Text: 1 kings 22:10-12 & 24
Topic: The Zedekiah"s in Ministry
This exhortation will be done with the following sub -headings:
A.Background
B.Kings: Jehoshapat and Ahab an unholy alliance
C.Zedekiah the false prophet and his undoings
D.Conclusion
Background
There is a scholarly debate still ongoing about the author of first and second kings.However God is the inventor and controller of history,the books shows that only God establishes kings that will fullfill destiny,serve the people well and bring glory back to Him.Also the books established the fact that God derserves and commands obedience from His creatures via the analogy of the lives of godly and ungodly kings and their respective rewards.
Kings: Jehoshapat, Ahab an unholy alliance
a.King Ahab was king of Israel while Jehoshapat was king of Judah, remember the kingdom was split before the reign of King Solomons son into two Israels north and Judahs south 1 Kings 12:15ff.
b.King Ahab had 400 fake prophets who prophesises what pleases him but Jehoshapat sensed they are not speaking the truth totally and representing God correctly vs 6-8
c.king Ahab had hos cup of evil full and heaven permitted a lying spirit from heaven, 1 King 21:1ff Naboths vineyard is amongst many evils done while king Jehoshapat was just in a bad company and almost paid with His life 1 King 22:22 any lessons on association?
Zedekiah: The false prophet
There are two major Zedekiah's mentioned in the scripture.
One is the twentieth and last king of Southern kingdom 2 King 24-25, he was a vassal of Babylon( renamed and enthroned by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) hence he was loyal to him he however was warned twice by Prophet Jeremiah but he did not heed, he suffered for it greatly Jer.34 & 37.
We are not focusing on that Zedekiah for tonight but on Zedekiah the false prophet, we will just study his deeds and misdeeds, apply same to todays ministry and attempt to learn salients lessons from it.
* he made for himself horns of irons vs.11 trying to make himself and imitating acts of genuine Prophets Deut 33:17 Moses blessing and Prophesying Israel.
*lying on God and His Spirit and as such ill advising king Ahab 1 king 22:11& vs.24
* dangerously daring and reckless, slapped a genuine man of God for nothing 1 king 22:24
*openly opposing the genuine prophet even when he knows he is fake vs.23&24
Conclusion
It is rather unfortunate that the two major Zedekiah's mentioned in the scripture are not good examples to follow,what kind of minister are we? It is a matter of time we will soon become history but will our memory be a lesson or blessing may God help us all.
Shalom.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year in advance.
