As the Kingdom Turns

"Ahab!  Why are you laying in the bed and refusing to eat?" demanded Jezebel.

"Naboth has a great piece of land near my kitchen; I really want to use it for herbs!  He refuses to sell it to me and now I have nothing to live for.  What's life without fresh thyme!" sobbed Ahab.

"Precious you don't worry about a thing, I will make sure you get your herb garden.  But I need your King seal." gushed Jezebel.

"It's in the drawer where I keep my royal papers." sighed Ahab.

So  Jezebel wrote a letter to the city officials demanding they call a day of fasting and prayer.  Using the King's name she informed them that God had revealed to him there was a man keeping the city from receiving a blessing.  And that man was......Naboth.

Naboth was brought before the city and stoned to death--him and all of his sons.  Ahab received the piece of land rushing to claim it before Naboth had a chance to be buried.  As he was walking the garden a prophet of God--Elijah came to him.

"King Ahab the Lord has seen your wickedness and you will now receive judgement.  Dogs will lick your blood in this garden that you attained through your evil deeds.  Jezebel will fall out of a window into the streets and the dogs will lick her blood as payment of her wicked ways." said Elijah.

King Ahab tore his garments and fell to the ground begging for mercy.  Although God saw his heart was not changed-this was just an outward show--he granted Ahab mercy and pushed the sentence onto his sons.

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I was shocked that God granted him mercy.  But Matthew Henry stated that God will use people and situations to further His Glory.  Sometimes wicked people prosper long; God is rewarding their external services with external mercies.  

It also shows that if a pretending partial penitent shall go to his house reprieved, doubtless a sincere penitent shall go to his house justified. (Matthew Henry)