READING FOR OCTOBER 27, 2025: 1 KINGS 20, HEBREWS 8, PSALM 112 1 KINGS 20 King Ben-haddad of Aram besieged King Ahab’s Samaria, which is another name for Israel or the Northern Kingdom, with an enormous army (vs. 23). Ben-haddad sent messengers ahead to Ahab telling him to hand over his riches and his family. Ahab’s first response was to agree with everything. Might most of us have done the same when faced with an overwhelming threat? On the other hand, Ahab had just witnessed a powerful miracle of God through Elijah. It seems strange that it didn’t occur to Ahab to turn to God for help.
With the approach of Ben-haddad's servants just 24 hours away, Ahab explains the situation to his elders. They were braver than Ahab and advised him not to capitulate--perhaps believing tyrants shouldn’t be appeased because they will only ask for more later. When Ben-haddad learned of Ahab’s change, he made a vow to destroy Samaria. Ahab replied with a statement of astounding wisdom which this writer has quoted often to discourage overconfidence: “Tell him, ‘He who straps on his weapons had better not boast like one who takes them off’” (vs. 11).
At just the right moment, a prophet appears before Ahab. God always has perfect timing. The prophet, almost comically, asks if Ahab has seen the huge enemy force arrayed against Israel. The prophet continues by saying the Lord will defeat them so that Ahab will know that God is the Lord or in charge. This is the most important knowledge Ahab and his people could have. It’s the most important knowledge we and our families can have today. Do we believe it?
As with many in the Bible, Ahab wants to know how God will achieve His miracle. The prophet said he will use young leaders of the province. Maybe younger leaders are more open to God’s power. The prophet also said Ahab, himself, will start the battle. So, to his credit, Ahab gets busy. In the meantime, Ben-haddad is so sure of himself that he was drunk when he first heard of Israel’s approach. God turned the resulting battle into a great defeat for Ben-haddad.
But the prophet told Ahab to keep up his courage because Aram would attack again. Ben-haddad's advisors surmised that Israel won because the Lord is better in the mountain than on the plain, where their gods are better. They convinced Ben-haddad to try again, but this time battle Israel on the plain. Of course, we have an all-terrain God—Lord over all creation! So, in Aram vs. Israel #2, Israel again routed Aram. Ben-haddad pled for mercy to Ahab, promising to give Ahab some cities taken from Israel in previous generations. So, they made a deal. In an exchange reminiscent of Nathan confronting David, one of the prophets tells Ahab a fictional story he pretended was true. The gist of it was asking what should happen to a man who did not do what he had promised? King Ahab said his life should be forfeited. The prophet then revealed that it was King Ahab who did not obey God regarding destroying Ben-haddad. Thus, King Ahab’s sentence fell on himself (see Rom. 2:1). How easy it is to see the guilt of others.
READINGS FOR OCTOBER 27, 2025 (CONTINUED): HEBREWS 8, PSALM 112 HEBREWS 8 The author quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to make the argument that Jesus is the mediator of a better new covenant. Just as the High Priest was the mediator between the Jewish people and God in the temple, Jesus is the one who goes before us in heaven. Jesus brought the sacrifice of himself before God to usher in the new covenant. The temple in Jerusalem and the Tent of Meeting in the desert were copies of heavenly glory. The author states that they are a shadow of what exists in heaven. This implies that the temple and its worship is incomplete, a lesser experience. And by association, the covenant that is tied to the temple and worship is inferior to the relationship that exists in the new covenant. Just as Jesus is the superior High Priest, so is the new covenant that he brought to us. The reasons for the new covenant’s superiority are: 1) God’s laws will become internalized enabling Christians to find joy in doing God’s will; 2) God and God’s people will have intimate fellowship; 3) sinful ignorance of God will be removed forever; 4) Forgiveness of sins will be an everlasting reality. We no longer must go through priest (or pastor) to connect with God. Our prayers are heard. We can give a sacrifice of praise directly to God through Jesus Christ. The Son of God makes the connection for us. And we are blessed through our faith in Christ.
Psalm 112 Psalm 112 is a hymn that lifts up those who live in righteousness. Just like Psalm 111, Psalm 112 is a unique alphabetic acrostic poem. Each half-line advances through the Hebrew alphabet (i.e. Verse 1 begins with aleph (a) and the second line begins with bet (b)). The psalm cites several virtues of those who live in righteousness. They will fear the lord (V1); find great delight in God’s commands (V1); they are gracious and compassionate (V4); they are generous (v5); they are just (V5); they have freely given their gifts to the poor (V9). These line up very well with the list of fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (5:22-23, NIV). Those who live righteously will be rewarded. Although the psalm lists monetary rewards in this life, we need to think of blessings that the world cannot see. Verses 6 and 7, tell us that in faith we will not be shaken. We will not be afraid of bad news. It will come. Life is full of setbacks, sickness, and death. But, when we know that our reward is everlasting life, we know that there is so much more than what this world has for us.
