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Second Kings opens with reference to the death of Ahab. The simple statement gives a dark reminder of Ahab’s legacy. After the Lord’s graciousness spared his dynasty in 1 Kings 21, Ahab died in chapter 22. The death of Ahab calls us to remember the dark ending of 1 Kings. Furthermore, 2 Kings 1:2 picks up where 1 Kings left off. The end of 1 Kings summarized Ahaziah’s wicked reign in 22:51–53. He reigned for only two years, he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and he served Baal. Then 2 Kings begins with a specific event that unpacks Ahaziah’s wickedness and his end.
Ahaziah has a tragic fall accompanied by sickness in 2 Kings 1:2. How does he then respond? By turning to a false god. What a fool. Yet how easily are we all tempted to do the same thing? When we face great pain, suffering, or sickness, we easily turn to idols for answers. Whether we change the God of Scripture into a genie (who is supposed to give us health and wealth) or we blatantly turn to other religions, looking for answers, the error of Ahaziah is still a danger that we face today. Therefore, we must acknowledge the righteousness of our Lord, who cannot ignore wicked abandonment. Unrepentant idol worship leads to Ahaziah’s end.
After Ahaziah’s initial messengers return with a report on Elijah and the death sentence that the prophet gave (2 Kings 1:6–8), how does Ahaziah respond? He sends a captain with fifty men to meet with Elijah. Rather than repentance, Ahaziah pursues intimidation. Then, after these men are consumed by fire, Ahaziah still holds to a hard heart (sounds like Pharaoh) and sends another fifty. Then, when they are consumed by fire, he learns his lesson, right? No. Ahaziah sends another fifty men in verse 13. The third party’s difference is not in Ahaziah’s motive but in the captain’s words. He falls on his knees and cries:
“O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.” (2 Kings 1:13–14)
The third group of fifty is spared, but verse 16 reiterates the message from verse 4: Ahaziah is sure to die.
Here the Lord shows Himself as a righteous Judge of wicked Ahaziah. Often, we delight to hear encouraging stories about people who come to faith on their deathbeds. We are reminded in this text, however, that conversion does not always happen as one approaches the grave. As Christians, called to be messengers, we must be prepared for both scenarios. Then we can rejoice in God’s mercy when we witness a “criminal on the cross” repenting and trusting in the Lord or rejoice in God’s justice when we interact with an “Ahaziah” who takes his hardened heart to the grave. For our Lord is good and greatly to be praised.