Men's Ministry
Please read I Kings 21:1-4
1. Ahab made what seemed (to him) to be a reasonable offer to purchase Naboth’s vineyard. The problem is that Naboth didn’t see it as a good deal. The issue is that Ahab, a wicked king who couldn’t care less about God and His laws, had no use for the history of parceling out the land under Joshua. Naboth, on the other hand, appears to have been a godly man who knew history and understood that it was God that gave him the land through his ancestors. What was Ahab’s reaction to being turned down? Where have you seen this attitude before? (Hint: check the previous chapter.)
Please read I Kings 21:5-7
2. In telling Jezebel of Naboth’s refusal, what detail did Ahab leave out?
3. Jezebel obviously did not have the gift of mercy. She basically told Ahab to suck it up and she’d take care of it. Create a brief character sketch of these two wicked rulers. What is Jezebel like and what is Ahab like? (The native women of Israel would never have jumped into a situation like Jezebel did.
3. Jezebel obviously did not have the gift of mercy. She basically told Ahab to suck it up and she’d take care of it. Create a brief character sketch of these two wicked rulers. What is Jezebel like and what is Ahab like? (The native women of Israel would never have jumped into a situation like Jezebel did.
Please read I Kings 21:8-144. Seals in the ancient world were very important. They authenticated the sender of a letter and secured its contents. A person with a seal would protect it from all possible misuse, much like you protect your credit cards and passwords. How do you think Jezebel gained access to Ahab’s seal? Do you think Ahab was in on the plot?
5. Jezebel instructs the leaders of the city to proclaim a fast. Fasts usually occurred when there was some calamity and the people wanted to find out why God was punishing them. What calamity might Jezebel have assumed would fit the purpose of calling a fast? (Hint: what was going on in the previous chapters?)
6. Jezebel has two “worthless men” falsely accuse Naboth of blasphemy. She chose two men so that the law of Moses would be followed. See Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15. Since Jezebel is trying to erase YHWH from Israel, why would she follow Moses’ law?
5. Jezebel instructs the leaders of the city to proclaim a fast. Fasts usually occurred when there was some calamity and the people wanted to find out why God was punishing them. What calamity might Jezebel have assumed would fit the purpose of calling a fast? (Hint: what was going on in the previous chapters?)
6. Jezebel has two “worthless men” falsely accuse Naboth of blasphemy. She chose two men so that the law of Moses would be followed. See Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15. Since Jezebel is trying to erase YHWH from Israel, why would she follow Moses’ law?
7. Naboth, of course, was completely innocent of the charges yet was executed by stoning. Who else in the Bible was charged with offending both God and the king, was innocent of the charges, but was executed anyway.
Please read I Kings 21:15-16
8. Regardless of whether Ahab was in on the plan to kill Naboth, he immediately took possession of the land. What should he have done?
Please read I Kings 21:17-26
9. Why does Ahab consider Elijah his enemy? Did the widow at Zarephath consider Elijah her enemy? What’s the difference between these two people? What about the people around you? Do they consider you a friend or an enemy and why?
10. God sent several unnamed prophets to Ahab. Why do you think God now sends Elijah instead of some other prophet?
11. Elijah clearly holds Ahab responsible for the murder of Naboth. If Jezebel did this on her own, why hold Ahab responsible?
12. Elijah makes several prophecies in verses 19 through 24. The first is that dogs will lick up Ahab’s blood in the same place that dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. However, Ahab died in Samaria, not in Jezreel. (20 miles separate these two sites). Does this make Elijah a false prophet? Does this mean that God doesn’t really know the future? This is a difficult question that must be answered by a careful reading of I Kings 21:27-29 and II Kings 9:24-26.
13. What does “cut off” mean in verse 21?
14. Review: In verse 22, Elijah mentions Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and Baasha the son of Ahijah. Who were these people? Hint: See I Kings 12 and 15.
10. God sent several unnamed prophets to Ahab. Why do you think God now sends Elijah instead of some other prophet?
11. Elijah clearly holds Ahab responsible for the murder of Naboth. If Jezebel did this on her own, why hold Ahab responsible?
12. Elijah makes several prophecies in verses 19 through 24. The first is that dogs will lick up Ahab’s blood in the same place that dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. However, Ahab died in Samaria, not in Jezreel. (20 miles separate these two sites). Does this make Elijah a false prophet? Does this mean that God doesn’t really know the future? This is a difficult question that must be answered by a careful reading of I Kings 21:27-29 and II Kings 9:24-26.
13. What does “cut off” mean in verse 21?
14. Review: In verse 22, Elijah mentions Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and Baasha the son of Ahijah. Who were these people? Hint: See I Kings 12 and 15.
Please read I Kings 21:27-29
15. Elijah predicts calamity for Ahab and his house. In verse 29, God seems to have changed his mind. Does God change his mind? If not, how do you explain this?
16. Ahab is going to die in chapter 22. As we’ll see, his death is linked to God’s judgement. But, if he repented in this chapter (verse 27), why will he suffer judgement in the next?
16. Ahab is going to die in chapter 22. As we’ll see, his death is linked to God’s judgement. But, if he repented in this chapter (verse 27), why will he suffer judgement in the next?