“Living Out God’s Justice” - 1 Kings 21:1-10
“Life is unfair. Get used to it.” (Bill Gates)
1. Recognizing sinful desire as the root of injustice.
“And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezereelite had said to him, for he had said, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.’ And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.” (v.4)
2. Revealing God’s justice with self-control.
Sinful desire vs. Self-control
“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.” (Leviticus 25:23)
“Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11-12a)
“But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastpklate.” (1 Kings 22:34 a)
3. Calling God’s people to live out His justice.
“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite.” (v.17)
“And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly.” (v.27)
“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” (v.29)
“‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons-declares the Lord-I will repay you on this plot of ground.’ Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.” (2 Kings 9:26)
