When you read the words “influential relationships,” what comes to mind first?
- Networking for career advancement?
- Healthy living advice?
- Political clout?
- Other?
Some influential relationships I’ve had include parents, siblings, extended family, friends, coworkers, teachers, counselors and my late spouse.
The level of influence varies, as well as whether it was a positive or negative influence.
By pairing these words with “and their impact on worship,” I hope your thoughts move towards relationships that have helped shape your understanding of spiritual matters.
Today’s study considers the introduction of a king of Israel named Ahab.
As a king, Ahab was at the top of society with the authority to influence an entire nation on many levels.
Influential Relationships and Their Impact on Worship
A study of 1 Kings 16:29-33
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.[1]
Summarize how 1 Kings 16:21-28 describes Ahab’s father Omri. Include both positive and negative traits.
And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.[2]
How was Ahab influenced by his father Omri?
What is the outstanding characteristic scripture highlights about Ahab?
And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.[3]
What were the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat? (see 1 Kings 12:25-33 and 14:6-9))
Explain the phrase “as if it had been a light thing”. (see Deuteronomy 7:1-6 and 1 Kings 21:25-26)
Who else was influenced by their foreign wives to worship other idols? (See 1 Kings 11:4-6)
He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria.[4]
As king, what influence would Ahab’s building an altar and temple for Baal in Samaria have over the Israelites under his authority?
And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.[5]
People set up Asherah poles in Baal temples to worship the Canaanite mother-goddess of fertility, believed to be the consort of Baal.
What were the Israelites supposed to do with these Asherah poles? (See Exodus 34:12-14 and Deuteronomy 12:1-3)
Why did God require this action? (See Deuteronomy 12:4-7)
How did God eventually deal with this temple built by Ahab? (See 2 Kings 10:17-27)
How do the following verses from James shed additional light on Ahab’s willingness to be influenced by his father and wife?
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. [6]
Based on the entire study above, who had the most influence on Ahab and how did this impact his worship of the Lord of Israel?
Ultimately, the Lord commissions Elijah, the prophet, to tell Ahab his punishment for the evil he has done. This punishment affects not only Ahab, but his entire generational line. (See 1 Kings 21:17-26)
Consider what happens next.
27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” [7]
Why do you think Ahab responded this way so late in his life?
What do you learn about God from these verses?
Influential Relationships and Their Impact on Worship
Personal Application
Which relationship has the most influence on you? Why?
For me, I would say my late spouse had the second most spiritual influence on me in my adult life. He was so good at explaining complicated things through profound analogies.
And because of this relationship, he influenced me to lean into my relationship directly with the Lord. This is the reason I read the Bible through every year. I believe scripture is the first and best place to learn about and develop a thriving worship relationship with the Lord of heaven and earth.
Thus, the relationship that influences me the most is with the Lord of heaven and earth.
What type of influence do you have on those you are in a relationship with?
For me, my influence with those I am in a relationship with varies depending on the level of closeness. My heart though is to have a positive and encouraging influence that reveals the Lord’s love for each person I engage with whether I know them deeply or am merely a brief encounter.
Am I always successful at this? Of course not. I have days when I’m in a bad temper and fail miserably. We all need grace.
How can you guard your relationship with the Lord of heaven and earth so that your worship of Him remains pure, even if you did not have relationships that modelled this for you in the past?
For me, I must repeat what I said above. Spending daily time in scripture is the most important foundation for drawing me into and keeping me true to the Lord.
Who encourages you to remain faithful in your relationship with the Lord? Reach out to them this week to thank them for their influence in your spiritual life.
I hope this post has brought you, my readers, encouragement to remain faithful in your relationship with the Lord and strengthened your desire to worship Him alone.
Heavenly Father, creator of this universe, may we seek a relationship with you as our primary goal in the days to come. May our relationship with you be the greatest influence upon our lives so that our reputation will be one of Your love and grace towards others. Forgive us, Lord, when we fail to be loving and gracious towards others. Fill our hearts and minds with the joy of Your salvation so that our worship remains pure in Your eyes. Amen.
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 16:29.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 16:30.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 16:31.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 16:32.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 16:33.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jas 1:13–15.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 21:27–29.