The Fall of an Evil King
The Old Testament tells the story of a king named Ahaziah. It’s a short story, told in three acts but only 21 verses:
- Ahaziah’s ascension to the throne of Israel upon the death of his father, the wicked King Ahab.
- The king’s sin of serving Baal, a demon-deity commonly worshiped in the idol-laden land of Canaan.
- His affront to the LORD by inquiring of Baal… and his subsequent death.
So, what’s the big deal about the death of an evil king? Especially when it puts an end to the family line of the Ahab and Jezebel. Isn’t that a good thing, and shouldn’t we be glad he’s dead?
Let’s see what God says about the death of the wicked, in His own words:
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD,
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but rather that they turn from their ways and live.
Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”
– Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)
The New Testament concurs, with the Apostle Peter affirming:
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise [of returning],
as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
– 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Now, back to the story of Ahaziah’s untimely demise…
His Idolatrous Inquiry
Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” – 2 Kings 1:2
God’s responds quickly to the king’s idolatrous inquiry:
But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” – 2 Kings 1:3,4
Any time you see the word “therefore” in the Bible, you should stop and ask what it’s “there for.”
In this instance, allow me to paraphrase. In essence, God tells the king, “Because you went to a false god instead of turning to Me, therefore you shall die.”
Because… therefore. Cause… effect.
Actions have consequences. But, Ahaziah could have chosen a different action.
Ahaziah’s Greatest Problem
This was not simply the Lord answering Ahaziah’s question. God didn’t say, “No, you will not recover from your injury.” In fact, He doesn’t even mention the fall. God’s reply focused on the inquiry, not the injury.
You see, Ahaziah’s injury was not his greatest problem. His greatest problem was the position of his heart… the condition of his soul.
We see this played out in Jesus’ ministry, as well… because Ahaziah’s greatest problem is our greatest problem as well.
Luke 5: Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic
More to the point, Jesus forgave and then healed a paralytic.
In Luke 5:17-26, we see a group of men bringing their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus. Undeterred by a crowd blocking their entry to the house, this determined party tears a hole in the roof and lowers their friend down right in front of the Healer.
“When He saw their faith, He said to him, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’”
– Luke 5:20
It doesn’t say that when Jesus saw the paralyzed man that He immediately said, “Be healed… Rise up and walk.” The Lord could have, almost off-handedly, healed the man with a touch and gotten back to His teaching. Verse 17 tells us that “the power of the Lord was present to heal them,” so we know that healings had already been taking place as He taught the crowd… perhaps at His touch, perhaps at His word or maybe just by His presence.
Though these friends had urgently sought Jesus for their friend’s physical healing, Jesus recognized and addressed a more urgent need in the man’s life… More important than the healing of the man’s body was the redemption of his soul.
Unlike Ahaziah, this man turned to Jesus, trusting Him to meet his need. This man left healed — body and soul.
Where Do We Turn?
In his time of fear and doubt, instead of turning to the one true God of Israel, Ahaziah inquired of a false god from a pagan nation. Where we turn in times of trouble reveals the position of our hearts.
Are we oriented toward Christ, running to Him as our strong tower and certain refuge?
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
– Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)
Or, do we run to worldly comforts to soothe our fears and doubts?
- Do we go to social media to complain, seeking others who will justify our grievances?
- Do we turn to food, alcohol or other substances, being poor stewards of the body God gave us and abusing the temple of the Holy Spirit?
- Do we lose ourselves in movies and TV shows, music or video games that glorify what God condemns?
- Do we give in to temptation or lust?
- Do we hang out with the wrong friends or spend irresponsibly?
- Do we dive into the busyness of a job, chores or hobbies?
Even “good” or “wholesome” activities, things that aren’t inherently bad, become idols when we use them to numb the pain of our problems instead of running to God for healing. They are false gods that we’re expecting to take away our pain… when God clearly invites us to bring our pain to Him.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
– Hebrews 4:16
It Wasn’t the Fall That Killed Him
It wasn’t falling through the lattice that killed Ahaziah… It was The Fall of mankind, which brought sin into the world and separates us from our loving Father, that is poised to destroy us all.
Look back at Ezekiel 33:11 and 2 Peter 3:9 above to remind yourself how God views the death of the wicked. He takes absolutely no pleasure in the death of even the vilest of sinners… of which Ahaziah certainly was one.
Even though he was an evil king from a notoriously wicked family, God wanted Ahaziah to come to Him, not seek comfort elsewhere… from a foreign god or anything else.
“Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”
– Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)
“I’m Right Here…”
Permit me one more paraphrase. When God says, “‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’” I believe His heart toward Ahaziah is, “Why didn’t you come to Me? I’ve been right here all along, waiting for you to turn to Me.”
Perhaps Ahaziah’s third act could have ended differently…
What if, despite his past failures, he had turned to the God who is slow to anger and abounding in love?
What if he had forsaken worthless idols and turned to the one true God who heals and saves?
What if Ahaziah had recognized God as LORD and run to Him instead?
Perhaps his “therefore” could have ended in life for both his body and soul.
That is why the LORD says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.”
– Joel 2:12,13
God Calls Us to Repent
Centuries later, the Apostle Paul proclaimed to the terribly idolatrous city of first-century Athens, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30)
God wants every single one of us to repent of our sins and come to Him for salvation in the name of Jesus Christ—His Son and our Savior. Ahaziah didn’t die because of his physical injury; he died because he failed to seek the One who heals, who saves, who invites us to bring our pain to Him.
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.”
– Psalm 34:18
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.”
– Psalm 34:4
Just as the LORD told Ahaziah, “you shall surely die,” if we do not turn to Him, we too shall surely die. But, know this… that outcome is 100% preventable! No one has to be separated from God in this life or the one to come
The Apostle Peter preaches in Acts 2:21, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved,” and Paul assures us in Romans 10:13 that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved.”
– Romans 10:9
Let Us Pray
Father God,
We thank You for Your love, Your mercy and Your kindness, which leads us to repentance. We praise You for Your promise of salvation for anyone who calls on the name of Jesus, our sure hope and firm foundation. We declare that JESUS IS LORD and that there is no other name by which we must be saved. We bless You for sending Your Son Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners, because You don’t want even the worst of sinners to perish but to come to repentance.
Right now we repent of running to things of the world in search of healing instead of running to You. We confess that any worldly thing we turn to instead of You is a false god and failing hope—an idol. We renounce those idols now in Jesus’ name and break any and all spiritual ties with them by His blood.
When tempting thoughts entice us to turn to those idols again, we commit to take those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and turn to You instead.
We bring our pain, troubles, disappointments and fears to You today and lay them down before the throne of Your grace. We understand that You do not guarantee Your children a life free from trouble, but You do promise to be with us in it and through it.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen
Photo Credit: Jordon Conner
Seated at His Feet 