So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house.” (vv.27-29)
God had sent Elijah (once again) with a word of judgment against Ahab and his family for the murder of his neighbor Naboth (vv.21-22). Then, when it seemed the king was beyond any positive reaction toward God, Ahab humbled himself and adopted the traditional signs of repentance (v.27).
For all his wickedness, Ahab received this prophecy of judgment exactly as he should have. He understood that the prophecy of judgment was in fact an invitation to repent, humble one’s self, and to seek God for mercy. The question is, was it only external and superficial, arising from the terror of God’s judgments; or was it sincere and serious, proceeding from the love of God.
There must have been some genuineness of heart on Ahab's part, because God relented somewhat when He saw the king's humility saying, “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days” (v.29).
However, what is recorded here in our text of his repentance is external and ritual only. There is no one sign or fruit of his true repentance. And because of Ahab’s false repentance and continued sin, a very similar judgment came upon him in the very next chapter (see ch.22:37-40).
God honored Ahab’s initiative. This shows the power of both prayer and humble repentance. If Ahab did not humble himself in this way, then the judgment would have come in his own day. This shows that God gave the prophecy of judgment as an invitation to repentance, and God opened the door of mercy when Ahab properly responded to that invitation.
Just as the Lord responded to the humility of the most wicked, rotten king in Israel’s history, His grace will be there for you as well - if you humble yourself and repent.
The Truth: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
