Follow the right King

It is quite easy to look around and see where others fail, where they fall short, and how if we were in charge of their lives, things would be different. That is even easier when we read in the Old Testament, and feel indignant toward those doing things obviously wrong.  I have been reading through 1 and 2 Kings, and the end of 1 Kings closes out with the death of Ahab, a very wicked king of the Northern Kingdom, and it is noteworthy to see the impact he and others happened to have on his son.


1 Kings 22:51-53 reads: “Ahaziah the son of Ahab became king over Israel... He did evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.”

OK, so Ahaziah’s primary influences were his father, his mother (Jezebel) and Jeroboam, who set the tone by which all other kings of Israel would be compared. If they did evil, the comparison was made to Jeroboam. Not that I think Ahab really cared that his son was wicked like him.  Ahaziah, like so many others, followed the wrong king.  He needed to follow THE King!

Earlier, in 1 Kings 20, Ahab says what might be the only wise thing he ever did, in referring to Ben-Hadad (of Aram): “Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him (Ben-Hadad), ‘ Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’”
I would summarize that statement like 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” Ahab was proud, and he fell. The same would be said of all the Kings of Israel, until Assyria eliminated the nation.

First point is this. We can think we do everything right. It happens. The warning is to be careful, be very careful, because when we think we stand mighty and tall, pride can set in, and we can take our armor off when we need it on more than ever before.

Second point is to take stock in the influences we have on others, primarily our children, but even those who watch from a distance, or those who know of our reputation and tendencies. Jeroboam had an impact on generations and generations, based on his sin against the Lord. Not exactly the reputation he should have left behind.

Brothers and sisters, let’s pray today that we would honestly take heed at the influences we have even on us, and then turn to the next generation and leave to them the strongest Christian life we possibly can. “Good enough” does not work anymore. Actually, it never did.

It will truly take very strong Christians to carry the next generation.  Who will pass it to them?

Any takers?