiped Baal (1 Kings 16.30-31).
He built a temple for Baal that included an altar and Asherah pole (1 Kings 16.32-33).
During his reign at least 850 false prophets to Baal and Asherah ate at his wife’s table (1 Kings 18.19).
His wife, Jezebel, had Naboth killed to take his vineyard (1 Kings 21.1-16).
His legacy was felt not only in Israel but in Judah because of the marriage of his daughter to the son of Jehosphaphat, king of Judah (2 Chronicles 18.1).

However, when Ahab was rebuked for his wickedness by Elijah for selling himself to do evil, this wicked king repented and humbled himself before Jehovah.

Now seriously, how many of us would have felt sorry for Ahab? Years of rebellion and gross immorality, of injustice and idolatry, of leading and encouraging the people of God to worship what is false and to practice what is evil. I doubt many of us would have felt much sympathy for him at all.

But God did. And that’s how God feels toward every sinner who rebels against him. He’s always looking and hoping for signs of repentance.

We need reminders every now and then of this, don’t we?

We are not worthy, O Lord, of the least of your gifts. How can we thank you for the forgiveness of all our sins? We praise you for your mercy!