YEAR 2, WEEK 39, Day 6, Saturday, 27 September 2025

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 27 September 2025:

1 Kings 20:1-6 — Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his army together … and he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it. And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab … “Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also are mine.” And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”

The arrogance of Ben-hadad and the cowardice of Ahab stand in stark contrast. Ben-hadad claims what is not his, and Ahab quickly yields what he ought to have defended. Ahab’s quick surrender shows the weakness of a man who is supposed to be shepherd of God’s people, yet who fears man over God. Instead of turning to the Lord in dependence, he cowers before man. Fear of man lays a snare (Proverbs 29:25), but those who fear the Lord stand firm.

• Proverbs 29:25 — The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
• Luke 12:4-5 — I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
• Jeremiah 17:5 — Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.”
• Psalm 118:6 — The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
• Psalm 56:3-4 — When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
• Hebrews 13:6 — So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

1 Kings 20:13-14 — And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”

In spite of Ahab’s weakness, God graciously intervenes to save Israel so that His name will be known. When Ahab asks, “Who shall begin the battle?” the prophet replies, “You.” God’s plan requires a willing servant to step forward in obedience. Too often, God’s people are waiting for someone else to lead. But God asks each of us: “Who will begin the battle?” Why not you? God chooses weak vessels to display His glory through their obedience (1 Corinthians 1:27).

• Ezekiel 22:30 — And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
• Isaiah 6:8 — And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
• 1 Samuel 14:6-7 — Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”

1 Kings 20:15-21 — Then he mustered the servants of the governors of the districts … and they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk … And each struck down his man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them.

God grants victory in the most unlikely way, through inexperienced leaders facing a vast and arrogant enemy. Ben-hadad’s drunkenness reveals his folly, but Israel’s victory reveals God’s hand. The Lord alone deserves the glory for turning weakness into triumph.

1 Kings 20:22 — Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”

The war is not won in one battle. God calls Ahab to strengthen himself and prepare for what’s ahead. Victories are not the end of the war, and success can quickly breed complacency. For the believer, spiritual warfare does not end until we see Christ face-to-face. Every victory should lead us not to pride but to preparation for the next challenge (Ephesians 6:10-18).

• 1 Corinthians 10:12 — Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
• Proverbs 1:32 — For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them….
• Deuteronomy 4:25-26 — “When you father children and children’s children, and have grown old in the land, if you act corruptly… by doing what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, so as to provoke him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed.

1 Kings 20:23-25 — And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.”

The Syrians misinterpret Israel’s victory as the result of geography, not God’s sovereignty. But no human strategy, no matter how clever, can overcome the power of God. Just as the Philistines once thought they could manipulate victory with the ark (1 Samuel 4), these men limit God to a place or a power they can control. But the Lord is the Maker of heaven and earth — His dominion is total.

• Psalm 2:1-6 — Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
• Psalm 37:13 — …but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
• Psalm 59:8 — But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.

1 Kings 20:28 — And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, ‘The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,’ therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

God gives victory not for Ahab’s sake but for His glory. He vindicates His name against the blasphemy of the Syrians. Every victory in our lives belongs to God and is meant to display His power, not our strength. To try to take credit for what God has done is to rob Him of His glory — a dangerous and prideful mistake (Isaiah 42:8).

• Psalm 23:3 — He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
• Psalm 25:11 — For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
• Psalm 31:3 — For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me….
• Psalm 109:21 — But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!
• Psalm 143:11 — For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
• Isaiah 48:9 — “For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.”
• Isaiah 66:5 — Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you and cast you out for my name’s sake have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy’; but it is they who shall be put to shame.’”
• Ezekiel 20:44 — And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
• Matthew 10:22 — …and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Matthew 19:29 — And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.
• Matthew 24:9 — “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
• Mark 13:13 — And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Luke 21:12 — But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.
• Luke 21:17 — You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
• Revelation 2:3 — I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

1 Kings 20:29-34 — And they encamped opposite one another seven days … and the people of Israel struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day … And Ben-hadad … came out to him and said, “Thus says your servant Ben-hadad …” And he said, “If he is still alive, he is my brother.”

Once again, Ahab’s weakness shows. Instead of carrying out God’s judgment on Ben-hadad, Ahab makes a treaty with him, calling him “brother.” He trades God’s command for human diplomacy. The result is compromise instead of obedience, short-term peace instead of long-term faithfulness.

1 Kings 20:35-43 — And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” … Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him …. Then he hurried to meet the king of Israel and said … “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’”

Through a prophetic sign, God condemns Ahab’s compromise. God had devoted Ben-hadad to destruction, but Ahab let him live. Partial obedience is disobedience. Ahab wanted the benefits of God’s victories without the burden of God’s commands. But God requires instant, total, and willing obedience. Either He is Lord over all, or He is not Lord at all. To treat His commands lightly is cosmic treason against the King of heaven.

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 27 September 2025: 1 Kings 20 shows us that God’s victories are for His glory, not ours, and that obedience must be total, not partial. He often calls us to step up and begin the battle rather than wait for someone else. Success in one moment does not mean the war is over; we must strengthen ourselves for the next challenge. God will not share His glory, nor will He accept half-hearted obedience. Today, ask yourself: where have you been waiting for someone else to act when God is calling you to begin? Where have you been complacent after a victory instead of preparing for the next battle? Where have you been tempted to compromise instead of obeying fully? Step into the fight God has placed before you, not for your glory but for His, and honor Him with total surrender.

Pray: “Father, thank You that victory belongs to You alone. Forgive me for the times I have shrunk back in fear, grown complacent in success, or compromised Your commands for convenience. Teach me to rise in faith when You call, to prepare diligently for the battles ahead, and to obey You fully with no reservations. Keep me from stealing Your glory or giving it to anyone else. May my life display that You alone are the LORD. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”