Results of Compromise
26 April 2020 PM – 1Ki 22:40 – Kings20 – Scott Childs
Welcome: Welcome to our Sunday evening online church service.
Prayer
Introduction: We live in an age of compromise. Many Christians are taking a soft stand and leaning toward the world. The Apostle Paul wrote these helpful words to the carnal church at Corinth, (1 Corinthians 16:13) “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” Like the Corinthian believers, we must watch for the devil’s traps. We must stand firmly on doctrinal truth. We must be brave leaders for right. We get our strength from the Lord. God is looking for men and women who will stand up for the Lord and not compromise.
Transition: Our message this evening gives us three clear reasons to stand up for the Lord and refuse to compromise.
1. Compromise Corrupts Integrity
a. Ahab King of Israel (See Kings Chart) names are confusing
We will not go into much of the life of Ahab because we have covered it during our study of Elijah. However, he knew what was right but he lived wickedly. He married the pagan foreigner Jezebel who promoted Baal worship.
1) Ahaziah King of Israel (son of Ahab) (2Ki 22:40).
a) He was wicked just as his parents. Because of his sins, God only allowed him to reign 2 years.
b) Jehoshaphat compromised and joined him in a shipping venture, but the Lord destroyed the ships. (2 Chronicles 20:37) “Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.”
c) Ahaziah fell from a second story and was seriously hurt. (2 Kings 1:2) “And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.”
d) Elijah told him that he would die, and he did.
2) Joram King of Israel (son of Ahab Ahaziah’s brother).
a) He was slightly less evil and reigned for 12 years. He was also called Jehoram.
b) Jehoshaphat compromised and joined him to fight against Moab (2Ki 3). This nearly ended in disaster.
c) Joram was king of Israel when the Syrians besieged Samaria (2Ki 6:24-33). We will detail this as we study Elisha.
d) He was wounded in a battle with the Syrians and returned to Jezreel to recover (2Ki 8:28-29). During his recovery, Ahaziah king of Judah came to visit him.
e) Elisha anointed Jehu to be king over Israel and he killed Joram and Ahaziah both in the same day. Jehu proceeded to kill Jezebel on the same day (2Ki 9:30-37).
b. Jehoshaphat King of Judah (good but compromiser)
1) Joram King of Judah (son of Jehoshaphat, also called Jehoram, married Athaliah daughter of Ahab). This was the result of his father’s compromise.
a) Athaliah was wicked like Jezebel her mother.
b) He was an evil king.
c) Elijah predicted his death (2Ch 21:12-17).
d) God struck him with a terrible bowel disease and he died (2Ch 21:18-20).
2) Ahaziah King of Judah (son of Joram) (2Ch 22:1)
a) He was evil and reigned just one year (2Ki 8:26-27).
b) He allied with his uncle, Joram king of Israel (2Ki 8:28-29).
c) Jehu killed him when he killed Joram as just mentioned.
3) Athaliah Queen of Judah (daughter of Ahab).
a) Wicked to the core, she killed all of her grandsons except one whom Ahaziah’s sister stole away and hid (2Ki 11:1-3).
b) She reigned as queen for seven years.
O How did the integrity of Jehoshaphat’s family decline to this low ebb? It was all because of his compromise. My friend, stand true to the Lord. Do not compromise. Compromise will corrupt your own integrity and that of those you love.
2. Compromise Shortens Longevity
a. None of Ahab’s family lived long lives
1) Ahab’s son Ahaziah only reigned 2 years before he fell from a second story and died prematurely.
2) Ahab’s son Joram only reigned 12 years before God ordered Jehu to kill him for his wickedness.
3) Ahab’s daughter Athaliah only reigned 7 years. God cut her life short because of her great evil.
4) Ahab’s family was completely wiped out because of his godlessness. He compromised what he knew was right to please his own appetites.
b. None of Jehoshaphat’s family lived long lives
1) His son Joram only reigned 8 years. Because of his wickedness, the Lord smote him with a terrible bowel disease and he died a miserable death.
2) Arabians killed all of Jehoshaphat’s grandsons except Ahaziah. (2 Chronicles 22:1) “And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.”
3) Ahaziah only reigned 1 year before God had him killed by Jehu at the same time as his uncle Joram.
4) As mentioned, Athaliah killed all of the great grandsons of Jehoshaphat except for baby Joash who was hidden.
O Why did all of these royal family members die prematurely? It was a direct result of compromise. My friend, stand true to the Lord. If you compromise, it may shorten your life and the lives of your loved ones.
3. Compromise Endangers Spirituality
a. Ahab’s family followed his rejection of God
1) Ahab knew what was right. God used Elijah to teach him truth. However, he chose to reject truth.
2) Both of Ahab’s sons were evil. It is true that Joram was not a Baal worshipper, but he continued to worship the golden calves of Jeroboam.
3) Though Ahab’s family was wiped out, his rejection of God became the lifestyle of many in Israel to their destruction.
4) Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah, was wicked like her parents. She taught her son Ahaziah her wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 22:3) “He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.”
b. Jehoshaphat’s family adopted Ahab’s godlessness.
1) Jehoshaphat was a godly man, yet because of his compromise, his son Joram married wicked Athaliah and lived a wicked godless life.
2) Jehoshaphat’s grandson Ahaziah learned the ways of the heathen from his devilish mother.
3) Athaliah’s reign as queen continued to threaten the spiritual lives of her subjects in Judah. Many in their hearts turned away from God and began secretly worshipping idols.
O How is it that the spiritual lives of many in Israel and Judah turned away from God, never to come back to Him? It was because of the compromise of Ahab who knew better. However, it was more so because of the compromise of Jehoshaphat who foolishly arranged for his son to marry Athaliah. It is because of his compromise in befriending Ahab’s family. I wonder how many souls will be in hell for all eternity because of those compromises? My friend, stand up for the Lord. Do not compromise. Choose your friends carefully. Seek to guide your children into godly marriages.
Conclusion: We have examined three reasons not to compromise (review). These, ought to enhance our determination to obey (1 Corinthians 16:13) “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” Compromise always begins tiny, just like a tiny hole in a dam, but if not stopped promptly, it will become terribly destructive. Will you promise, with God’s help, to stand true to the Lord? Will you make it your passion to obey 1Co 16:13? Your integrity, your longevity, and your spirituality as well as that of your loved ones depends on it.
Prayer