What can we learn about discernment from the king's command in 1 Kings 20:18? Setting the Scene 1 Kings 20:18: “If they have marched out in peace,” answered Ben-hadad, “take them alive. Or if they have marched out for war, take them alive.” Ben-hadad, king of Aram, is feasting and drinking with allied rulers when scouts report Israelite troops approaching. His snap order is the same no matter the motive of the approaching force. The King’s Command: A Quick Glance • Same instruction for opposite situations—peace or war. • Focus on seizing prisoners, not on understanding intentions. • Issued while Ben-hadad is impaired (v. 16 “he and the thirty-two kings… were drinking themselves drunk”). • Outcome: the Arameans are routed (vv. 19-21). Where Discernment Went Wrong • Failure to pause and ask, “Why are they coming?” (cf. Proverbs 18:13). • Overconfidence blinds to real risk (Proverbs 16:18). • Impaired judgment through indulgence (Ephesians 5:18). • Treats information as irrelevant: identical order whether the facts differ. • Ignores God’s sovereign warnings already sent through His prophet (vv. 13-14). Biblical Principles Reinforced • Discernment distinguishes situations—“The naïve believe every word, but the prudent give thought to their steps” (Proverbs 14:15). • Sound judgment requires sobriety—“Be alert and of sober mind” (1 Peter 5:8). • Wisdom listens before acting—“Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). • Mature believers “have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). • Test everything—“Examine all things; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Putting Discernment into Practice Today • Gather facts; do not assume motives. • Refuse to make decisions under impairing influences—fatigue, anger, peer pressure, substances. • Seek God’s counsel first through Scripture and prayer. • Weigh differing outcomes; do not give one‐size‐fits‐all orders. • Remain humble; overconfidence clouds perception. • Act only after “testing the spirits” (1 John 4:1) and confirming alignment with God’s revealed word. |
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