Ahab And David's Reactions To Elijah And Nathan's Rebukes

A TALE OF TWO SINFUL KINGS

AND HOW THEY REACTED TO TWO PROPHET'S REBUKES

AHAB AND ELIJAH, DAVID AND NATHAN

     Let's learn how two kings (Ahab and David) pictured above who sinned reacted to two prophets (Elijah and Nathan) who rebuked their sins. How we react when God corrects our sins by the Word of God determines if we are blessed or cursed. Brother Bob's worst enemy is Brother Bob and I have to decrease and let Jesus increase in my life. When God corrects and chastens us for sin, we should stop sinning and live instead of dying in the pleasure of sin. Hebrews 12:11 says Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

     When you are tempted to sin, to live and stop sinning remember the following scriptures. Romans 8:13 says For if you live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When you quote these scriptures you will stop sinning and realize that sin causes death but to live holy with Jesus causes blessings and life. Get saved, repent, decide to stop sinning, confess that Jesus is God, and believe the gospel that Jesus died on the cross for you, was buried, and rose again.

     First, let's look at Ahab's reaction to a rebuke of his sin. Ahab had his wife Jezebel kill an innocent man named Naboth to acquire his vineyard. Ahab took down a sign that said Naboth's vineyard and replaced it with a sign that said Ahab's acres. 

     Pictured above, one day Ahab was walking proudly with a glint of self satisfaction and unholy gratification through his new vineyard. As he walked, he was surprised to see the prophet Elijah whom he thought had died under a juniper tree afraid of Jezebel's murderous threats. Elijah told Ahab at 1 Kings 21:19 Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

     Now notice Ahab's response to Elijah's rebuke. 1 Kings 21:20 says And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? Ahab did not repent when Elijah confronted him about his sin of killing an innocent man to obtain his vineyard. Instead 1 Kings 21:25 says But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel. 

     Now let's compare how David pictured above responded when the prophet Nathan rebuked him for killing an innocent man named Uriah the Hittite to commit adultery with his wife named Bathsheba. King David was sitting on his throne one day when the prophet Nathan showed up. David said Nathan tell me a story because I love your blessed illustrations.

     Nathan told David about two men. One was very wealthy and the other was very poor. The poor man only owned one little ewe lamb and the wealthy man had many flocks of sheep. One day the rich man had his servant take the poor man's little lamb even though he had many flocks of sheep. David told Nathan that this was wrong and he said I'll have this rich man pay fourfold for his sin. Then Nathan pointed his finger at David and said Thou art the man. You had many women but took poor Uriah's wife Bathsheba for yourself and had Uriah killed.

     Now notice David's response to Nathan when he was confronted about his sin. David said unto Nathan at 2 Samuel 12:13 I have sinned against the Lord. This was totally different from Ahab's response to Elijah who said Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? David's reaction to Nathan's rebuke was total repentance that resulted in blessings while Ahab's reaction to Elijah's rebuke was scorn with a desire to continue sinning that resulted in death and trouble.

     Take time to read Proverbs 9:8 pictured above. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. How anyone reacts to God's rebukes from God's Word will determine if they are a scorner or a wise man. 

     David was a wise man who repented and stopped sinning when confronted about his sins by Nathan the prophet. Because David repented God blessed him with a son named Solomon who built a glorious temple unto the Lord. Ahab was a scorner and foolish man who kept sinning when confronted about his sins by Elijah the prophet. Because Ahab scorned Elijah and kept sinning, he died three years later, his body pierced by an arrow in a war chariot where the dogs licked his blood as Elijah had said. David is remembered as a wise man after God's own heart but Ahab is only remembered as a symbol of scorn.

 

     Notice that Ahab and David blamed others for their sins. Ahab blamed his wife Jezebel for killing Naboth to get his vineyard. David sent Uriah himself with a message that condemned him to death by having Joab put him in the front lines of a battle. David blamed Joab for killing Uriah.

     Most people like Ahab and David when confronted about their sins blame others and say it's his fault, it's her fault, it's their fault, it's the preacher's fault, it's the churches fault, or it's my parent's fault. But God says your problems are your fault. Pictured above God says at Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins (and blames others for his or her faults) shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

     When Adam pictured above was confronted about his sin by God, he blamed Eve for his sin. Adam told God at Genesis 3:12 The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 

     A preacher told a story that after Adam and Eve got kicked out of the garden of Eden for sinning and eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Cain, Abel, and Adam were working one day near the fence surrounding the garden of Eden. Angels were guarding the fence and did not allow them to enter the garden of Eden because of Adam and Eve's sin. 

     Cain asked Adam, Why can't we work in the beautiful garden of Eden instead of working in this world of thorns and thistles by the sweat of our brow? It looks a lot better over there in Eden. Adam put the blame on Eve and replied "Son we can't work in Eden because your mother ate us out of house and home."  

     Next notice Psalm 106:15 pictured above that says And He (God) gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Ahab got his vineyard but he also got a death sentence from Elijah. David got Bathsheba but he also got a rebuke from Nathan and suffered fourfold vengeance from God. Even though David repented, David suffered fourfold vengeance and lost four sons (Bathsheba's first baby, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah). David also reaped Ahithophel, the grandfather of Bathsheba, who was Absalom's chief advisor in wickedness and rebellion against David. Ahithophel also died because of his bitterness when Hushai the Archite's counsel was chosen by Absalom instead of Ahithophel's counsel. All this occurred because David sowed to his flesh by committing adultery with Bathsheba.

     Sin has consequences. James 1:15 says Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. According to Hebrews 11:25 the pleasures of sin are just for a season that cause death. I'd rather deny sin and have pleasures forevermore with Jesus according to Psalm 16:11 that says Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence (Lord Jesus) is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

     Realize that there are deadly consequences for one trifling fancy and one fun night of debauchery. A story was told of a man at a church meeting in a wheelchair that kept saying One night, one night, one night, does this equal one night? When asked by the preacher why he said this, the man replied, Does one night in the arms of a woman of the night equal this loathsome disease? Neighbor think before you sin of the consequences. People can die from aids for one fun night of fornication or sodomy. It's not worth getting a disease that causes death for one night of sinful fun.

     Tell people who like Ahab become proud and try to get rich by sinning and harming others the following bible verses. Proverbs 10:2 says Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but He casteth away the substance of the wicked. Proverbs 13:11 says Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

     Psalm 37:16 says A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. Proverbs 15:16 says Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. Proverbs 16:8 says Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. In other words it is better to be a blessed poor person with two nickels living in a cardboard shack who fears the Lord Jesus than a troubled wealthy millionaire in an extravagant palace who does not fear the Lord Jesus. The peace of God that passeth all understanding with the Lord Jesus is better than all the money and possessions of this world.    

     Note what Jeremiah said about the little bird called a partridge. The partridge will sit on other bird's eggs and then abandon them. Jeremiah 17:11 says As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; So he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. Like the partridge, a rich fool can not take his money and possessions with him when he dies. Job 27:8 says For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? It's better to have Jesus and eternal life in heaven where even the street we walk on is pure gold transparent glass.  

     What have we learned from how Ahab and David reacted to Elijah and Nathan's rebukes about their sins. Ahab got mad at Elijah's rebuke and kept sinning and was cursed. David repented at Nathan's rebuke and got right and got blessed.  Remember how you react to God's rebuke of your sin will determine if you are blessed or cursed. Ahab's reaction to keep sinning equals the eternal consequences of disaster and destruction. David's reaction of repentance and stopping sin equals forgiveness, restoration, and eternal life. There's a price to be paid or a gain to be made depending on how you react to an open rebuke against your sin.

     We should rejoice when God uses His Word to correct and chasten us about sins we are not aware of. If we change our ways and stop sinning after God corrects and chastens us, we will receive blessings for living holy. Take time to read how God loves us as children more than our earthly fathers and chastens us to bless us. 

     Pictured above Hebrews 12:5 says And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

     I encourage everyone to be blessed and say David's prayer of repentance when confronted about his sins by Nathan at Psalm 51:1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 

     Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all of mine iniquities. 

     Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with they free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.  

      I pray in Jesus name that this bible study blesses multitudes everywhere with great joy, peace, and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 746-7071. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.