Sermon Notes
What Are You Doing Here, Elijah?
1 Kings 20
Dr. Tony Chute, Lead Pastor
Overview: Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, gathers an army and closes in on Syria. He sends messengers to Ahab demanding financial and familial recompense, to which Ahab initially agrees. When Ben-hadad sends messengers to demand more, Ahab consults with the elders, who convince him to take a stand. Ben-hadad, in a drunken stupor, instructs his soldiers to prepare for battle while a prophet informs Ahab that he is to attack first and that his army will emerge victorious. The Syrians attack Israel again the following year under the impression that the Lord is unable to bring victory to Israel in a battle on the plains. This miscalculation results in a significant defeat for the Syrians, though Ben-hadad himself survives. He seeks and is granted a pardon from Ahab, resulting in the Lord sending another prophet to pronounce judgment on Ahab for setting aside the clear commandment of the Lord. This seemingly honorable act of offering a pardon to a defeated foe is a reminder to us of the genuine terms of pardon which only the Lord Himself can offer.
01. Ben-hadad is a perfect example of a person needing a pardon from a greater king. He is wrong in his highest estimation of himself; mistaken in his low estimation of the Lord; and shows evidence of personal weakness even before he runs out of options to preserve his own life.
02. King Ahab is a perfect example of a person who issues a pardon without proper authorization. He is victorious only because the Lord has granted him victory; he is deceived as it pertains to Ben-hadad’s true intentions; and he was warned beforehand not to act on his own accord.
03. The interaction between Ben-hadad and King Ahab is a perfect example of what a divine pardon does look like. When we come to the Lord on His terms, recognizing our inability to save ourselves and requesting His mercy through the victorious work of Jesus Christ, He will issue a full and final pardon.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. Based on your initial reading of this chapter, what elements do you find interesting, surprising, and/or troubling? How do the depiction of the approach to warfare, the number of people who die in battle, and the aftermath of the battle conflict with our modern notions of warfare? What do these differences suggest about our need to enter the biblical world on its terms rather than judging it by our terms?
2. Why does King Ahab give in so easily to Ben-hadad’s first demand in verse 2-3? Why does Ahab seek further counsel and decide to draw the line in verses 7-9? In what ways does the unnamed prophet provide confidence to Ahab in verses 13-15? In what way does the Lord use others in your life to encourage and strengthen you in times of fear and desperation?
3. What character flaws are evident in Ben-hadad’s life? How do we account for the fact that a person who seems to have everything (i.e., a king ruling over a country) can be mastered by self-inflicted matters, like pride and drunkenness? Keep Ben-hadad in mind as an example of someone who seems to have it all but is not to be envied or emulated in any way.
4. Consider the premise in verse 31 behind Ben-hadad’s request for pardon: “Behold, now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings.” Can the same be said about you? Can the same be said about Northpoint? Pray that this reputation would precede you and Northpoint as we encounter those who wonder if they can be forgiven by the Lord.
For Further Reading: Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed (first published, 1630; Banner of Truth, 2021)