Ahab The Cowardly Husband

BIBLE CHARACTERS – AHAB

TEXT: 1 Kings 16:30-33

INTRODCUTION:

1 This morning we are going to talk about Ahab the Hen Pecked husband.

2 Ahab was the 7th king of Israel.

3 He was a very good military strategist.

4 That’s about all that can be said about him that is good.

5 The Bible pretty well summarizes his life in 1 Kings 1:30-33.

1 Kings 16:30 through 1 Kings 16:33 (NIV) 30Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. 31He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.

6 Ahab was so wicked that he makes a good target for pointed preaching, but Ahab is not here today. We are.

7 I fear that if we look closely enough we may find a little bit of Ahab in all of us.

8 This doesn’t mean that we are as bad as Ahab.

9 Example: the young man in the Abnormal Psych class.

DISCUSSION:

I. Ahab’s worst sin was the sin of syncretism.

A. No, you won’t find the word anywhere in the Bible, but it was the chief sin that destroyed Israel.

B. Aaron and the golden calf.

Title: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Ahab’s far-sighted foreign policy was the antithesis of his short-sighted religious policy. Through his alliance with Phoenicia he not only set in motion the currents of commerce with Tyre, but invited Phoenician religion as well. The worship of Yahweh by means of the golden calves of Jeroboam appeared antiquated to him. Baal, the god of Tyre, the proud mistress of the seas and the possessor of dazzling wealth, was to have an equal place with Yahweh, the God of Israel. Accordingly he built in Samara a temple to Baal and in it erected an altar to that god, and at the side of the altar a pole to Asherab (1 Ki 16:32, 33). On the other hand he tried to serve Yahweh by naming his children in his honor—Ahaziah (“Yah holds”), Jehoram (“Yah is high”), and Athaliah (“Yah is strong”). However, Ahab failed to realize That while a coalition of nations might be advantageous, a syncretism of their religions would be disastrous. He failed to apprehend the full meaning of the principle, “Yahweh alone is the God of Israel.”

II. Ahab blamed his problems on others. (1 Kings 18:17; 21:20)

Title: New Commentary on the Whole Bible: Old Testament Volume 17, 18 Art thou he that troubleth Israel?—i.e., the one who has put this hex on Israel (DeVries). Although Ahab respected and perhaps already feared Elijah, he could not understand why Elijah felt so strongly about the Baal cult. Why was he stirring up others into a protest movement? Why could not Baal-worship be indulged in by those who liked it? Why could they not combine some “nice features” of Baal-worship into the worship of the Lord? Why is Elijah rocking the boat, “troubling” Israel? This is Ahab’s position

III. Ahab only listened to people who told him what he wanted to hear.

A. 1 Kings 22:6 & 8.

B. If we are to mature we must love the truth even when it is not what we want to hear.

John 17:17 (NIV) 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

John 8:32 (NIV) 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 (NIV) 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Proverbs 23: (NIV)23 Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding.24.

Proverbs 15:14 (NIV) 14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly as a continual feast.

Proverbs 18:2 (NIV) 2A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

C. Imagine what Ahab could have accomplished if he had listened to Elijah?

D. How much time do you spend in the Word, prayer and meditation?

IV. Ahab wanted what he didn’t have.

A. He had an entire kingdom at his disposal but he couldn’t live without Naboth’s vineyard.

B. Phil 4:7

C. Ramoth Gilead I Kings 22.

V. He married the wrong woman for the wrong reasons.

A. This was what destroyed Solomon (1 Kings 11).

VI. He would not be a man when dealing with his wife.

A. His reaction when Naboth said no 1 Kings 22: 5 ff.