Sunday School Lesson for March 28, 2021 - Prophet of Courage: Printed Text: 1 Kings 18:5-18; Background Scripture: 1 Kings 18-19, Matthew 17:1-3; Devotional Reading: Luke 19:28-39,

Get the Setting:

1 Kings 16:32-34 NASB

32 So he erected an altar for Baal at the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made the [t]Asherah. So Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho; he laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord, which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.

Until his time, Israel had not had a more evil ruler than Ahab. From the time of Jeroboam, Israel had fallen further and further into idolatry, but nothing like the days of Ahab, of the House of Omri. He built a temple for Baal and idols to Asherah. He allowed child sacrifice in the land of Israel, something which had not allowed since Israel had come into the land.

1 Kings 17:1 NASB

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of [a]the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall certainly be neither dew nor rain during these years, except by my word.” 

Amos 3:7 NLT

7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything

    until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.

In response to the evil ways of Ahab, God shut up the heavens and caused it not to rain in Israel for three years. Additionally, God informed His servant, the prophet, Elijah of His intentions and sent him to Sidon where God would use a widow to provide for him during the drought. It is near the end of this time that this week’s lesson opens.

1 Kings 18:5 NASB

5 Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the river valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.”

Yes, the drought was severe. After three years, things were so bad that even king Ahab was searching the land for water. The false idols Ahab worshipped were powerless to provide for Ahab or for Israel. Ahab had reached a point of desperation.

1 Kings 18:6 NASB

6 So they divided the land between them to [a]survey it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

So dire was the situation in Israel that even king Ahab participated in the search for water. Curiously, we don’t find Ahab reacting in the way a David or even a Solomon may have reacted. Where in the Bible does it say, ‘Ahab entreated the Lord?’ It doesn’t. Ahab had rejected the God of Israel. Thus, he was left to his own devices.

1 Kings 18:7 NASB

7 Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, Elijah my master?

1 Kings 18:3 NASB

3 Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the household. (Now Obadiah [a]feared the Lord greatly; 

Colossians 3:23-24 NASB

23 Whatever you do, do your work [y]heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward [z]of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 

The third party in today’s lesson is Obadiah. He was the palace administrator of King Ahab, but the Bible informs us that he feared God. The name Obadiah means ‘servant of God’. It appears God has placed Obadiah in the king’s court in spite of the king. Obadiah faithfully served the Ahab because of His reverent fear of God. We will see that his character and courage are displayed in today’s lesson.

1 Kings 18:8 NASB

8 And he said to him, “It is I. Go, say to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 

Oh! Wait! Why is Elijah looking for Ahab?

1 Kings 18:1 NASB

Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will provide rain on the face of the earth.”

Elijah is looking for Ahab because God sent him to look for Ahab. God is ready to extend mercy to Israel by bringing rain to the land. God is also ready to re-assert His influence in Israel and upon Ahab. Elijah, like all prophets, has come to herald the day of the reckoning of the Lord.

1 Kings 18:9 NASB

9 But he said, “What [b]sin have I committed, that you are handing your servant over to Ahab, to put me to death?

In our present time, we’ve lost regard for leadership, particularly royalty, in places where royalty still exists. Thus, we sometimes overlook the genuine fear that Obadiah voices in verse nine. Yes, Obadiah fears God, but he understands that his life could be forfeited at just the whim of the king, Ahab. After all, Ahab was responsible for the death of hundreds of Israel’s citizens by this time.

1 Kings 18:10 NASB

10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my master has not sent word to search for you; and whenever they say, ‘He is not here,’ he makes the kingdom or nation swear that they could not find you.

Let me pause here to expand the scope of the lesson, to try and demonstrate how high the stakes are in this unfolding, dramatic episode in Israel’s history. Among other things, Ahab was hungry for power. His lust for power caused him to attempt to expand his influence far beyond Israel’s borders. Like Solomon, he sought to broaden his influence by marriage to a princess of Phoenicia. 

In the time of Ahab, around 850 BCE, Phoenicia was at the height of its power. The Phoenician dynasty arose around the time of Moses (around 1500 BCE) and lasted until 600 AD. A few weeks ago, we studied Lydia of Thyatira, a contemporary of the Apostle Paul, in fact, Paul’s first convert to Christ in Philippi, in Europe. Lydia was a seller of purple, dyed cloth that was so expensive it could only be purchased by royalty. As it turns out, Lydia was from the area known as Phoenicia during the time of Ahab and Elijah. In fact, the word ‘Phoenicia’ means ‘purple’. As I mentioned before, Phoenicia was at the height of its influence in Ahab’s day. Below is a map outlining the extent of their influence around the Mediterranean

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Ahab’s influence had grown to the point that he could send emissaries to foreign nations in search of Elijah. Additionally, his temperament was such that he demanded the respect and obeisance of those leaders, requiring them to swear that they had no knowledge of Elijah’s whereabouts. 

1 Kings 18:11-12 NASB

11 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here!”’ 12 And it will come about when I leave you that the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to where I do not know; so when I come and inform Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, though I, your servant, have [c]feared the Lord from my youth.

Obadiah continues to plead his case by pointing out that God might suddenly whisk Elijah away so that he, again would be shielded from Ahab’s grasp, thus exposing Obadiah to the king’s wrath. Obadiah reminds Elijah that he has been a faithful servant of the Lord, God since his youth.

1 Kings 18:13-14 NASB

13 Has it not been reported to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, that I hid a hundred [d]prophets of the Lord by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? 14 Yet now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; he will then kill me!”

No other king of Israel to that point had purged the prophets of God so violently as Ahab had done. In his lust for power, he had literally tried to erase the God of Israel from Israel. And he had done so with extreme prejudice. Conversely, Obadiah had shown great courage in hiding and protecting one hundred of the Lord’s true prophets from the sword of Ahab. Obadiah wanted assurance from Elijah that he wasn’t risking the wrath of Ahab a second time.

1 Kings 18:15-16 NASB

15 Then Elijah said, “As surely as the Lord of armies lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly present myself to him today.” 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and informed him; then Ahab went to meet Elijah.

 

Elijah knows the risk, but he also knows God, Whom he serves. Most certainly, he will stand before Ahab. On this very day.

Romans 8:31 NLT

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

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1 Kings 18:17 NASB

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, the cause of disaster to Israel?”

As Elijah approaches, Ahab calls him out, “Is that you, the troubler of Israel?” He has been looking for Elijah everywhere. Not only has he sought Elijah, but he has sought to kill him. He places the blame for Israel’s drought on Elijah. However, that blame is misplaced. Elijah did not cause the drought. God did. Elijah was only the messenger who delivered the Word of God to Ahab before the onset of the drought.

1 Kings 18:18 NASB

18 He said, “I have not brought disaster to Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and you have followed the Baals.

Elijah responds by telling Ahab the unvarnished truth. He will not sugar coat it: The fault for Israel’s problems rest with Ahab, Indeed, not only is Ahab guilty of grave sins against God but, so was his father before him, Omri. In their time as the leaders of Israel, they had utterly abandoned the commandments of God and had caused the nation of Israel to fall into grave idolatry. Elijah, the prophet of God, had been sent to inform Ahab that his time would soon come to an inglorious end.

Epilogue

1 Kings 18:21a NASB

21 Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long are you going to [g]struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him…

Elijah follows up his confrontation with Ahab by challenging the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. His purpose? To challenge the citizens of the nation of Israel to reject the idolatry they were steeped in and return to God. This episode comes to culmination after Elijah rebuilds the altar of God and then makes an offering and prayer to God at the altar. God answers by fire from Heaven, thus demonstrating His superiority over false idols Ahab had embraced and thereby by signifying to all of Israel that Elijah was, indeed God’s servant. The false prophets of Baal were rounded up and summarily executed and Ahab was eventually killed in battle. 

This lesson is rich in symbolism, there are so many lessons that can be taken from the text. Ultimately, it comes down to a couple of fundamental tenets for Christians today. God will prevail. His truth, His Word will prevail. Hold to God’s truths and so will you. Elijah did.

Romans 4:21b NASB

21b ...what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

The other thing that stands out is this…

Matthew 6:24 NASB

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [a]wealth.

Ahab wasn’t trying to serve two masters. No one can. We must never make the mistake of believing that we can serve God whole-heartedly and serve ourselves whole-heartedly. We must choose. Choose wisely. Choose life.

Ephesians 6:14 NASB

14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Selah

wb

(Brother Williams, Brother Wright: Mission accomplished) (smile)

Sunday School Lesson for March 21, 2021 - Prophet of Wisdom: Background Scripture: 2 Kings 22, Devotional Reading: Psalm 25:1-10, Printed Text: 2 Kings 22:14-20

 

Get the setting:

To understand how we happen into the moment of Huldah, we need some historical background:

2 Chronicles 33:10 NASB

10 So the Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

The trouble started with Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, who is regarded to this day as the wickedest king ever to rule over the Kingdom of Judah. He plunged Judah into a cesspool of idolatry and sin unparalleled even by many of the foreign kings, whose idolatry God absolutely detested.

2 Chronicles 33:21-22 NASB

21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. 22 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his father Manasseh had done, and Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.

After Manasseh, his son Amon assumed the throne of Judah. He was as bad as his father. Worse in fact. After only two months on the throne of Judah, he was assassinated by his own servants. Of note, neither Manasseh nor his son, Amon were buried in the royal sepulcher, rather they were buried in the Garden of Uzza, on the palace grounds of Manasseh. 

The Child who would be King

1 Kings 22:1-2 NASB

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem, and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. 2 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked [a]entirely in the way of his father David, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

Thus, the next king to ascend to the throne was an eight-year-old child. Just a child. But, he was appointed by God. And ultimately, nurtured by God. His mother’s name was Jedidah, which means, ‘Beloved of God’, or ‘Friend of God’. The bible states that he ‘did what was right in the sight of the Lord and walked entirely in the way of his father, David’. That did not happen by accident, but rather, by Providence. (Just didn’t want to waste an opportunity to honor a godly mother)...

The Rise of The Remnant

2 Chronicles 34:3 NASB

3 For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the [a]Asherim, the carved images, and the cast metal images.

At the age of sixteen, Josiah began to assume a more complete role as king of Judah and as a man after God’s own heart, in the manner of his father, David. At the age of twenty, he began to institute strict, far-reaching religious reforms.  This is had been foretold by an unnamed prophet some three hundred years earlier concerning the Idolatry of Jeroboam, the first king of the ten tribes of Israel after they rebelled against Rehoboam…

1 Kings 13:1-2 NASB

1 Now behold, a man of God came from Judah to Bethel by the word of the Lord, while Jeroboam was standing at the altar to burn incense. 2 And he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “Altar, altar, this is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall burn on you.’”

Hidden Treasure

2 Chronicles 34:8 NASB

8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the secretary, to repair the house of the Lord his God.

In his twenty-sixth year, Josiah completed the purge of the false idols from Judah. He then turned his attention to the restoration of the Temple of the Lord, which had been allowed to fall into a state of grave disrepair over the previous fifty years during the reign of his grandfather, Manasseh, and his father, Amon.

2 Kings 22:11 NASB

11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes.

During the restoration of the Temple, a scroll that contained some or all of the Law of Moses was found. As is the case with scrolls, they are read from the last place they were closed. One can surmise then, that this particular scroll opened in a place that, when read, brought immediate dread to the heart of the king. So much so that he tore his clothes. In the Jewish culture, this was a sign of total hopelessness. Josiah had been instituting religious reforms throughout Judah and Israel for six years and in this moment, it felt as if he had accomplished nothing. The dread of God’s judgment on Israel and Judah had fallen on the young king. Some theologians believe this may have been the passage that was revealed when the scroll was opened...

Deuteronomy 29:24-28 NASB

24 All the nations will say, ‘Why has the Lord done all this to this land? Why this great [h]outburst of anger?’ 25 Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. 26 And they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they have not known and whom He had not [i]assigned to them. 27 Therefore, the anger of the Lord burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book; 28 and the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, fury, and in great wrath, and hurled them into another land, as it is this day.’

1 Kings 22:13 NASB

13 “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for the wrath of the Lord that burns against us is great, because our fathers did not listen to the words of this book, to act in accordance with everything that is written regarding us.”

Josiah sent his advisers to a local prophetess, Huldah to inquire of the Lord on behalf of the nations of Judah and of Israel. This is where this week’s lesson begins...

1 Kings 22:14 NASB

14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of [e]Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (and she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her. 

Hilkiah, the High Priest, and the other advisors go to the home of Huldah. Huldah is identified as a prophetess during the reign of Josiah. Another prophet identified during this time is Jeremiah, though, at this point in time, he has only been in ministry for three years. There is also some indication that Jeremiah may have been the son of Hilkiah, the High Priest. It is probable that, so early in Jeremiah’s ministry, Huldah would have been the more authoritative voice. It is likely that she served as a mentor to Jeremiah. One thing is certain, Hilkiah and the king’s advisors went to Huldah to hear a “Word’ from the Lord.

2 Chronicles 22:15-16 NASB

15 Then she said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 16 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read. 

First judgment. It is imperative that we understand and accept that our sin is clearly exposed before God. Huldah’s words cut immediately to the matter at hand: the stench of Judah’s sin before God. Through Huldah, God speaks to Josiah as a man first, not as the king. This confirms Josiah’s stature before God as just a man, required by God to humble himself before God as any other. Then, through Huldah, God confirms that the words of the scroll found in the Temple will surely come to pass. 

Romans 6:23a NASB

23 For the wages of sin is death,

2 Kings 22:17 NASB

17 Since they have abandoned Me and have burned incense to other gods so that they may provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched.’”

Yes, Judah would suffer for the sin of Manasseh and Amon. The stain of their idolatry persisted, in spite of Josiah’s reforms. Thus, Huldah confirms, by the word of the Lord that the scriptures found by Hilkiah and read to Josiah are indeed Holy Scripture and are true.

Interlude

Let’s take a breath. Let’s talk about Huldah for a moment. Does she remind you of anyone in your own life? In the Black culture in America, almost everyone can identify a ‘Huldah’ who has crossed their path. I have spoken in the past of my grandmother, Allie Mae Sneed, who I consider to have been a great woman of God, but she wasn’t the only one. There are countless stories within our community of mothers and grandmothers who seemed to have a supernatural insight into the lives of the members of their community, particularly their loved ones. Denzel Washington tells a story of a woman who was a customer in his mother’s beauty shop who prophesied over him in almost a happenstance manner. It just happened. There was a time in his life when he was failing in college, unsure of which way to go, and this unnamed woman just spoke to him while he was visiting his mother’s shop and literally below spiritual breath into his body. She spoke life to him. She didn’t draw a map for him, she just pointed him in the right direction. At a time when he needed a word from the Lord, she gave voice to the heart of God, full of hope and grace, for the replenishing of a weary soul. In the black community, there are elders, both men, and women who fill this role, but today, our focus is on a woman, a prophetess, Huldah.

I have had the honor of meeting both men and women that I regard as prophets. I was telling a friend a few weeks ago of an elder, Mother Pratt, who, when she looked over her glasses at you it was as though she were looking right through you, as though nothing was hidden. I’ve met others, men and women who told me some of my innermost secrets. Yes, that can be very uncomfortable. I have had several elders over the years speak words of correction, rebuke, and encouragement that were uncannily specific to my life situation. 

Epilogue

2 Kings 22:18-20 NASB

18 But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord, this is what you shall say to him: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Regarding the words which you have heard, 19 since your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become an object of horror and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have indeed heard you,’ declares the Lord.” 20 Therefore, behold, I am going to gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not look at all the devastation that I am going to bring on this place.’” So they brought back word to the king.

1 Samuel 16:7b NASB

“...God does not see as man sees, since man looks at [e]the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Song of Solomon 2:2b NASB

2b And his banner over me is love.

In much the same way as I described above, Huldah encourages Josiah with words of comfort. You see, when God enters a place of intimacy with you, it is reciprocal. He is as willing to reveal His heart to you as you have before Him. And God’s heart is full of love for those who love Him. Huldah affirms to Josiah that, though God’s judgment is certain, His grace and love toward Josiah is sure. Josiah can… rest. God will have mercy. Most assuredly. Beloved, God is Love. Don’t ever forget that He always has your best interest at heart. Huldah’s message to Josiah sparked a renewed effort in revival, not only for Josiah but all of Judah and Israel. While Judah eventually came under judgment, Josiah was spared and for a time, so was Judah. Josiah had a long reign and eventually rested with his fathers, meaning he was buried in the royal sepulcher of David, an honor reserved for only the righteous kings of Israel. God used Huldah, the prophetess to encourage a righteous king and lead a nation to repentance and to renew their covenant with God.

1 John 3:1a

1a See [a]how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God;

Selah

wb