1 Kings 21:16-20: a reflection

16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17The LORD’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’” 20Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do that which is evil in the LORD’s sight.

After Naboth has been murdered so that Ahab could seize his vineyard, Ahab goes down to take possession of it, no doubt believing his crime hidden and his prize secured. But God sends Elijah to meet him there, in the very vineyard; and Ahab's guilty response reveals everything: Have you found me, my enemy? He had thought his sin hidden, gotten away with; but God's word found him out, meeting him at the scene of his crime. His hidden sin was not hidden from God, who found him out.

Notice that Ahab's sin, which he thought hidden, was found out by God. He had arranged Naboth's death secretly, seized the vineyard, and gone to enjoy his prize, believing his crime concealed and unpunished. But God had seen it all; and he sent Elijah to confront Ahab in the very vineyard, so that Ahab cried, have you found me? His sin was not hidden from God; it was found out, exposed, met by God's word at the scene of the crime. What Ahab thought concealed was fully known to God, who found him out.

That is worth taking to heart, for our sin, however hidden we think it, is known to God and will be found out. We can commit sin secretly, believing it hidden, thinking we have gotten away with it, that no one knows; but God sees all, and our hidden sin is not hidden from him. Ahab thought his crime concealed, but God found him out. Do not imagine your sin hidden and gotten away with because it is concealed from people; God sees it, and it is not hidden from him. Live in the awareness that God sees even your hidden sin, and that what is concealed from others is fully known to him, as Ahab's secret crime was found out by God; for nothing is hidden from God, and the sin we think concealed is known to him, and will be found out, as God's word found out Ahab in the very vineyard he had seized by murder.

Lord, after Naboth has been murdered so that Ahab could seize his vineyard, Ahab goes down to take possession of it, no doubt believing his crime hidden and his prize secured. But you send Elijah to meet him there, in the very vineyard; and Ahab's guilty response reveals everything: have you found me, my enemy? He had thought his sin hidden, gotten away with; but your word found him out. His hidden sin was not hidden from you. Show me that Ahab's sin, which he thought hidden, was found out by you. He had arranged Naboth's death secretly, seized the vineyard, and gone to enjoy his prize, believing his crime concealed. But you had seen it all; and you sent Elijah to confront him, so that Ahab cried, have you found me? His sin was not hidden from you; it was found out, exposed. What he thought concealed was fully known to you. Take that to my heart, for my sin, however hidden I think it, is known to you and will be found out. I can commit sin secretly, believing it hidden, thinking I have gotten away with it; but you see all, and my hidden sin is not hidden from you. Ahab thought his crime concealed, but you found him out. Keep me from imagining my sin hidden and gotten away with because it is concealed from people; you see it, Lord. Help me live in the awareness that you see even my hidden sin, and that what is concealed from others is fully known to you.