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Jezebel’s Blighting Influence, July 17
1 Kings 21
But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work
wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
1
Kings 21:25
.
Ahab was weak in moral power. His union by marriage with an idolatrous
woman of decided character and positive temperament resulted disastrously
both to himself and to the nation. Unprincipled, and with no high standard of
rightdoing, his character was easily molded by the determined spirit of Jezebel....
Under the blighting influence of Ahab’s rule, Israel wandered far from the
living God and corrupted their ways before Him.... The dark shadow of apostasy
covered the whole land. Images of Baalim and Ashtoreth were everywhere to be
seen. Idolatrous temples and consecrated groves, wherein were worshiped the
works of men’s hands, were multiplied. The air was polluted with the smoke of
the sacrifices offered to false gods. Hill and vale resounded with the drunken
cries of a heathen priesthood who sacrificed to the sun, moon, and stars.
Through the influence of Jezebel and her impious priests, the people were
taught that the idol gods that had been set up were deities, ruling by their mystic
power the elements of earth, fire, and water. All the bounties of heaven—the
running brooks, the streams of living water, the gentle dew, the showers of rain
which refreshed the earth and caused the fields to bring forth abundantly—were
ascribed to the favor of Baal and Ashtoreth, instead of to the Giver of every good
and perfect gift. The people forgot that the hills and valleys, the streams and
fountains, were in the hand of the living God, that He controlled the sun, the
clouds of heaven, and all the powers of nature....
In their blind folly they chose to reject God and His worship
How few realize the power of an unconsecrated woman.... God would have
been with Ahab if he had walked in the counsel of heaven. But Ahab did not do
this. He married a woman given to idolatry. Jezebel had more power over the
king than God had. She led him into idolatry, and with him the people
[205]
32
Ibid., 115, 116
.
33
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1033
.
212