1 Kings 20:22-30

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Ahab’s Second Victory Over the Syrian Forces

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Unbelievers have strange ideas about God.

  2. Murphy’s law is not in the Bible.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Depend on God, but do your part.

  2. When you feel like a goat, remember the Shepherd.

QUESTIONS

  1. Discuss King Ahab’s reign.

  2. Explain, “Unbelievers have strange ideas about God.”

  3. What is “Murphy’s Law”? Is it in the Bible?

  4. Israel, and Christians today, can just sit back and depend on God to do everything. True or False? Support your answer.

  5. What is meant by, “Israel’s army was like two little flocks of goats”?

ANSWERS

  1. Ahab was the seventh king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, reigning in the 9th Century, B.C. He was not a good king, but God graciously gave him many opportunities to repent.

  2. When the Syrians were defeated, they concluded that it was because Israel was protected by the gods of the hills (1 Kings 20:23). The ancient pagans had all kinds of strange ideas about God. Today, many think of God as an impersonal being, a celestial killjoy, or a heavenly Santa Claus. Right ideas about Him come only through revelation.

  3. Murphy’s Law means that if something can go wrong, it will. It is not in the Bible. Have you ever felt that Murphy’s Law was operative in your life? Actually, God controls all events.

  4. False. God promised victory to Israel, but He also required specific actions on Israel’s part. The same is true in spiritual warfare – the Christian is to depend on God and be strengthened by knowing and obeying God’s word. The one who seeks God’s will and way will have victory in his life.

  5. Israel’s army was like two little flocks of goats, compared to the Syrian army, which filled the countryside (1 Kings 20:27). The opposition was all around and seemed to be great, and the problems seemed insurmountable. But one little goat plus God is a majority.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. What is your idea of God? How would you describe Him to someone?

  2. Do you have a balance in your life concerning dependence on God and doing things on your own?

CHALLENGE

  1. When problems seem to overwhelm you, and you feel insignificant, remember the Shepherd.

KEY VERSES

  • “Go, strengthen yourself; take note, and see what you should do…” 1 Kings 20:22

  • “Their gods are gods of the hills. Therefore they were stronger than we; but if we fight against them in the plain, surely we will be stronger than they.” 1 Kings 20:23

  • “The children of Israel killed one hundred thousand foot soldiers of the Syrians in one day.” 1 Kings 20:29

1 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid1 KINGS 20:22-30