2 Kings 1:1-4 – Only truth can set us free

In the concluding verses of 1 Kings chapter 22, we were introduced to the reign of Ahaziah, the son of Ahab who succeeded him. Ahab and Jezebel we learned had failed in their parental duties. Ahaziah who came to the throne was as idolatrous as his parents.

Second Kings 2:1-8 narrated two problems that plagued Ahaziah at this time. Firstly, he encountered the rebellion of Moab against Israel after his father’s death. More details of Moab’s rebellion would be described in 2 Kings chapter 3. Secondly, we are told that he had an accident at home. He fell through the upper porch of his palace and was seriously injured.  Second Kings 1:1-4 deal more with how Ahaziah went to the wrong place to seek to know what the outcome of his fall would be when the answer lay in Israel’s covenant God.

Instead of seeking the Lord, he sent his messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub. He wanted to know if he would recover from his injury. Baal-Zebub literally means “lord of the flies.” How could a false god help? Ahaziah falsely believed that this god of the Ekron could tell him the truth. Hence, he sent his messengers to inquire of him. That was a gross mistake. He failed to realize that only Israel’s covenant God would tell him the truth. Sadly, he was just as dense as his father Ahab.    

In verse 3 we are told that the angel of the Lord was sent to Elijah to confront the messengers of the king with a clear message from God to Ahaziah. The message to him was, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” After giving the message to Ahaziah’s messenger Elijah departed, saying nothing further.  

Why did Ahaziah inquire of Baal-Zebub, instead of the true God of Israel concerning his healing? It’s an indication of how far he had departed from the Lord. In seeking Baal-Zebub, Ahaziah was not seeking to know the truth, he was seeking what he wanted to hear. In life, it is better to hear the truth than to hear what we want to hear. Unfortunately, men would go for what would tickle their ears even if those are deceptions. But we must go for the truth, for it is by knowing the truth that we will be set free. Even if the truth is not what we would like to hear!