Week of June 19, 2016 ~ Issue No. 17
WEEKLY TWO KINGS
A TALE OF
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Based upon the teachings of Pastor Joseph Sissac
hat we value we tend to honor. We place certain articles of clothing in garment bags.
We place certain items in safes. We place our money in banks. We should be showing
God the highest honor above all else, but we should be showing Him honor through our
treatment of others. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about honor.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Defining Honor
2. The Parallel of Two Kings
3. What Makes Great Honor
DEFINING HONOR
In Hebrew the word for HONOR is “kabod”: it literally
means to be weighty or burdensome; distinguished; to be
made heavy from abundance. The picture that unfolds in
scripture is one of honoring that which we place high value
on: the greater the value the higher the honor.
We should honor God first and foremost, holding Him in
the highest place of honor in our lives.
DISCUSSION POINT 1
We ascribe worth to people or things we value. We
assign honor to those whom we value. How do
you continue to give honor to your sister or brother
in the Lord, or friends outside of the will of God
who choose to make wrong choices?
THE PARALLEL OF TWO KINGS
At this time Israel (north) and Judah (south) are two
separate kingdoms, with two kings who should be
submitted to one God. Ahab was the king of Israel and
Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. Jehoshaphat made a
deliberate effort to look back at the ways of David and
his father, and submitted himself to ways the ways of the
Lord.
Ahab on the other hand does not consistently follow the
ways of the Lord but does evil in His sight. He was married
to Jezebel. When these two Kings made an alliance to
recover one of the cities of Israel, their individual favor, or
lack thereof, with the Lord is seen.
2 Chronicles 17:1-6,
Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place,
and made his position over Israel firm. 2 He placed
troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set
garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of
Ephraim which Asa his father had captured.
3
The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed
the example of his father David’s earlier days and did
not seek the Baals, 4 but sought the God of his father,
followed His commandments, and did not act as
Israel did. 5 So the Lord established the kingdom in his
control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat,
and he had great riches and honor. 6 He took great
pride in the ways of the Lord and again removed the
high places and the Asherim from Judah.
2 Chronicles 18:1-34
Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and
he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. 2 Some years
later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And
Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and
the people who were with him, and induced him to go
up against Ramoth-gilead. 3 Ahab king of Israel said
to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me
against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as
you are, and my people as your people, and we will be
with you in the battle.”
Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel,
“Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 5 Then
the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred
men, and said to them, “Shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go
up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” 6 But
Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the
Lord here that we may inquire of him?”
4
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he
never prophesies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king
say so.”
7
Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah, Imla’s son.” 9 Now the king of Israel and
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting at the threshing
floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 10 Zedekiah the son of
Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they
are consumed.’” 11 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and succeed, for the Lord will
give it into the hand of the king.”
8
Then the messenger who went to summon Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Behold, the words of the prophets are uniformly
favorable to the king. So please let your word be like one of them and speak favorably.” 13 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord
lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”
12
When he came to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?” He
said, “Go up and succeed, for they will be given into your hand.” 15 Then the king said to him, “How many times must I adjure
you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 16 So he said,
14
“I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd; And the Lord said, ‘These have no master.
Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”
17
Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing
on His right and on His left. 19 The Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And
one said this while another said that. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’ And
the Lord said to him, ‘How?’ 21 He said, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then He said, ‘You
are to entice him and prevail also. Go and do so.’ 22 Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of
these your prophets, for the Lord has proclaimed disaster against you.”
18
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the
Lord pass from me to speak to you?” 24 Micaiah said, “Behold, you will see on that day when you enter an inner room to hide
yourself.” 25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the
king’s son; 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return
safely.”’” 27 Micaiah said, “If you indeed return safely, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, all you people.”
23
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up against Ramoth-gilead. 29 The king of Israel said to
Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself,
and they went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, “Do not fight with
small or great, but with the king of Israel alone.” 31 So when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is
the king of Israel,” and they turned aside to fight against him. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God
diverted them from him. 32 When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from
pursuing him. 33 A certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the
driver of the chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight, for I am severely wounded.” 34 The battle raged that day, and
the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot in front of the Arameans until the evening; and at sunset he died.
28
Ahab consulted ungodly prophets, but Jehoshaphat inquired of the prophet of the Lord. As a result, Ahab was killed
as a result of a single arrow piercing through a seam in his armor. Jehoshaphat calls out to God and is protected.
Both the honorable and dishonorable acts of these kings reap a harvest on the same day during the same battle.
The problem with Ahab was that He was not without honor; Ahab’s honor was misdirected as exemplified in his
relationship with his wife and the god’s he chose to worship. (Read 1 Kings 16:30-33)
THE MAKINGS OF GREAT HONOR
Both the honorable and the dishonorable will be rewarded. By obeying God’s Word we can expect an increase of
blessings, favor and protection as seen in King Jehoshaphat’s life. It is evident that he honored (placed high value
on) God and His Word.
In the life of King Jehoshaphat we see actions that caused him to have great honor.
1. He protected God’s people. (2 Chronicles 17:2)
2. He followed godly examples. (2 Chronicles 17:3)
3. He proudly obeyed the ways of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 17:4, 6a)
4. He made right the wrongs that existed among his people. (2 Chronicles 17:6b)
5. He equipped and released others to spread the Word of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 17:7-9)
Be a person of great honor because you have your priorities in order. When you protect those whom God has
placed in your care, follow godly examples, follow the Word and ways of the Lord over what is popular, work
towards bringing about righteousness where iniquity and transgression exists, and openly spread the Gospel,
you are making great strides towards having great honor.
You have been given the Word of God to live proudly before your family and before your community. Be
encouraged and challenged to embrace, study, and immerse yourself in the Bible. The goal is for you to
walk with confidence in the Word and be able to respond when someone asks you a question concerning your
faith.
DISCUSSION POINT 2 & 3
We read about two kings: one honorable and one dishonorable. One listened to the Lord, while the other
did not. Who are you listening to? Who has your ear? Who are you trying to please?
There are some things in the world we need to be close-minded to. In your own life, what are some ways
you can better manage the relationships you have? How can you intentionally give show honor towards
someone who has wronged you, or perhaps someone who believes differently than you?
FACTOR POINTS
HE’S HERE - WORSHIP: The Lord has given us all a measure of honor simply by
being made in His image and likeness. He is worthy of praise because He saw fit
to make us honorable. (Psalm 139:14)
HE KNOWS - LEARN: Jehoshaphat was successful because he looked back to
those who were successful before him. Learn from the Word of God, and from the
example of those in your life, to trust and follow the Lord.
HE’S ABLE - SERVE: As Jehoshaphat followed and obeyed, he served God’s people
faithfully. In the grace of God, serve faithfully and honorably those who are in need
in your life. Learn and pass on that which you have learned.
LOVE GOD... LOVE NEIGHBORS
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. In our story today, who wanted
to trick Jesus with his questions?
Factor Point:
Look for opportunities to
help someone else, even
people who look different,
act differently, or speak a
different language. It shows
God’s love.
2. What was this man second
question to Jesus?
3.
Who helped the victim?
4. Were Samaritans and Jews
best friends?
5.
Who is our neighbor?
Memory
Verse:
And he answ
ered, “You
shall love the
Lord your
God with all
your heart,
and with all y
our soul,
and with all y
our strength,
and with all y
our mind;
and your neig
hbor as
yourself.”
Luke 10:27 (N
ASB)
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman
Foundation. Used by permission