Today's Bible Study Lesson:

We need one more Lesson, a conclusion for the past eight segments. We've met four interesting people; King Ahab, Queen Jezebel, Businessman Hiel and the Prophet Elijah.

Each person's personality demanded the other! Sequentially, I mean!

In an effort to remain consistent, let's mention something practical then theological then personal about each of our subjects.

King Ahab was a wicked man indeed. But, he had never known anything but ungodliness! Both his father and his wife, matter-of-fact his sons too, were all imbued in iniquity and rebellion! He did not have the blessing of godly parents or a Christian education. As a result of his ignoring Almighty God, spurning the Law of Moses and Israel's religious heritage, Ahab never learned to say "no" to sin! He did not develop the discipline of abstaining from evil! We see this in his choice of a wife and his being so easily led by sinister influences. Finally, he was personally a "spoiled" individual. No doubt given all he ever wanted as a child, a royal Prince mind you, Ahab was still petty and sulking and "pouted" often as a King! Once when he did not get what he wanted, a vineyard belonging to another man, he acted this way, "And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread." 1st Kings 21:4 is telling us the truth! A man like this is just a big baby!

Queen Jezebel is no better, maybe even worse! She was raised in a culture, Phoenician, where one god prevailed, Baal, but others were tolerated. Pluralistic to the core! Naturally, when she moved to Israel as the Queen, she brought her gods and goddesses with her! Along with her perverted religion came sexuality! Baal worship involved, really demanded, loose morals and so-called "religious" rituals that dealt with prostitutes and orgies! She caused others to commit fornication, likely both physically and spiritually! And her personality was aggressive, assertive, even manipulative too! After Ahab's pouting spell above, Jezebel "fixed" the problem! She rigged a crooked trial and saw that Naboth, the vineyard owner, was executed so that Ahab could "get exactly what he wanted!" Her religious persuasions were pursued that way too, like a missionary for heathenism! For that reason she is mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, particularly the Book of Revelation. To the Church at Thyatira, Jesus says: "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." Revelation 2:20-23 was written by the Apostle John on the little Greek island of Patmos.  One more thing, 2nd Kings 9:22 associates Jezebel with "witchcrafts!" This is a dangerous woman. I fear many churches today are yet infested with the spirit she promulgated. Sometimes from a man, other times from a woman, bossy and controlling and anything but Christ centered!

Such a corrupt political administration will naturally allow anything in the world of business! Enter Heil the Bethelite. "In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun." This is 1st Kings 16:34, part of our Text. Hiel was a lover of money! Loose theology always allows loose commercial practices! He, irreverently ignoring, even flaunting, a Bible command to the contrary, rebuilt the wicked city of Jericho. It had previously been destroyed by God in the days of Joshua. Remember, the walls fell down! Rahab's former home town! The two spies! When God is dethroned, something or someone usurps that empty thing! Here dollars, "filthy lucre" according to Paul, took control. Here's how God describes money gone wild, "Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven." This was said of Nineveh in the days of Micah the Prophet, just before its destruction. Hiel was so money-driven that as he reconstructed Jericho, defiantly in the Face of God I again remind you, he ignored two warnings! The death of his oldest son at the beginning of the project and the death of his youngest boy near the end of the job! Forget family! Money rules! So, as to his personality, I say Hiel is amoral! Maybe not immoral, just "no" morals at all! Anything goes! Everybody be happy! Nothing's "right" or "wrong" anymore! To each his or her own desires!

And such lifestyles, all the way from from the nation's capital down to local construction sites, demand an answer from God! Enter Elijah! Here's his first mention in the Bible: "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." Trouble! That's what Ahab nick-named the Prophet! "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" The Prophet was driven by one strong desire, a concern for the reputation of God! So are all the Prophets! Here, in prayer to God, the exasperated Elijah bares his heart, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." 1st Kings 19:10 is so revealing! And just as Jezebel was bold in wickedness, Elijah was bold in godliness! Even more so! Except for one bout of depression, he was fearless! Listen to him confront the false prophets of the day: Here's Elijah challenging Ahab, face to face: "Ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table." Let's see Who is really God! "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." Then thundered the Prophet, "Call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken." So, after the prophets of Baal miserably failed, "And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." 1st Kings 18 supplies these verses. The fire fell! Suffice it to say again, special times of wickedness require special men of God!

Oh, how we need such Preachers today!

Plus many other godly people, men and women, who are sold out completely to Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour!

Next time you hear "hard" preaching, thank God for it. That is, if the Bible is being proclaimed, truthfully, as it really is!

One more time, our whole Text for the week. "And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun. And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab ...." Such pertinent words yet today!

And what preaching Elijah did!

Not this kind. "Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." Jeremiah 14:14

But this kind. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2nd Timothy 4:2

Lord, help us!

                                                                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell