I kIngs 21:27

"And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent hi sclothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly."

Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?, were the words of Ahab to Elijah. This chapter is known by those that study the Bible and glean of its fruit as 'Naboth and his vineyard'. Old R G Lee preached his famous sermon from it entitled, "Payday someday". Ahab had just learned of his destruction for his neglect and sin in the previous chapter. He returns home to covet his neighbors vineyard, Naboth's. He seeks to buy, and his advances for the property are dismissed. Upon this he returns home and pouts in the kings chambers. His wife, Jezebel, who is as evil as they come, consoled him not to fret she would take care of everything. And within the week she had conspired, murdered and took the land for Ahab to own. God immediately sends Elijah the prophet to tell Ahab that all this was done before Him and he will kill Ahab for his evil and all his family, He will remove them from the earth. Now it is the last chapter, the prophet had told Ahab that his life would go for the king of Assyria and the people of Israel for the people of Syria and it broke Ahab's heart that he went home heavy and displeased. but let us now look at his response to the words of Elijah. And it came to pass - word study, to come; Events are unfolding and things are happening that need to be noted. They are directly related to that which was just said and the reaction of Ahab. All that proceeds now comes from the prophet's words. 'And it came to pass as a direct result from Elijah's words'. when Ahab heard those words - faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God; But faith is not always the direct result, sometimes it is words that are judgement. many a soul hears the words of the Lord and rejects them. But how much worse is this, for Ahab hears the words and responds but does not repent, nor does he seekt o change his life for God's mercy. He simply has heard the words and now laments, with no hope. His fate is sealed and secured; it is not a matter of 'if' the Lord will stike him, it is only the question of 'when' He will strike him for his evil. He has heard, and the Scriptures tell us, 'that the Gospel hath appeared unto every man'. They have heard, but what is their response? That he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh,a dn fasted, and lay in sackcloth - all these are signs of repentance and remorse; But sorrow and anguish over sin is one thing and sorrow and grief over punishment is another. Ahab had been told before that his life would be taken, yet it only sorrowed him. Now he hears of his life as well as his families life will perish and be removed, and we see all this done. But all of his sorrow of this acts of remorse matter nothing so long as he allowed for Baal to remain, so long as he allowed for the sins of Jerobaom to remain. there is no true work of repentance found here. God is merciful and I have no doubt believing and understanding that if Ahab would have made the wrongs right, he could have found mercy in the eyes of the Father. If this people of our land, families and churches would only understand, that simply confessing our sins and neglects are not enough, but there must be change, real repentance foudn among the evil works of our lives. WE cannot get up from confessing our sin and go home and return to the same old sin. It must be removed and destroyed from our lives. And went softly - word study, went; Walking on eggshells, for all was determined now. How could he face his children? His family was destroyed for hisi evil deeds. Oh, when the weight of a man's choices comes home to the heart and we realize our evilness has offended a most holy God, what sorrow. But many a times it is only selfish interest, what about me? But lift up the eyes and see that there are others to be affected, the children, the grandchildren, the parents, the spouses, all will feel the weight of sin found out. What shame should grip our hearts to know how much we have costs our Lord and how much damage we have allowed to be done by our actions. do more than sorrow dear reader, put away and destroy the sin that does so easily beset you. Labor not for the meat that perisheth here on this earth,b ut labor for the spiritual fruit that glorifies the Lord. Go softly, for we know our sins have offended Him and His anger is waxed hot against us. Go softly and beseech Him for mercy. For He is merciful and gracious and longsuffering in all His ways. He is willing to abundantly pardon. But in our day, we see such pride, arrogance and self being displayed that they will not go softly. the Lord will humble us in this. But how can any child of God be self-righteous when we see our iniquities and know the price that was paid for our sins, we will go softly. 'When I survey the wondrous cross. . .I see His hands, His feet and His head, the blood flowing down for me, for my family, for the church for the people of this world.' For it is the Lord's will that none shoudl perish but that all may be reached and rescued. Save today, O Lord, save today as we go softly.