Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Sunday, September 25, 2022

Theme: THE END OF THE WICKED

Text: “Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? … In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.” “And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.” – 1 Kings 21:17-19; 1 Kings 21:23.  

Comment: Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre and Zidon, and wife of Ahab king of Israel. (1 Kings 16:31) She has become a byword for wickedness by women in power. She did all she could to establish idolatry and uproot true worship among the people of Israel.  She even maintained 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the groves whom she fed from her table. (1 Kings 18:19) When the 450 prophets of Baal perished at Mount Carmel following that famous contest with Elijah she sought to avenge their death by seeking the life of Elijah.  – 1 Kings 18:20-40; 19:1-3.

 

Jezebel added to her notoriety by killing Naboth because of his vineyard. Ahab endorsed her action by going on to take possession of the vineyard. (1 Kings 21:1-16) In addition to the sins of idolatry, they added murder based on false accusation to their sins.

 

Consequently, God Almighty also increased their punishment. (Proverbs 11:19,21; Ezekiel 18:20) As a result, besides the pronouncements on Ahab and his wife through Elijah the prophet, God Almighty promised to kill every son of Ahab.  (2 Kings 9:8-10) The prophecies fulfilled to the letter.   We should not, because of our privileged position carry out wicked acts, for we must remember that everyone must reap what he has sown. “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” – Job 4:8.