Day 168: Wicked Kings

1 Kings 21:1-16 Again we see how envy (covetousness) leads to greater sins. Ahab and Jezebel desired Naboth’s property; when Naboth refused to sell it, Jezebel-with Ahab’s tacit consent-arranged for false charges to be brought upon Naboth, who was consequently put to death. Thus, unchecked envy gave way to the sins of lying and murder. (CCC 1295, 2538)

Ch 21:9 Proclaim a fast: It was common to announce days of mandatory fast in order to atone for a sin of the people who had brought shame, threats, or disaster upon a community. Fasting remains an effective tool of penance and atonement; it is also a discipline stipulated by the Church on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and for one hour before receiving Holy Communion. (CCC 1837, 2043)

Ch 21:17-29 This sin of Ahab parallels that of David with respect to Bathsheba and the death of her husband, Uriah. The king arranged for a person to be killed so that he might claim something that belonged to the deceased. To his credit, Ahab, like David, repented when the prophet confronted him with his sin and the dire consequences it would bring. God relented on his planned punishment by delaying it until Ahab’s son ruled Israel.

Song of Solomon 7:1-10 The beloved and the lover recognize one another fully; the physical beauty they see in each other reflects an ardent and profound love.

I am my beloved’s...for me: The mutual self-giving comprising the marriage covenant is expressed by the spouses through sexual intimacy. As this allegory affirms, spousal love involves an exclusive and transcendental love. This verse reflects the teachings found in Genesis on marital relations but without the emphasis on the domination of the husband: “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gn 3:16). The absence of reference to domination strongly suggests a new perspective on the equal dignity and complementarity of the spouses as originally described by God in creation-a complementarity that would be restored in the New Covenant. Through the graces of redemption bestowed in the Sacrament of Matrimony, spouses can love each other with the love of Christ. (CCC 372, 1641-1642)

Ch 7:11-13 The grace bestowed in the Sacrament of Matrimony allows the spouses to share in the joy and peace of Christ. Sexual union in marriage, which is open to life, expresses and celebrates the sacrificial fidelity of the spouses to each other. (CCC 1646-1648, 1653)

(*The Didache Bible RSV-CE Ignatius Edition, 2006)

• Ok, here we are 😁

• This is so good because our stories are connected

• 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles in this section are very connected

• It is the time of Elijah, who is a PROPHET

• We have heard in 1 Kings the last couple of days talking about Ahab and Jezebel with Elijah on the run

• We also have Elijah playing a role in 2 Chronicles with Jehoshaphat and his son, Jehoram

• We’ll get back to that in a second

• Back in 1 Kings we have this really curious story that reveals the heart of Ahab and Jezebel

• If there is any VILLAIN of all the kings we have, it is the kings in the NORTHERN KINGDOM

• They’re all bad

• We don’t know if there is even ONE good one

• Ahab is the ARCHETYPE of how bad these kings can get

• Jezebel’s name is now associated with EVIL in this day and age

• Ahab’s heart is on display

• He wants Naboth’s vineyard

• Naboth doesn’t want to give it to him

• Why?

• Because in the Old Testament, remember, you could not SELL YOUR LAND because the land DID NOT BELONG TO JUST YOU

• You were merely the TENANT of the land

• The land belonged to THE FAMILY

• This is really really important

• Here in the 21st Century, you can buy and sell land and it’s just the land you bought or sold

• But in ANCIENT PEOPLE, especially in ISRAEL, the big PROMISE of God to Abraham was what?

• A KINGDOM

• A WORLDWIDE BLESSING

• LAND

• Remember back when we were reading about how that land was divided among TRIBES

• Then the land was FURTHER divided among FAMILIES

• So Naboth the Jezreelite has land that didn’t just belong to HIM

• The land belongs to his FAMILY

• So he CAN’T sell it, even if Ahab gives him a great deal

• Naboth is being FAITHFUL

• Ahab is being PETULANT

• He pouts like a CHILD and shows his heart

• Jezebel shows her heart by writing letter in Ahab’s name

• She incites people to accuse Naboth of doing something WRONG

• We can look at Ahab and say he’s HORRIBLE

• We can look at Jezebel and say she’s HORRIBLE

• Think about this

• Jezebel wrote letters in AHAB’S NAME

• She sealed the letters with AHAB’S SEAL

• She sent the letters to ELDERS AND NOBLES who dwelt with Ahab in his city

• She wrote to the ELDERS

• She wrote to the NOBLES

• She wrote to the TWO BASE FELLOWS who would accuse Naboth

• THEY ALL WENT ALONG WITH IT

• Isn’t this REMARKABLE?

• Ok, Jezebel and Ahab’s names go down in INFAMY

• But what about the names of those ELDERS AND NOBLES who cooperated with this plan?

• They didn’t do ANYTHING to stop the WRONGFUL MURDER of Naboth who was STONED TO DEATH

• It is often said, “For evil to triumph, all it takes is good men who do nothing”

• That is EXACTLY what happens in Naboth’s city of Jezreel

• These elders and nobles were told to go along with this corruption and deception and they DID

• Because of that, Elijah pronounces God’s sentence

• Jezebel and Ahab are going to DIE

• Ahab DOES repent a little bit so he extends his life but he dies before the end of 1 Kings (SPOILER ALERT!)

• Elijah writes to King Ahab and his wife Jezebel in the NORTHERN KINGDOM

• Elijah also participates with the kings in the SOUTHERN KINGDOM with Jehoshaphat

• Jehoshaphat was a good king who did a lot of good things

• He wasn’t PERFECT

• But he wasn’t AWFUL

• Nice job, Jehoshaphat!

• His son, Jehoram gets to be king because he was the first born

• One of the first thing he does is he KILLS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS BROTHERS

• HIS BROTHERS!!!

• Jehoshaphat gave these brothers gifts so they would be content when Jehoram was made king

• Jehoram follows the influence of his wife, the daughter of Ahab aka Athaliah

• 2 Chronicles keeps pointing out that Jehoram was INFLUENCED by Ahab

• Remember that Ahab is the ARCHETYPE of being a BAD KING

• So Jehoram was a BAD KING

• Jehoram killed ALL HIS BROTHERS....BAD KING

• Jehoram was unfaithful in his WORSHIP...BAD KING

• As Jehoram sets up high altars to other things, he leads the people AWAY FROM FAITHFULNESS

• He is leading the people AWAY FROM GOD

• It’s not only that unfaithfulness

• Jehoram is placing the people of Israel in the position of VULNERABILITY

• Why?

• Who was protecting ISRAEL? (ALL THE PEOPLE, not just the Northern Kingdom in this question...at least I think so 🤔….man I really hope I’m getting this right 😉)

• Why are the Chosen People of God protected?

• Because they are walking IN FAITHFULNESS

• Because God is ON THEIR SIDE

• Because god FIGHTS FOR THEM

• We’ve read so many stories of this

• Jehoshaphat had three other kingdoms’ armies assemble against him

• God said, “I’m going to fight for you. Don’t worry.”

• Jehoram places himself and his people in SPIRITUAL DANGER

• He also places them in PHYSICAL DANGER as well with his UNFAITHFULNESS

• Jehoram gets his bowels afflicted by God with an incurable disease and dies (his bowels fall out...ouch)

• Ahaziah now takes over and he also does WICKEDLY

• He follows the example of his MOM, the daughter of Ahab aka Athaliah

• Jehoram followed the example of his WIFE, the daughter of Ahab aka Athaliah

• Both were led into wickedness by the daughter of Ahab aka Athaliah

• So Ahaziah also ends up dead

• Everyone ends up dying

• After this, Athaliah the wife of Jehoram and the mom of Ahaziah SEIZES THE THRONE

• What does she do?

• The apple does not fall far from the tree

• SHE DESTROYS THE ENTIRE ROYAL FAMILY OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH

• Remember God’s promise?

• God will promise to BLESS THE WORLD through the line of ABRAHAM, through DAVID, whose family will sit on the throne of Judah FOREVER

• So Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab the King in the North, thinks she will kill every single member of the royal family of the Kingdom of Judah

• So what does that leave her with?

• It leaves her with a claim to the throne

• BUT…

• There is a wrench thrown into Athaliah’s plan

• Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, takes Joash, the son of Ahaziah and hides him for six years

• We will find out when this young boy Joash is revealed what happens to Athaliah

• Athaliah is the DAUGHTER OF AHAB (KING OF NORTHERN KINGDOM)

• Athaliah is the WIFE OF JEHORAM (KING OF SOUTHERN KINGDOM)

• Athaliah is the MOTHER OF AHAZIAH (KING OF SOUTHERN KINGDOM)

• Athaliah is the GRANDMOTHER OF JOASH (KING OF SOUTHERN KINGDOM)

• Stay tuned

• Are you any more confused than I am?

• I really hope I got the right king with the right kingdom...this is making my brain hurt 🤯

• PRAY FOR FR. MIKE

• PRAY FOR EACH OTHER

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven we are the object of your love and you are eternal and mysterious, omniscient, omnipresent, and All-Good, and yet you love us. You pursue us. You desire us. Even in our brokenness, even in our weakness, Lord, you still choose us. And so, we ask you as we always do, we ask you to help us to give you permission to be chosen by you. And help us to choose you back. Help us to receive your love. And help us to love you in return. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”