The Verses
1-28 An agreement between Ahab and the king of Syria brought three years of peace. Ahab asked 400 false prophets whether he should wage war on Syria with Jehoshaphat’s army by hiw side. We know they were false prophets, because they worshiped idols and Jehoshaphat (a good king, who served the Lord God) didn’t like them.
A prophet who had been in prison, Micaiah, comes along and proclaims that the Lord would give them success.
The difference between a true prophet and a false prophet is that 100% of a true propher’s predictions come true.
29-40 Ahab's fundamental dishonesty and cowardice emerge in his proposal in verse 30. He disguised himself as a common soldier but insisted that Jehoshaphat wear his royal robe into the battle.
Ahab's disguise should have guaranteed his survival.
Verse 35 notes that Ahab's lifeblood ebbed from his body into the bottom of the chariot.
This detail is important because verse 38 mentions that the chariot was washed in Samaria after Ahab's body had been returned to his capital for burial. And as the chariot was being washed, the dogs licked up the blood of Ahab, fulfilling the word of Yahweh to Elijah in 1 Kings 21:19.
41-50 Jehoshaphat became the king of Judah (Southern Kingdom). He ruled 25 years and “did right in the sight of the Lord.” He followed the example of his father, Asa.
He died and was succeeded by Jehoram, his son.
51-53 Ahaziah , son of Ahab, became king of Israel. He ruled only two years. Like Ahab, Ahaziah was a wicked king and angered the Lord God.
So, what was the point of all of this?
1Kings systematically subverts all the institutions that Israel might be tempted to trust in.
Think that a wise king will preserve Israel's prosperity and peace? Take a look at Solomon.
Think that prophets will save Israel? They might, but no one listens to them.
Think that keeping the Law will save Israel? Take a look at Josiah, the perfect Law-keeper, who cannot save Judah from destruction.
Think that the Temple will save Israel? Tell me again about that heap of smoldering ruins on the mountain of Jerusalem.
When Israel breaks covenant, Israel dies.
And when Israel dies, neither king nor temple nor Torah can bring her back to life.
I and II KINGS AND THE GOSPEL
(We will get to II Kings in the near future, but in these paragraphs you will get a brief preview.)
1-2 Kings is a gospel text in part because it points Israel to her only source of hope, new life, and renewal: Yahweh. 1-2 Kings is also a gospel text because of what it reveals about Yahweh, God of Israel.
First, it reveals a God whose patience with His people is uncanny.
Yahweh warns Solomon that the temple will be destroyed if Solomon turns from Him (1 Kings 9), but several centuries pass before the temple is destroyed (2 Kings 25).
The man of God from Judah warns Jeroboam about a king named Josiah who will destroy Jeroboam's altar (1 Kings 13), but Josiah doesn't come for centuries (2 Kings 22-23).
Yahweh tells Elijah that He will raise up avengers to destroy the house of Ahab (1 Kings 19), but years pass before they appear.
Kings does not reveal a God with a hair-trigger temper; it reveals a God who is, if anything, irresponsibly indulgent toward His favored people.
Second, Kings reveals a God who is faithful to His promises to David's house.
Again and again, David's house is nearly destroyed.
The kingdom divides, and David's house is left with two tribes. Athaliah kills all the princes of the Davidic dynasty (2 Kings 11), but the Lord preserves Joash by the skin of his teeth. Assyria destroys Samaria (2 Kings 17) and threatens Jerusalem, but Yahweh delivers (2 Kings 18-19). Babylon destroys Jerusalem, but the last scene of 1-2 Kings shows Jehoiachin elevated above all the captive kings in Babylon.
Here is the gospel of 1-2 Kings: The long-suffering God of Israel will not leave David in the grave; on the third day, he will rise again. And Yahweh alone will have the glory.
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