The Sovereign of Sovereigns
2/2/26 Bible Thought (1 Kings 21)
Main Idea: The King of Heaven is inescapable.
A Look at the Text:
In today’s chapter, we see a vexed and sullen king who grew increasingly upset when he couldn’t have what he wanted.
Our previous chapter left off with Ahab down in the dumps after he was confronted by a prophet. We now see the same king confronted by an insatiable, covetous desire for something that wasn’t his. Though being king, and certainly having the best things in all Israel, suddenly Ahab felt entitled to his neighbor, Naboth’s, vineyard. Unfortunately, though, Naboth wouldn’t sell or trade.
To this, Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, effectively concluded, “Don’t you run the show around here? Aren’t you king? You should have what you want. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it for you” (1 Kings 21:7).
However, the king over God’s people was never supposed to be the final authority.
Many, many years earlier, when the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint Saul, the first king over Israel, the text is explicit in noting that he was anointed to be prince (1 Sam. 9:16). Effectively, this said: Yahweh is King, you are His vice regent. The earthly king was always to be subjected to the heavenly One.
Unfortunately, Ahab ended up getting what he wanted at the expense of another man’s life. A devious plan was concocted. Naboth was killed. His vineyard was stolen. Ahab suddenly had everything he wanted when an unexpected visitor came—Elijah.
To Ahab’s dismay, his sin was known to the world’s true Sovereign.
Yahweh sent his prophet right to Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21:18) to confront Ahab with a message of coming judgment upon his household. He might have thought he was king and could do what he wanted, but he was still just another subject in the Kingdom.
Bringing it Home:
One of the most sobering truths of the Bible is that there is no such thing as secret sins.
God saw Ahab coveting the vineyard of Naboth. He saw the conspiring of Jezebel. He saw the false testimony of the men who accused Naboth. He saw the murder of Naboth. He saw Ahab steal the vineyard. None of it was hidden from His sight.
So it is with us. All of our ways are before Him. We can hide certain sins from friends, family, employers, or even our spouse—but none of it escapes the notice of an omnipresent God.
God is both here and He is there. He is utterly inescapable, and every sin—whether big or little in our eyes—is not a secret.
The knowledge that He is always watching ought to shape the lives we live, the decisions we make, and even the words we say. We’re all subjects in His Kingdom. We’re all accountable to Him. Even if we have positions of influence or authority down here on earth, we are still His servants.
Thus, we should follow in the footsteps of the apostle Paul, who once concluded:
“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:9-10)
Challenge:
Do I have any “secret” sins in my own life?
While none of us will be perfect this side of eternity, we cannot hide consistent, unrepentant sin and believe that God isn’t fully aware of it.