INTRODUCTION: Ahaziah gives us a powerful type of the sinful condition of man and the wrong ways to seek deliverance from the sickness unto death. There is a good salvation message in this lesson.

1. ELIJAH PROPHESIED THE DEATH OF AHAZIAH (2 Kings 1:1-4 [1] Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. [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. [3] But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? [4] Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
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1. The Rebellion of Moab (2 Kings 1:1Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
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1. After the death of Ahab, Ahab humbled himself and God deferred some judgment until after his death (1 Kings 21:27-29 [27] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. [28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
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2. This became a recurring problem.
1. Under Jehoram (2 Kings 3:5But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.
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2. After the death of Elisha (2 Kings 13:20And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
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3. In the latter years of the kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 24:1-2 [1] In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. [2] And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
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2. The Troubles of Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:2And 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.
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1. His sickness
1. As the result of a fall
2. Through the lattice of his upper chamber
2. His inquiry
1. He sent to Baalzebub the god of Ekron.
1. Ekron was one of the five cities of the Philistines (Joshua 13:3From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
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2. Baalzebub is the “prince of the devils” (Matthew 12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
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2. He inquired whether he should recover of his disease; notice the progression; compare James 1:14-15 [14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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1. He fell.
2. He was sick.
3. He had a disease.
4. He died.
3. The Prophecy of Elijah (2 Kings 1:3-4 [3] But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? [4] Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
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1. He questioned their actions (2 Kings 1:3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
   See All...). Why go to Baalzebub?
1. To a god far away
2. To a god who cannot help them (Isaiah 44:9-20 [9] They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. [10] Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? [11] Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. [12] The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. [13] The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. [14] He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. [15] Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. [16] He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: [17] And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. [18] They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. [19] And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? [20] He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
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3. When the true God is near (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 [11] For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. [12] It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [13] Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? [14] But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
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2. He provided their answer (2 Kings 1:4Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.
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1. Ahaziah will not come down from his bed.
2. Ahaziah will surely die.
2. THE MESSENGERS REPORTED BACK TO AHAZIAH (2 Kings 1:5-8 [5] And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back? [6] And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. [7] And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? [8] And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
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1. The Return of the Messengers (2 Kings 1:5And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?
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1. The messengers turned back.
2. Ahaziah questioned their actions.
1. They could not have been to Ekron and back.
2. They could not have gotten an answer from Baalzebub.
3. He understood the limits of his god; contrast this with the unlimited powers of God (Isaiah 40:28-31 [28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. [29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. [30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: [31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
   See All...; Jeremiah 32:27Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
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2. The Report of the Messengers (2 Kings 1:6And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
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1. “There came a man up to meet us.”
2. He sent us back to the king with a message.
1. Is there not a God in Israel?
2. You will surely die.
3. The Identity of the Prophet (2 Kings 1:7-8 [7] And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? [8] And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
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1. What “manner of man” was he? (2 Kings 1:7And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
   See All...; Matthew 8:27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
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1. Who would interrupt the messengers of the king
2. Who would send such a message to the king
2. The description of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
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1. A hairy man
2. With a girdle of leather about his loins (compare John the Baptist in Matthew 3:4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
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3. The identity of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
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3. AHAZIAH SENT SOLDIERS TO FETCH ELIJAH (2 Kings 1:9-15 [9] Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. [10] And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. [11] Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. [12] And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. [13] And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. [14] Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. [15] And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
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1. The First Captain and His Fifty (2 Kings 1:9-10 [9] Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. [10] And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
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1. The captain and his fifty (2 Kings 1:9Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.
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1. Sent with the command: Come down.
2. Acknowledged Elijah as a “man of God”
2. The fire of the Lord (2 Kings 1:10And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
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1. Sent down from heaven
2. Proving Elijah to be a man of God
3. Consumed the captain and his fifty
2. The Second Captain and His Fifty (2 Kings 1:11-12 [11] Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly. [12] And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
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1. The captain and his fifty (2 Kings 1:11Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.
   See All...); Sent with the command: Come down quickly.
2. The fire of the Lord (2 Kings 1:12And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.
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1. This time Elijah addressed “them” (not just the captain) showing us that men are responsible for whom they follow.
2. This time the “fire from heaven” was called the “fire of God.”
3. The Third Captain and His Fifty (2 Kings 1:13-15 [13] And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. [14] Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. [15] And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
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1. The captain and his fifty (2 Kings 1:13-14 [13] And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. [14] Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
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1. He fell on his knees before Elijah (2 Kings 1:13And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
   See All...); evidently, this was not commanded by the king. A man cannot find God’s mercy until he refuses to blindly obey the prince of this world.
2. He acknowledged the sentence of death on him (2 Kings 1:14Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.
   See All...; John 3:18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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2. The mercy of the Lord (2 Kings 1:15And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.
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1. According to God’s word
2. By the angel of the Lord – a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ
3. With the obedience of the man of God
1. He arose.
2. He went down with him unto the king.
4. AHAZIAH DIED ACCORDING TO THE PROPHECY (2 Kings 1:16-18 [16] And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. [17] So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. [18] Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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1. Elijah Repeated the Prophecy (2 Kings 1:16And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.
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1. By sending messengers to Ekron, Ahaziah was declaring that there was no God in Israel.
2. As the result of seeking after false gods, Ahaziah will die (“therefore”).
2. Ahaziah Died as Prophesied (2 Kings 1:17-18 [17] So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. [18] Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
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1. He died according to the word (2 Kings 1:17So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
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2. Jehoram reigned in his stead (2 Kings 1:17So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.
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1. Beginning in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat in Judah
2. Jehoram was the brother of Ahaziah and he reigned because Ahaziah had no son.
3. The remaining acts of Ahaziah are to be found in the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

CONCLUSION: Jehoram recognized his sickness but he did not go to the right source for healing. When he was forced to look to the right source, he approached it in the wrong way. Have you recognized your need for healing? Have you gone to the true God for healing? Have you approached Him in humility and faith?