1 Reis 20

1 Reis 20

Trapp - “This was not courtesy, but foolery. Brother Ben-Hadad will ere long fight against Ahab with that life which he had given him (1Ki 22:31).” James Smith - ROPES AND SACKCLOTH; or, how to meet God. 1 Kings 20:32. King Edward III, in 1327, besieged Calais, and when it was in extremity agreed to spare the place on condition that six of its principal citizens came out, clothed in sackcloth and halters round their necks. They were spared death only through the intercession of his wife, Queen Adelaide. We wonder if Edward III got his idea from the Bible? For there is a similar scene in 1 Kings 20. During the life of the Prophet Elijah, 5 years after Carmel, Benhadad, King of Syria, assisted by 32 Kings, came against Israel. Ahab was frightened, and agreed to pay an indemnity to save himself and people. But Benhadad went too far, and God delivered him into the hand of Ahab, a great slaughter following. Now without an army, in a strange land, he was in a dreadful position. Then his advisers spake. "We have heard that the Kings of Israel are merciful Kings," said they, and they decided to throw themselves on his mercy. Clothing themselves with sackcloth, and with ropes around their necks, a deputation thus waited upon the King, and succeeded in securing life and liberty. On the lonely Isle of Patmos, which is only 15 miles in circumference, lived a hermit. Asked why he was living in such seclusion, he replied: "Some day I have to meet God. I am preparing for that day." His desire for readiness is commendable, but not the mode of preparation. The best preparation to meet God up in the Better Land is to meet Him down here. "There will I meet with you," said God to Moses, referring to the Ark with its blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat. God has His meeting-place, and that is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Reading this story, note: I. Their Peril. They were enemies, and had taken up arms against Israel. We are rebels to God both by birth and choice. "He that is not with Me, is against Me," is the Word of the Lord. II. Their Hope. They heard of the mercy of Israel, whom they had come up to fight. Is not our God merciful? Mercy is one of His moral attributes. We have a merciful God. III. Their Action. 1. Clothed themselves with sackcloth—emblem of sorrow—our grief on account of our sins. 2. Put ropes around their necks—their confession by deed that they were worthy of death. 3. Their confession by word of mouth, and plea for mercy. IV. Their Salvation. 1. Pardon. "Come up into the chariot." 2. Friendship. Treated as friends and not as enemies. 3. Restoration. Restored him back to his house and friends and to his former possessions. We gain in Christ more than we lost in Adam. 4. Covenant. See Hebrews 8:10-13. 1 Kings 20:33 Now the men took this as an omen, and quickly catching his word said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he took him up into the chariot. NET 1 Kings 20:33 The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, "Ben Hadad is your brother." Ahab then said, "Go, get him." So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. CSB 1 Kings 20:33 Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, so they quickly picked up on this and responded, "Yes, it is your brother Ben-hadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." So Ben-hadad came out to him, and Ahab had him come up into the chariot. ESV 1 Kings 20:33 Now the men were watching for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, "Yes, your brother Ben-hadad." Then he said, "Go and bring him." Then Ben-hadad came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. NIV 1 Kings 20:33 The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. "Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!" they said. "Go and get him," the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot. NLT 1 Kings 20:33 The men took this as a good sign and quickly picked up on his words. "Yes," they said, "your brother Ben-hadad!" "Go and get him," the king of Israel told them. And when Ben-hadad arrived, Ahab invited him up into his chariot. the men: Pr 25:13 Lu 16:8 and he caused: 2Ki 10:15 Ac 8:31 1 Kings 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ENEMIES NOW CHARIOT CHUMS Now the men (the other Arameans) took this as an omen (nachash) The other Arameans took this as a divine sign. The Septuagint uses oionizomai which means to take omens from the flight and cries of birds, to divine from omens and then to learn from divination. The Arameans clearly were very superstitious! and quickly catching his word said, “Your brother Ben-hadad.” NLT - "Quickly picked up on his words. ""Yes," they said, "your brother Ben-hadad!" Bob