2 Kings Chapter 1

Review & Intro:  In Chapter 22 of 1 Kings, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, joined with Ahab, king of Israel, to get Ramoth-gilead back from the Arameans.  In the process, Ahab was killed in the battle.  His son, Ahaziah, became king in his place.  As the 1st chapter of 2nd Kings opens, Ahaziah is in power.  He falls through the lattice of an upper chamber and becomes ill.  He sent messengers to find out from Baal-zebub if he would recover from the sickness.  The Lord sent Elijah to meet up with his messengers and tell him that because he didn't seek Him, he would surely die.  2 Kings Chapter 1 - Observation Questions 1.  What nation rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab? vs. 1 2.  What happened to Ahab's son who was king over Israel at the time - King Ahaziah? vs. 2 3.  Who did he seek counsel from to find out if he would recover from his sickness? vs. 2 Note:  We were told in 1 Kings 22:52 that Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the way of his mother (Jezebel) and his father (Ahab).  We were told that he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.  Now, he has fallen through the lattice of the palace and his injury is very serious.  Like many, he wants to know his future.  Rather than seek God, he sends the messengers to seek a word from Baal-zebub of Ekron; not a way to appease God's anger! 4.  The angel of the Lord told Elijah to meet up with the messengers of King Ahaziah of Samaria.  What was he to ask the messengers? vs. 3 5.  What did the Lord say through Elijah as an answer to King Ahaziah's question? vs. 4 6.  When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he asked them why they were back so soon. (vs.5)  ..... They explained how a man met them and told them to return to him and give him a message: "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?  Therefore, you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die." (vs.6) ..... Ahaziah wanted to know what kind of man this was. (vs.7) ..... How did they describe him and who did he realize it was? vs. 8   7.  The king (Ahaziah) sent a captain of 50 with his 50 to return to Elijah.  Elijah was sitting on the top of the hill.  They called to him to come down. (vs.9) ..... How did Elijah answer them and what happened to this first group sent to him? vs. 10 8.  Since that group did not return, Ahaziah sent out another captain of 50 with his 50.  They also asked Elijah to come down. (vs.11)  Elijah answered them the same way.  What happened to this second group as well? vs. 12 9.  When Ahaziah sent the third captain of 50 with his 50, this captain bowed down on his knees before Elijah and begged him to allow his life and those with him to be "precious in his sight".  (vs.13) ..... He acknowledged that he knew what had happened to the first 2 groups and now he asked that his life and those with him would be spared. (vs.14) ..... What did the angel of the Lord tell Elijah and what did Elijah do? vs. 15 10.  What did Elijah say to this captain and his 50 to go back and tell Ahaziah? vs. 16 11.  So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord.  (vs.17) ... Because he did not have a son, who became king in his place? vs. 17 12.  What was the king's name that was currently ruling over Judah? vs. 17  Whose son was he? vs. 17 13.  Where would we learn more about the acts of King Ahaziah? vs. 18 Applications:  14.   King Ahaziah had sent the captain of 50 and his 50 men to arrest Elijah, but Elijah would not come down to them.  He was bold enough to call upon God for his deliverance from them, and fire even fell from heaven.  We never know how God may "deliver" us from an impossible situation (i.e. Elijah verses 51 armed men) ... or if He has a higher reason to allow something other than immediate deliverance.  Read what Jesus told His disciples when they asked about calling fire down from heaven because they obviously remembered this account of Elijah. Luke 9:51-56 - 15.  The third officer who came with his 50 soldiers treated the man of God with respect and was genuinely humble, asking that Elijah show him mercy and regard his life and his men's lives as "precious" in his sight.  Elijah had the angel of the Lord to consult with and he was told not to be afraid, but to go down and speak with him.  Do we realize like the humble captain that our life is "precious"?  Genesis 1:26,27 - Genesis 9:6 - 2 Samuel 14:14 - Psalm 90:10-12 -   Psalm 139:13-18 - Isaiah 43:7 - Acts 17:24-28 - 1 Timothy 6:6-8 - Hebrews 9:27 - 16.  King Ahaziah was a proud man who opposed God’s rule in his life. Unlike the captain of the 3rd group of 50, he refused to humble himself before God also like his father Ahab did late in life.  The result was his death.  The first two groups tried to usurp God's authority and command His prophet to come down.  They experienced God's all consuming fire and wrath upon them.  One day, this world and all the wickedness that abounds will receive God's wrath.  When we are saved, we are saved 'from' the wrath of God.  The death of Jesus on the cross appeased His holy and righteous anger/wrath for those who place their trust and lives in believing in Jesus our substitute for sin; the One who met all the requirements of the law for us.  Comment on the Scriptures below and thank God that you have been shown mercy instead of judgment because of Jesus.  John 3:16,17 - John 3:36 - Romans 1:18 - Romans 2:4-8 - Romans 5:6-10 - Romans 10:8-13- Ephesians 2:1-10- Ephesians 5:3-6 - 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10 - 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11- Revelation 6:15-17 - Revelation 11:18 - Revelation 14:19 - Revelation 15:1 - Revelation 19:15 - Note:  Since Ahaziah did not have a son, his brother Joram became king in his place after his death.