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Oilfield Workers Sharing Christ Around the World

THE LAST WORD – 1 KINGS

By Mike Chaffin

51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53 He served and worshiped Baal and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done. 1 Kings 22:51-53

Last words don’t get much worse than these.  The writer of 1 Kings didn’t have anything good to say about Ahaziah; calling him an evildoer and idol worshiper.  Ahaziah’s claim to fame is nothing to brag about and after two years as King of Israel, God took him out of the job.

These last words are like a who’s who of bad kings.  His father and mother, Ahab and Jezebel were so bad, that God stepped in and sent Elijah, and then Elisha, to show Israel the evils of idol worship, and the fruitfulness of obeying God. Other than Jesus these two prophets combined for more miracles than anyone else.  They were God’s light in a very dark country.  God’s children rebelled to the point that only 7000 were left who hadn’t committed the sin of idolatry.

Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, tore the kingdom apart.  To solidify his leadership he built idols in Samaria and told the Israelites to worship them instead of God in Jerusalem.  Sadly, and to their detriment, it seems most of the people listened to him and gave up worshipping God.

The last words here should be a warning to everyone today.  If people don’t want to follow God, and good, He won’t make you.  But, he will also allow bad leaders to lead people astray even further into evil.  They and all who follow will eventually pay the consequences.

We must pray for Godly leadership.  Even if we aren’t in a position of leadership, we are in a position to influence those around us by being lights in this dark and lost world.  As Jesus said in Matthew 5:15-16; Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

            Prayer:  Dear Lord, help me to stay true to you and not be led astray by evil presented as good.  Help me to know the truth and to have the boldness to live the truth. In Jesus Name, amen. 

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