Bible Study: GOD SENDS UNSOLICITED HELP! 1 Kings 20:1-21
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 20:1-21
20 And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.
2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,
3 Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.
4 And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.
5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;
6 Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.
7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.
8 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.
9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.
10 And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.
11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.
13 And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the Lord, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.
15 Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.
16 And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.
17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.
18 And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.
19 So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.
20 And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.
21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
Bible Study: GOD SENDS UNSOLICITED HELP! 1 Kings 20:1-21
Also read: TOPIC: HELP IN TIME OF BURN-OUT 1 Kings 19:1-21
It is easy to conclude that King Ahab really deserved Ben-Hadad’s attack, especially with his unrepentant wife, Jezebel still attacking God and His prophets in the land. The question we ask today is: What made Ahab deserve the prophetic words of encouragement and comfort delivered by the unnamed prophet (vs 132 14)? After God had displayed His supreme power over Baal at Mount Carmel, He continued to court their commitment and total worship by helping them defeat Ben-Hadad and his people (v.13, c. Matt. 18:14). God wanted to show them that He still cares about them and that He wants them to return to Him. No matter how far we might have gone in sin, the arm of God is still stretched out to receive us and grant us His salvation through Jesus Christ. Read John 10:10 and compare Ben- Hadad’s intension to assault King Ahab and God’s people of Samaria (vs. 1-10). Satan never has any good plan for humanity. He uses principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and the spiritual wickedness in high places to oppress, afflict, and trouble humanity (Eph.6:12). How have you enjoyed God’s special grace in your life and your land? – Bible Study: GOD SENDS UNSOLICITED HELP! 1 Kings 20:1
Missions: SYRIA Syrian – Christian minorities enjoy freedom and stability possibly unparalleled through the Middle East. The Orthodox and Catholic churches Existed since before Islam and endure still with many godly members Pray that all believers might gain a deep desire to grow In godliness and outreach. There is an evangelical presence in most cities, but rarely in smaller towns
Related: Bible Study: BLESSINGS FOR THE GODLY Psalm 1:1-6
Thought: Ephesians 2:8-10
Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 4-7
Prayer: Dear Lord, make me a channel of Your blessings to the thirsty hearts around
Verse Of the Day: Meanwhile, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced “This is what the Lord says do you see the vast army? I will give into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord’ (1 kgs. 20:13)
