1 Kings 22:1-4 (KJV) You Are Asking For It

1 Kings 22:1-4 (KJV)
And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

Even though Ahab was an ungodly man, he had been aided of the Lord to defeat Benhadad sufficiently enough to suppress any further war for three years. The only trouble was that Syria still held a city that Ahab thought belonged to him. This little detail had been a burr in his saddle all this time. For three years he had held onto his grudge, looking for the chance to strike at his enemy. He thought he found it through allegiance with Judah.

Jehoshaphat agreed to enter battle on Ahab’s side but he did request that they inquire of the Lord. The Word of the Lord pronounced Ahab’s doom.

• His desire for victory over Syria
• His carnal heart and 
• His belief that Judah’s help sealed his conquest 

blinded him against the prophet’s warning and led to his death in the field.

It never serves any good purpose to hold on to a grudge, even if it feels like the grudge is justified. The city did belong to Israel but God was more than capable of restoring it to them if He pleased.

The grudge was to Ahab’s undoing and no one else’s.

To my reader:
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1 Kings 22:1-4 (KJV) You Are Asking For It

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