Image: Stoning of Naboth from Chronique universelle de Rodolphe (c. 1350).
Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on 1 Kings 21.
Seest thou how Ahab humbled himself
before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in
his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house (1 Kings
21:29).
I
think the most salient spiritual truth in 1 Kings 21 comes to us in these final
words. In this strange kindness to Ahab, we see the heart of a good, kind,
compassionate and merciful God.
If
he showed mercy to such an ungodly man, what will his mercy be towards those
who are born again by grace?
We
might also consider how that righteous Naboth is presented as a type of Christ.
Who
was Christ but a righteous man who perfectly kept the law of God?
Still,
wicked men plotted against him.
False
witnesses were assembled to slander him (see Matthew’s account of two false
witnesses against Christ in Matt 26:59-61).
He
was accused of blasphemy and of making himself a king.
He
was deserted by even his closest disciples. No one stood up to defend him.
He
was taken out not to be stoned, but to be nailed to the cross.
Unlike
Naboth, however, he did not remain in the grave but was gloriously raised.
And
what has God done? He has taken those who killed his dear Son and rather than
condemn them he has given them grace, mercy, and truth.
Ahab
was spared punishment merely in this life. Justice was not removed but only
postponed. Those redeemed by Christ have something greater. We escape the
second death.
So
then, in light of such great grace given us in Christ, let us not be slaves to
sin, sold to work evil in the sight of the Lord, but let us be slaves of Christ
and slaves of righteousness.
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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