The House of Ahab
1Kings chapter 16
28So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead. 29And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 31And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
This passage of God’s Word introduces the person of Ahab, the seventh king of Israel; of the nineteen kings that sat on the throne of Israel, the northern kingdom, each and all were evil before the LORD, but none were as wicked and ill set as Ahab. There is of course a reason why the Holy Spirit of God should single out such a wicked person as this and describe him in such detail in the canon of Scripture; I believe that it is for the instruction of God’s people in various generations, but especially for our instruction in this present day. ‘And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.’
The house of Ahab depicts a particular political movement that is sweeping across the world today; this movement is destroying evangelical Protestantism, it is removing the Word of God from society and is systematically wearing out the redeemed of God. The Secularist movement is a force for unparalleled evil, not only in Ulster but across the globe. This advancing wickedness is evidenced as different governments across the world implement the political principles of Secularism.
In the UK, Secularist philosophy started to flourish in the Blair administration and is gaining ground steadily; in Ulster it was Paisleyism that introduced this plague into our Protestant culture; in America Secularism began to blossom under Mr. Clinton; France has boasted in Secularism for quite some time now, and so the picture develops globally. ‘And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.’
According to the ‘National Secular Society’; ‘this life is the only one of which we have any knowledge’; this is a direct contradiction of God’s Word. ‘Human effort is directed to its improvement’; so man is getting better according to Secularist reasoning. ‘Supernaturalism is based on ignorance and is the historic enemy of progress’; here is a direct attack against God and His Word. ‘Morality is social in origin and in application’; so Secularism throws out the moral law which is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments. Secularism demands God’s Word to be removed entirely from the state.
With the help of Almighty God, I want to view the ‘House of Ahab’ as being typical of this global scourge that is presently threatening the Reformed Faith; secondly I want to consider where this overall plan of the devil is leading to; and finally as to what God’s people can and must do. ‘And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.’
Rev Mervyn Cotton (Heb13:6)
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Rev Cotton . . . as you have said . . .
ReplyDelete“In the UK, Secularist philosophy started to flourish in the Blair administration and is gaining ground steadily; in Ulster it was Paisleyism that introduced this plague into our Protestant culture”
How reprehensible and offensive to God that a professing Christian and prominent Christian minister should be leading the vanguard in such a blatant rejection of God's Word. Such are called by C. H. Spurgeon “mere professors” and are not in TRUTH . . the “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13)
Christians are to go unto Him (Christ) outside the camp (Heb. 13:13), but it is abundantly clear that Ian Paisley has opted to pursue another course. It does appear that for all intense purposes Paisley has sold his birthright and cast his lot in with those who are of the world and a worldy spirit. . the Secularists.
Ian Paisley . . this “so-called” man of the cloth, who by his convuluted stand and duplicitous conduct has brought Christianity into such disrepute, goes a long way into explaining why multitudes are embracing a secular mindset.
Mr. By-Ends in John Bunyan's 'Pilgrims Progress' bears a striking resemblance to Ian Paisley.
It is said of some men they are greatly used of God for the Cause of Christ, while others use God to advance their own.
I cannot think of anything more reprehensible than those who seek to promote themselves and their peculiar brand of politics by cloaking themselves under the mantle of Christianity.
I would submit to you the answer Christian gave to Mr. By Ends' question is precisely what Ian Paisley did . . used Christ and His religion as a stalking horse to secure a political advantage and/or get gain.
“Abominable” indeed!
Excerpt:
“John Bunyan in his Immortal Dream, The Pilgrim’s Progress tells of the shattering by the Holy Scriptures, of the Theology of Compromise and non-separation from evil thinking and evil practising
Christian and his fellow pilgrim Hopeful, fall in with an unholy bunch of hypocrites, including Mr By-ends, Mr Hold-the-World, Mr Money-Love and Mr Save-All.
MR BY‑ENDS. My brethren, we are, as you see, going all on pilgrimage; and for our better diversion from things that are bad, give me leave to propound unto you this question:-
Suppose a man, a minister, or a tradesman, &c., should have an advantage lie before him, to get the good blessings of this life, yet so as that he can by no means come by them except, in appearance at least, he becomes extraordinarily zealous in some points of religion that he meddled not with before; may he not use these means to attain his end, and yet be a right honest man?
Then said Christian, Even a babe in religion may answer ten thousand such questions. For it if be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves (as it is in the sixth of John), how much more abominable is it to make of him and religion a stalking-horse, to get and enjoy the world!”
Source: The Theology Of Compromise Shattered wrriten by John Bunyan
prefaced by Ian Paisley in 2003
Source: EIPS . . . European Institute of Protestant Studies /
link: http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=pilgrimsprogress
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The words of the prophet Micah are most relevant just now:
“Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy.” (Micah 2:8)
In Christian solidarity,
June / A witness for Christ