Fallen Kings & Fire Balls

Last week we had a chance to do a little what I called review and preview in these books of Kings, which are really one book. But we have in our modern Bible split them into two, and we are ready today to jump into the book of 2 Kings.

We talked last week about the themes that we are to be looking out for, and we mentioned themes like blessing and failure and punishment and sovereignty, patience.

And hope. And so just keep those on the forefront of your mind as we begin our deep dive into Kings. So if you've got a scripture journal, which by the way, they're available in the back for you.

I don't care if you get up right now and go get one. You can do that. And you can open up a good old fashioned Bible. Those still work too. And find 2 Kings chapter 1 as I read for us.

2 Kings 1 · chapter mention

2 Kings chapter 1.

2 Kings 1 · chapter mention

3 Kings chapter 1.

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're 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. And so Elijah went.

The messengers returned to the king and he said to them, Why have you returned? And they said to him, There came a man to meet us and said to us, Go back to the king who sent you and say to him, Thus says the Lord, Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron?

Therefore, you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die. He said to them, What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?

They answered him, He wore a garment of hair with a leather belt around his waist. And he said, It is Elijah and a tishbite. Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty.

He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, O man of God, the king says, come down. But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.

Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Again, the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, O man of God, this is the king's order.

Come down quickly. But Elijah answered them, If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty. Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.

Again, the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, O man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight.

Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight.

Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him. So he arose and went down with him to the king and said to him, Thus says the Lord, Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron,

Is it because there is no god in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, But you shall surely die.

So he died. According to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken, Jehoram became king in his place in the second year of Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son.

Now, the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel? Now, that's an interesting note on which to end a chapter, isn't it?

I love how one of my favorite commentators, Dale Ralph Davis, actually begins and introduces this book, the very first line of his commentary.

This is what he says. He says, Second Kings begins on a positive note. Ahab is dead.

Ding dong, the wicked king is dead. But alas, the king's god, an even more wicked wife, have we forgotten about Jezebel? And sadly, she's not dead.

And, neither is Ahab's now heir apparent son, Ahaziah. And let me just give us a little reminder of what this family is all about, and what they've been up to in Israel.

1 Kings chapter 16. Listen to verses 31 to 33. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil, in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.

1 Kings 16 · chapter mention

As if it had been a light thing, for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, he took for his wife, Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians.

And he went, and served Baal, and worshipped him. He erected an altar for Baal, in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah.

Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. He outdid them all, with evil.

Taken together, it's fair to say that what this entire royal family needs is a royal flush. Right? Literally, the sewage of idolatry, that has seeped into the land of Israel, needs to be flushed out.

And as a matter of fact, God is doing it. He's doing it in three ways. And I want you to pay attention to this. There is judgment being felt already.

There's judgment economically. If you remember, if you would turn back just a page, to the end of 1 Kings, we would learn there, we'd be reminded of what we learned there, that there was this joint commercial endeavor, that the two kingdoms, northern and southern, tried to have a fleet of ships, that Jehoshaphat,

southern king of Judah, built, that was destroyed in the harbor. God tells him in Chronicles, that the reason he destroyed it, is because he was entering into partnership, with the northern kingdom.

And so what's happened, is that Jehoshaphat has wised up, and has told Ahaziah, we're done. No more partnership with you. Judgment economically.

There's also been judgment felt politically. Again, very first verse, what does it say? Moab rebelled against Israel. It shows us that Israel, is losing control of its vassals.

And finally today, we are seeing God's judgment, being felt very personally, and physically, by Ahaziah himself. Because wouldn't you know it, whether by accident, or maybe a little divine nudge, our newly crowned king, has had a great fall.

And we're told that King Ahaziah, whether he's sitting on the wall, Humpty Dumpty style, or just being careless, around an open window, he fell through the lattice, in his upper chamber, in Samaria.

Now this is at least, a second story fall. But Samaria is a city of hills, so it could very well be, that he has fallen several stories. And we're told in verse 2, that he now lays in his bed, sick.

We wonder, what is it? Is it an infection? Because he's got some broken bones? Maybe he's got swelling on the brain, from a fractured skull.

Probably something like that. But it's not looking good, for this new king. And so, he reaches out, for some divine assistance, right?

Only problem is, where he reaches, and to whom he reaches. Because it's not to Yahweh, the God of Israel. No, Ahaziah is not interested, in serving Yahweh, or seeking him out.

For again, as the closing verses, of 1 Kings tells us, Ahaziah has other interests. Let me read them for you. 1 Kings 22, verses 52 and 53. He, Ahaziah, did what was evil, in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam,

1 Kings 22:52

the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. He served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger, in every way, that his father had done.

It doesn't say, that he was more evil, than his father, but he's equal to it.

Like father, and mother, like son. He's a chip off the old blocks, you could say. A full-blown Baal worshiper. And so, for our sick and fallen king, in his most desperate hour, this is who and where, he immediately seeks help.

He seeks out a positive omen, from this Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron. You might be wondering, who that is.

Ekron is a Philistine city, that lies about 45 miles, from Samaria. So, please understand, this is no quick jaunt. This is not going to be, a day trip, for these messengers.

And this, this, Baal-zebub, is a Philistine god. A Philistine god, known for his apparent, healing abilities. Weird thing is, however, from other sources, outside the Bible, we learn that his name, is actually spelled, Baal-zebub, with an L at the end, not a B.

And what that name means, is, Baal the Exalted, or, Baal the Lord. In fact, a slight variation, of this name, Baal-zebub, you might recognize that, from the New Testament, as the Lord, or Prince of Demons.

Matthew chapter 12, for instance, Jesus is accused, by the Pharisees, of healing a demon, possessed man, by the power of, Baal-zebub. And a lot of scholars, think that by linking, Jesus, with this name, that actually, his critics, the Pharisees, were trying to actually, charge him, with the same sin,

Matthew 12 · chapter mention

of Ahaziah, of using the powers, of a pagan demon god, to heal a man. But, notice here, how our narrator, he doesn't refer to him, as, Baal-zebub, which again means, Baal the Exalted.

Actually, there's a letter, changed, and most every scholar, that I read, is convinced, it's not by accident. He changes the last letter, from an L to a B.

So it's not, Beelzebul, it's, oh whoops, Beelzebub. And, the only problem is, that that name, has a very different meaning. It's not, Baal, Prince, Baal, or Lord, Baal the Lord, it's actually, Baal of flies.

Literally, it's, Lord of the flies. And again, we don't think, that's an accidental slip. In any case, Ahaziah, orders his messengers, to go inquire, of this God, and please understand, this is more than just like, hey, what's going to happen to me?

Am I going to recover? This is our king, appealing to a false God, to the Lord of the flies, for healing.

Only thing is, no sooner, do these messengers, march out of Samaria, and they are intercepted, on the road, by, a prophet of the real God. Enter Elijah, Elijah the Tishbite.

And that's because, an angel's been sent to Elijah, to say, get up Elijah, go, meet up with the messengers, of the king of Samaria, and I want you to tell them, hey, is it because, there is no God in Israel, that you are going to inquire, of Baal, Zebub, the God of Ekron?

Elijah's instructed, to go and intercept, these messengers, and to completely foil, Ahaziah's attempt, his plan, because these messengers, if you didn't notice, in the story, they never get to Ekron, because they immediately, turn back, because Elijah, tells them to.

Elijah instructs them. And actually, his words are really, both a question, and a judgment, because, Elijah knows, that King Ahaziah, thinks that Yahweh, is either, inadequate, or irrelevant, or maybe even, non-existent.

Verse 4, Now therefore, says the Lord, you, Ahaziah, shall not come down, from the bed, to which you have gone up, but you shall, surely, die.

So the prophet, literally, sends back, this delegation, they abort their mission, and he sends them, back to the king, and this is the message, they come back with?

This is not a very, reassuring message. And they are so, stupefied, and maybe, wowed by Elijah, maybe afraid of him, that they, they listen to his orders, and turn right back, and they show up, in the palace, in front of the king, and the king's looking at, you know, he's laying down, I guess, but looking at his watch,

or whatever they did, and he's saying, wait a second, have I been asleep, for a few days? Why are you back, so soon? Why have you returned? And they relay, what's happened.

The ailing king, hears their words, and he recognizes, that these are the words, of a prophet, of Yahweh. And in verse 7, he wants a description, of the culprit, doesn't he?

Can't you just see, our king's face? As he is no doubt, very familiar, with Elijah, from his parents, and their encounters, with this man of God, which we can read about, back in 1 Kings.

And it's funny, once he hears about, the garment of hair, and the leather belt, around the waist, there's no more questions, about who the mystery prophet is.

He says in verse 8, it's Elijah, the Tishbite. And our king doesn't waste, any time, in what he does next. In verse 9, he immediately commissions, a captain, with his 50 men.

These are soldiers, to go retrieve, this prophet, presumably. I don't know about you, but when you send, an armed force, of 50 military men, I think we can all agree, that this is not, a friendly invitation, is it?

This is hostile. And they seem to know, right where to look too. Funny enough, they go and find him, up on this hill, which again, we're pretty safe, to presume is Mount Carmel.

One of the many peaks, on Mount Carmel. Since later chapters, are going to reveal to us, that Elijah makes, Mount Carmel, his home. I've got a map, maybe, yeah.

Good, good. So the captain, and his fighting men, finally, they do locate Elijah, and they approach him, up on the top of this hill, and right away, the captain, shouts his orders, O man of God, the king says, come down.

And you can imagine, it's in a threatening voice, an arrogant voice. I've got the soldiers, you're going to listen.

Now given that up ahead, the angel of the Lord, is going to tell Elijah, to eventually not be afraid to go, he hasn't told him that yet, there's no doubt, it's a threatening situation.

They mean, more than just intimidation, they mean harm, there are hostile intentions. Again, one scholar says, that the palace plan, seems to be, to dispose of the prophets.

And this is not the first time in Kings, where a negative oracle, against the king, elicits a very negative reaction, from the king. Unwelcome message, well I know what I'll do, I'll remove the messenger.

It's happened before several times, we could go back to 1 Kings chapter 13, with the very first king, of northern Israel, Jeroboam, standing at an altar, doing a pagan rite, being interrupted, by a man of God, from Judah, and the first thing he does, after he hears a prophecy, against him, is he says, seize him,

1 Kings 13 · chapter mention

before his hand, is seized up. Or 1 Kings chapter 19, this was Jezebel, with Elijah, after the contest, that Elijah won, and Jezebel basically said, hey, seize him, he's not dead by tomorrow.

1 Kings 19 · chapter mention

And even very recently, in 1 Kings, chapter 22, you had Ahaziah's father, Ahab, seizing the prophet, Micaiah, and holding him, as a prisoner, until I'm safely back, which never happened.

1 Kings 22 · chapter mention

But that's not going to happen today, is it? No. They are up, on Carmel, with, Elijah. At the very place, where not very long ago, there was a little showdown, up here, between this particular prophet, and about, 400 opponents,

prophets of Baal. And what do we recall, happened to those, 400 prophets of Baal? Well, 1 Kings 18, there was a little fire, the fire of the Lord, came down, and while it didn't, consume the prophets of Baal, it did consume the sacrifice, giving, Elijah, all the moral authority,

and spiritual authority, he needed to, order the death of those prophets, which he did.

Guess what 51 guys, are about to see, up on Carmel. You guessed it. Same thing. Verse 10, Elijah answers them, if I am, as you say, a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume you, and your 50.

And that is exactly, what happens. Can you imagine, a fireball, right out of the sky, literally toasting, these 51 soldiers, smoke, and charred remains, are all that are left.

It's not something, you see every day. But it's not the only time, we're going to see it, on this day.

Nevertheless, maybe because, the first squad, never returned, or maybe somebody, else saw, and got word, or checked out, the smoky scene, what happened.

Our sick king, and I think I mean that, in more ways than one, our sick king, sends another captain, doesn't he, with another 50 soldiers. And this second captain, I don't know, maybe he didn't recognize, what happened the first time, or maybe Elijah moved, to another peak, and he's not in the exact, same location,

to smell the charred remains, of the first group. He shows up, and he's even more, bold, and arrogant, and defiant. He says in verse 11, O man of God, this is the king's order, come down quickly.

But the same threat, in the same order, is going to lead, to the same result, a second time. Again, Elijah answers, in the same way, in verse 12, he says, okay, if I am a man of God, like you say, then let fire, come down from heaven, and consume you, and your 50.

And just like that, there's another, roaring fireball, from heaven, and now, count them, it's 102 soldiers, burnt to a crisp.

By verse 13, you really have to begin, wondering about this king, right? How much is your brain, swelling, that you're now, going to order, a third group, but he does?

A third captain, and a third 50. Only this captain's, different. Maybe he's a more, decent man. Maybe he's a God fearer. He certainly is, on this day.

He has concern, for his men. Maybe he's aware, of just who this prophet, Elijah is, and that he is not, one to be manhandled. But he's received, his orders, which look like, orders to the death, thus far.

And the moment, he shows up, it is a very, different posture, and tone of voice. Verse 13, our fearful captain, falls on his knees, in front of Elijah, and he entreats him.

Oh man of God, please let my life, and the life of these, 50 servants of yours, be precious in your sight. I'm well aware, of the fire that came from heaven, that consumed those, other two groups, that came before me.

But please, now let my life, be precious, in your sight. You know, if nothing else, the humility, that people display, before God, it has an effect on him, doesn't it?

When God's people, show humility. It reminds us, that our God, is a just God, yes, and he can be, a vengeful God, at times, but he is also, a merciful, and kind God.

The angel again, speaks to Elijah, in verse 15, and he immediately, tells him, go down with him, do not be afraid, of him. So Elijah, agrees to go, and see the king, goes to Samaria.

And I want you to remember, I want you to understand, this is no small thing, that Elijah does. It's not that he really has, to have fear, from these soldiers, so much as, remember where he's going, he's going to the king.

The king's sick, he's in bed, he's going to the king's bedside. Do you think, the king's mother, might be by his bedside? What's her name?

Jezebel, that's right, whoever screamed that. It's the very same, wicked queen, who, has actually made some threats, against Elijah, personally, hasn't she?

After all her, 400 prophets, were killed, at Elijah's order, up on the same mountain, Carmel, she once, uttered this sentence, in 1 Kings chapter 19, verse 1.

1 Kings 19:1

Then, Jezebel sent, a messenger to Elijah, saying, so may the gods, do to me, and more also, if I do not make, your life, as the life, of one of them, by this time tomorrow.

He has a hit, out on him, from the queen. And now he's showing up, in the palace, where the queen is. And he's doing it, because God has spoken.

And he's told his prophet, not to be afraid. And so Elijah, now comes, and I imagine him, standing right near, the bedside, of our ailing king, in verse 16.

And he very, clearly repeats, he doesn't soften it, he doesn't rearrange, the message at all. No, he's a faithful messenger, and he repeats, in the king's ear, verbatim, word for word, the divine sentence.

Because, you have sent messengers, to inquire, of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, even the little, sarcastic statement, comes out. Is it because there's no God, in Israel, to inquire of his word?

Therefore, you shall not, come down from the bed, to which you have gone up. You shall, surely, die.

Does he click his heels, and turn around, and walk out? He just told this, ailing king, die.

And in fact, this is the last time, that God will speak, to a member, of this household. And as always, always is the case, you can count on, a word of the Lord, coming true, when it's spoken, and it does.

Because Ahaziah does die.

And having no son, to be king, he has no son, of his own, what happens, is the throne, instead, passes to his, younger brother, a man named, Jehoram.

And so, for a time, we're actually going to have, two Jehorams, on each, one on each throne. There'll be a Jehoram, in the north now, the younger son, of Ahab, younger brother, of Ahaziah, and also, a Jehoram, in the south, the son of Jehoshaphat.

And we'll need, to keep them straight.

Our narrator, closes this account, with a familiar statement, doesn't he? One we've heard, many times, in the historical books, about kings, when they die.

He gives us, a vague, and kind of, uninterested, nod, to the rest, of the acts, of Ahaziah, that he did. You can go look them up, in the book of the Chronicles, somewhere.

It's funny. The only thing, he deems important, to tell us, to record for us, about this king, is the story, of his death. Of how, in the most, desperate moment, of his life, Ahaziah, still, failed, to seek the Lord.

But sought, a false God, instead.

I've said before, that if, if kings, were made into a TV series, which would definitely, be rated R, I definitely couldn't have, the kids watch it.

I think if kings, were a TV series, and this was like, the closing scene, of episode one, and the screen, fades to black, I think that the words, from the book of Proverbs, would need to appear.

Right? These words, that are behind me, Proverbs 14, verse 12, there is a way, that seems right, to a man, but it's end, is the way of death.

Proverbs 14:12

You know, not everybody, likes this story. Did you know, there are a few, liberal commentators, that really don't like, the part, where the Lord, sends out fire, and burns up, 102 guys.

They've even said, one of them says, it's morally, pointless, pointless, we're going to, respectfully disagree. There is a point. There's always, a point, in God's word.

And it's our job, to find it. And to listen to it. And today, I have more than one point, I actually have four for you. So if you want to take some notes, here's four points, and I'll begin with this one.

Point number one. Point number one, is that God is jealous, for his people's love, and loyalty. Love, and loyalty. And he will interrupt, idolatry.

He will. Interrupt idolatry. This is what God does, in this story today. He interrupts an act of idolatry. And actually, he's been interrupting, a longer act of idolatry, dating back many years, in this family.

Because Ahab's house, has gone again, to a new level, of wickedness. An all time high, level of idolatry, in the kingdom. And God, interrupted that, with a random arrow, on a battlefield, wink, wink.

That hit a disguised king, and killed him. That was the first time, he interrupted it. And then, God did it again, a second time, when he interrupted, Ahaziah's, otherwise unhindered, walk in his father's ways, with a random, wink, wink, right?

Fall from a second story, lattice.

And last of all, of course, finally, for Ahaziah again, God interrupts, a final act, of idolatry, by having his prophet, Elijah, intercept, the Baal delegation.

And we ask ourselves, why does God do this? He does it because, he is a jealous God, and lay aside, all sinful notions, of jealousy. Those are human notions.

God is a perfect, and holy God. He has a holy jealousy, and he is jealous, for his people's love, and loyalty. He has covenanted, with his people, to save them, and bless them, and he is right, to call for their, love,

and loyalty.

So when a time, of crisis comes, or a desperate need hits, and your king, turns in the wrong direction, for help from an idol, the Lord, mercifully interrupts this, and stops this, I wonder, does God still do this today?

Is he not the same God? Is he not still jealous, for his people? For our love, and loyalty? In light of our new covenant, sealed in the blood, of his son Jesus, he does sometimes, still graciously interrupt, our pursuit of false gods,

doesn't he? And what are some of our, idols, today?

I'm guessing, probably not, Baal, Zebub, the Lord of the Flies. But we can make other things, in our lives, our lords, and our idols, other pursuits, other people, other places, we might go, to find the help,

when we first, and foremost, need to turn to God.

A medical crisis, a practical need, like a job, like a promotion, maybe making a sale, maybe getting admission, into a program, maybe just, just getting a good grade, on a test, right?

Do we seek, the Lord's help, first? Reminding ourselves, that we are his people, and he alone, is our God, and he cares about us, and loves us.

It doesn't mean, modern medicine is wrong. I believe God, works through it, I certainly seek out, modern medicine. Neither does it mean, that your hard work, or my hard work, is wrong.

But we engage, in these things, from the trust, that our God, is ultimate. That he is our, ultimate physician. He is our, ultimate provider.

So when one of my, college kids, calls up, and is in a challenge, academically, yeah, we encourage them, to work hard, and we encourage them, to seek out help, from maybe an upperclassman, or a tutor.

But we also want them, to pray about it, and seek the Lord first. And part of that means, if you're a college kid, very practically, it means that, they don't skip out, on being with the Lord's people, on the Lord's day, for instance, because there's a big test, Monday morning.

Or because I got, a lot of homework.

So whatever need, you might have. Whatever crisis, you might be in now, or that is going to, meet you this week, or later this month. Whatever expert, you are tempted, to consult first, and put all your hopes, in that.

Remember the Lord first. And don't make God, have to graciously interrupt, your act of idolatry. Point number two. Number two. The enemies of God, will try to, manhandle his word.

They will try, to manhandle, his word. Here is our sick king, in bed. He just can't help himself, Ahaziah. With his idolatry, you know, like his course of idolatry, literally interrupted, by God.

The next thing he does, is send a bunch of soldiers, to try to put hands, on God's messenger. Right? Remember, Elijah was just a man. That's what the book of James, reminds us.

He's just a man, like us. But what came through, Elijah, was not just human. And our king, found it threatening. And so, he tried to manhandle it.

And what was he trying, to manhandle? God's word. God's word, through the prophet. And you will always, misfire, when you try to manhandle, God's word.

Just ask the captains, the first two captains, of those groups of soldiers. Oh wait, you can't.

And that is a very timely, warning for us today. That we don't try to, manhandle God's word, because we should know, that it doesn't go well, for people who do.

And we should avoid people, who teach, or speak to us, in ways that, manhandle God's word. You say, well what does it look like, to manhandle God's word today?

It's when we try to force it, to do, or say, what we want it to do, or say. Or, it's when someone, tries to suppress, it's clear teaching. I don't like what it says.

Or when a person, wants to silence, just the parts they don't like, because they're convicting.

But always remember, what it makes a person, when they try, to manhandle God's word. Not a friend of God. You can't be a friend of God, and an enemy of his word.

Our third point, follows from this, number three. Number three. God, guards his word, and those faithful to it. God, guards his word, and those, faithful to it.

Yes, today we've had a good look, at those who try, to manhandle God's word, but there's another guy, in this story, who does not manhandle it.

In fact, he's very faithful to it, and his name is Elijah, the Tishbite. And he's faithful to it, mind you, when it's not popular. When it's not going to win him, prophet of the year.

Right? There's not going to be, a court award for him. He's faithful to God's word, when it doesn't bring him wealth, or worldly power, or positive recognition.

What does it bring him? Danger. Three squads of 50 soldiers, coming with bad intentions. It puts him not, in the grandeur, of palace life, or even just living, like an ordinary person, in the comforts of a city, like Samaria.

No. Where does he live? He's out, on the outskirts of society, on Mount Carmel. And then when God's angel, tells him to go, with these men, it puts him, in the throes of danger, as he comes to pay, a visit to Jezebel's son.

The very queen, who wants him dead. All just to deliver, a message, yeah, your son's as good as dead.

Is it because, there's no God in Israel, to acquire of his word? Is that why, you sent to Baal? You're not going to, leave this bed. You're going to die, right here.

But even though, Elijah walks into, a virtual lion's den. Lion's den. He knows, that God, guards his word, and those faithful to it. So it's fireballs, out on Mount Carmel.

In Samaria, it's just walking out, scot-free, from Jezebel's, murderous grasp. Because maybe, our queen, and her dying son, remembered, what happened on Carmel.

Or maybe, maybe news, had gotten back, I think it had, of what happened, to the first two crews, of soldiers.

Or maybe, just maybe, Elijah's own words. Words, that he uttered, back in 1 Kings 18, in that great showdown, with Jezebel's, 400 prophets. Maybe these words, haunted her.

1 Kings 18, verse 24, And you call upon, the name of your God, and I'll call upon, the name of the Lord, and the God, who answers by fire, He is God.

1 Kings 18:24

And very recently, God had, answered by fire, yet again, hadn't He? Twice. Showing, that He is still God. And He, guards, is faithful.

You know, in the last, very last book, of our Bibles, there's this, this moment, in Revelation 11, and it's a very, it's a very strange vision.

There are two witnesses, that are given authority. And I haven't done, a deep study on this, but from a cursory look, a lot of scholars, think the two witnesses, might be Moses and Elijah.

The same two, that showed up, at the transfiguration, with Jesus. And I want you to hear, what John says about them, in Revelation chapter 11, verse 5.

Revelation 11:5

And if anyone, would harm them, fire, pours from their mouth, and consumes their foes. If anyone, would harm them, this is how, he is doomed, to be killed.

God, guards, his word, and those, who are faithful, to it.

But of course, we know that, we have some other, faithful prophets, throughout the Old Testament, don't we? men like Jeremiah, Isaiah, and many of them, were persecuted, imprisoned, and even killed.

In fact, the rumor is, that Isaiah the prophet, was sawed in two, put in a log, and sawed in two. Sometimes, it's, a heavenly protection, of an eternal reward.

Something that, as Jesus reminds us, those who want to kill the body, can't touch. Sometimes, it's that kind of protection. Yeah, they are guarded, by the Lord himself, and they are guarded, for an eternal reward.

Lord.

So, maybe an application question, for us, might be this. Is there somewhere, that God, might be calling you, to go down, and bring his word?

Is there a place? Is there a situation? Is there a relationship, where you feel, the call of the Lord, to bring his word, and you know, it's not going to be welcome.

In fact, it might even be risky. Be faithful, to his word. And know, that the Lord, will be faithful, to guard, and keep you.

And finally, for a last point, number four. Last point is this, number four. Humbling ourselves, before his word, paves the way, for mercy. Paves the way, for mercy.

Here, all eyes are on, captain number three. Right? Third captain, with his third fifty. Because he comes up, to that mountain, and he sees his target, and he is well aware, of what's happened, two times before, and he understands, that it's really him,

who's in the hot seat. Literally. Is there a fireball, in heaven, waiting for me? And so, and so, he humbles himself, doesn't he? And you know, this third captain's response, is a complete, contrast, from the first two,

and the king himself. Because none of them, humbled themselves, before the Lord's word. And, you have to wonder, if only King Ahaziah, might have done this.

What could have happened?

Future kings, will be on death's door. I can think of one, named Hezekiah. He's coming later, in this book. He will be on death's door, and he will humble himself, and he will, miraculously recover.

And this captain, he becomes a model, response, for us. Did you know that, later in the New Testament, there's going to be, a couple of other, military captains, who humbled themselves, and, found mercy?

These were not, captains of 50. They were captains of 100. And we call them, centurions. Here was one. The Gospel of Luke, talks about him, having a sick, soldier at home.

He humbly, sends for Jesus. I want you to hear this, in Luke chapter 7, verses 6 and 7. When he, Jesus, was not far, from the house, the centurion, sent friends, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not, worthy, to have you, come under my roof.

Luke 7:6

Therefore, I did not presume, to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant, be healed. And guess what? Mercy was found. And there would be another centurion, a little later on, in a book called Acts.

We even get his name. Cornelius. And he would humble himself, before another, of the Lord's spokesmen. Check this out, in Acts chapter 10, verses 25 and 26.

Acts 10:25

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up, I too, am just a man.

And moments later, moments later, Cornelius too, and his whole household, found their way, to mercy, because they were introduced, to Jesus.

How about us? Or for the person, that you've been praying for. Maybe it will take a crisis. A moment, of real fear, in life. Whatever it is, we can pray, that every person,

will humble themselves, before the Lord, and his word. Because this, paves the way, to finding mercy.

Would you bow your heads with me? Let's stand, as our team, comes back, to lead us in a song.

Mercy, Lord.

You are a God, who loves to show mercy.

Lord, you are a God, who has made a way, for your people today. We are not waiting, for a mystery, to be revealed, and unwrapped, and disclosed.

It has been given. It is a mystery, revealed, in the sending of your son, Jesus Christ. Who came, and went to a mountain, Calvary, not to, scorch people, with judgment, Lord.

But to take, the judgment, that we deserved, upon himself. He did that, on a mount, called Calvary. Lord, your wrath, came down, but it didn't come down, in the form of a fireball.

It came down, upon the one, that you love, and whom you were well pleased. We thank you for that. We thank you for him, for Jesus. Jesus, we thank you, for your willing sacrifice, that you said, not my will, but yours be done, Father, and you went to the cross, for all of us, Lord.

And that there is now, forgiveness, and mercy, for any of us, who will humble ourselves, and come, in repentance, of our sins. Who will turn, from our wicked ways, and our own ideas, of even what we think, is right.

That you say, in your word, is not right. And give ourselves, entirely to you, and make you our Lord. Allow you to be our Savior. We thank you.

Lord, I pray for anyone here, this morning, who is considering this, who maybe has not, taken this step. Jesus, draw all of us to you, it is not too late.

And we will praise you. We will thank you. And we pray all these things, in the name of that son, in Jesus' name. Amen.