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Cole Community Church Growth Groups Leader's Guide for 1 Kings

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Cole Community Church Growth Groups Leader's Guide for 1 Kings Cole Community Church Growth Groups Leader’s Guide for 1 Kings 20:1-43 Week of October 18, 2020 Ben-Hadad Besieges Samaria Introduction: The northern kingdom of Israel had eight evil kings in succession. To punish both kingdoms for living their own way and not following God, God allowed other nations to gain strength and become their enemies. Three main enemies threatened Judah and Israel in the next two centuries- Aram, Assyria, and Babylon. The first to rise, Aram presented a threat to Ahab and Israel. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He married Jezebel, daughter of a king of the Sidonians, who led him from the Lord to serve and worship Baal. He set up an alter for Baal in a temple he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel than all the previous kings. He reined in Israel for 22 years. NIV Study Bible comments. Ben-Hadad comes against Samaria – Read verses 1-12 1. What was the first demand and the second demand by Ben-Hadad? What were Ahab’s responses to each demand and why do you suppose he responded that way? What step did each of the kings then take? Background: Thirty-two kings that were confederate with Ben-Hadad were probably tributary princes. The ancient kings of Syria and Phoenicia ruled only over a single city, and were independent of each other except when one great city, as Damascus went to war and they joined in. Ben-Hadad first requested all the gold and silver plus the best of the wives and children. Ahab in a cowardly manner acquiesced to the first demand. Spurgeon comment…” This was the king of Israel, meanly crouching before the idolatrous king of Syria. Not after this fashion would David have spoken, or any of those kings who followed the Lord of hosts; but when men forsake God, they soon become cowards. What kingdom or nation shall prosper that casts off the yoke of the Most High.” Comment – could this be happening to our country today? Page 1 of 5 Ben-Hadad then made a second demand, telling Ahab he would send officials to search and take everything of value plus wives and children. Spurgeon comment…. “That is always the way with such people, give them an inch, and they take a mile. Ahab had agreed to all that the Syrian king claimed, so now Beh-Hadad pushes his advantage. If you ever yield to Satan, you will find him to be a hard taskmaster. You can never yield enough to satisfy him; and if you yield to any sin, whatever it may be, you will find it to be a cruel tyrant to you.” Ahab then stood to reason and sought counsel with the elders and people. They told Ahab to resist, which was conveyed to Ben-Hadad. But to deny a tyrant on one point is to deny him on every point. Ahab could expect a harsh reaction. Syria then got ready to sack the city while the Syrian king and the princes got drunk. Ben-Had sent a message of his mighty power. Ahab responded with a witty response, which basically said not to count your chickens before they hatch. Victory for Israel – Read verses 13-22 2. What produced victory for Israel and Ahab and what is the message for the future? A prophet sent by the Lord instructed Ahab on what to do for battle. The prophet shared with Ahab that God would utilize a meager force of 7,000 believers led by Ahab himself to whip the overwhelming Syrian force. The prophet shared to Ahab you will know “that I am the Lord.” Ahab deserved divine abandonment. God had shown Ahab the victory over the pagan god of Baal on Mount Carmel, but Ahab was not completely convinced, more than likely due to the influence of Jezebel. Page 2 of 5 Though king Ahab and people of Israel had highly offended Him, God had not utterly cast them off. He still cherished designs of mercy towards them. Without being asked God gave proof of His interest in them by announcing that the Lord would deliver the enemy into their hands by a small, feeble, inadequate band against a very large, well armored foe. Yet with the glorious victory, we do not read of any acknowledgement being made or any sacrifices being offered in token of their national gratitude. Some things do not change. Application – When there is a work for God to be done, we often look for Him to provide someone to do the work just as Ahab had done. But God told him to lead the small group into battle. What is God’s way of handing this situation for us today? Talk in your group about our misconceptions of how this should all work and what is God’s desire for us. A second victory over Syria – read verses 23-30 3. Again, what propels this victory for Israel? The prophet came to Ahab after the first victory and shared the next steps the king should take as the Syrian army would again attack in the spring. He told Ahab to “strengthen yourself.” Ahab followed these instructions and won an easy battle in the spring. Page 3 of 5 Ben-Hadad’s advisors shared that it was the god of the hills that gave Israel victory. But if the battle were taken to the plains, their god of the hills would be made useless, which was not the case as seen by the easy defeat and destruction of the Syrian army. Application – The point through all these verses is that God continued to speak to Ahab even though Ahab had turned his back on God, as a very wicked king. God continued to reach out to Ahab and Israel, He did not just abandon them. Does God treat us the same way when we turn our back on Him? Talk in your group about this thought and our experiences. Ahab’s willingness to make peace with the enemy of God – read verses 31-34 4. Did Ahab rely on prophets with his actions with Ben-Hadad? Background – After the defeat, Ben-Hadad and his officials put on sack cloth on their bodies and ropes around their heads. Sackcloth and ashes were used in Old Testament times as a symbol of debasement, mourning, and repentance. Someone wanting to show his repentant heart would often wear sackcloth, sit in ashes, and put ashes on top of his head. Sackcloth was a coarse material usually made of black goat’s hair, making it quite uncomfortable to wear. Ropes on the head were also a sign of submission. Ahab did not follow the prophet’s instructions to totally defeat and kill the Syrian army and it’s king. Beh-Hadad’s voluntary submission flattered the pride of Ahab. He had little concern about the dishonor done to the God of Israel by the Syrian king. Ahab thinking of nothing but victory paraded the king in his royal chariot, called him my brother and dismissed him with a covenant of peace. Ahab had no right to negotiate away the victory. The victory was the Lord’s and did not belong to Ahab. Page 4 of 5 Ahab’s downfall – read verses 35-43. 5. How did the prophet trap Ahab to admit his sin. What other instance in the Old Testament does this remind you? The prophet found a willing assistant to wound him then leads Ahab in the parabolic manner of Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-4) to pronounce his own doom and consequent punishment. The prophet said to Ahab, “Thus saith the Lord, because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.” What was the difference between David’s response to the Nathan and Ahab’s response to the prophet of his day? Application – When confronted with your own sin, what should be your response? How should you handle your life going forward? Talk in your group. bb Page 5 of 5 .
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