I. THE DOWNFALL & DESTRUCTION OF ABIMELECH – Judges 9
- Abimelech’s rebellion – the slave woman’s son incited the lords of Shechem
- His acts of murder – 69 brothers were killed
- The curse of Jothan – Judges 9:19-20 – A pronouncement of judgment
“If, I say, you have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you; but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the lords Shechem, and Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.”
- An evil spirit was permitted to work between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem
- The resulting hostility led to their deaths
- The curse was fulfilled – Judges 9:57
“And God also made all the wickedness of the people of Shechem fall back on their heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal.
II. THE DOWNFALL & DESTRUCTION OF AHAB – 1 Kings 16-22
- Ahab took Jezebel as his wife and served Baal (16:13)
- Ahab was extremely wicked (16:33)
- Israel was judged because of his sins (18:1-18)
- Elijah’s prophetic curse – A pronouncement of judgment
“. . . Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.” (21:19)
“. . . Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel.” (21:20-21)
“. . . The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.” (21:23)
- The prophetic curse was fulfilled
- Three years of war between the King of Aram & Israel
- Ahab gathered 400 prophets to seek their counsel
- The prophets prophesied victory (22:6)
- Micaiah the prophet was summoned – he prophesied defeat (22:17) – the king was angry
- Micaiah revealed a vision (22:19-22)
- He saw God on his throne asking the question, “who will entice Ahab?”
- Different responses were given – then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord saying, “I will entice him.” “How?” the Lord asked him. “I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.
- The Lord responded – “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.”
- Micaiah’s closing comment
“So now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you.” (22:23)
- King Ahab commanded that Micaiah be put into prison
- The king went to battle in spite of Micaiah’s warning – He disguised himself, but was mortally wounded by an arrow that pierced him between his armor. The king apparently bled to death in his chariot. When his chariot was washed by the pool of Samaria, the dogs licked up his blood.
These two accounts show us that a curse is a means of some type of judgment and often evil spirits are the agents of God in spite of their evil agenda. God often used Israel’s wicked enemies to bring judgment against His people.
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