1. Kings: Ahab (Israel) – Ben-Hadad (Syria)
Israel & Syria at War
Kings: Ahab (Israel) – Ben-Hadad (Syria)
Ben-Hadad Challenged Ahab (vv. 1-6)
Ahad Refuses (vv. 7-9)
Ben-Hadad promises to “wipe-out” Israel (v. 10)
Ahab warns Ben-Hadad about overconfidence (v. 11)

2. 1 Kings 20:11
So the king of Israel answered and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.’ ”
Ben-Hadad was boasting of what he would do (v 10)
Point: Victory is not assured until the battle is over!

3. “Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.”
Seems to be quoting a proverb
“Ahab’s reply has the air of a proverb, with which Orientals always love to answer a foe.” (Barnes)
Ecc. 7:8 – end of a thing is better…
Prov. 27:1 – Do not boast of tomorrow
Modern: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch”
French: “Should not sell the skin of the bear until you kill it.”

4. Don’t Boast Before the Battle Don’t Boast Before the Battle
1 Kings 20:11

5. Don’t Boast Before the Battle
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self

6. Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Ahab
Could see in Ben-Hadad – lack of judgment and foolish thinking
Could not see his own failure to follow the direction of God (vv ) Us
Often blinded to self – what we can see clearly in others
See speck – not beam (Matt. 7:1-5)
Condemn in others what we do (Rom. 2)
David talking to Nathan (2 Sam. 12:1-7)
Ahab talking to “soldier” (1 Kings 20:35-43)
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self

7. Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Ahab
Could see in Ben-Hadad – lack of judgment and foolish thinking
Could not see his own failure to follow the direction of God (vv ) Us
Often blinded to self – what we can see clearly in others
Examples:
See when other parents fail to teach their children
See when one is dilatory in preparation for Bible class
See when one is not devoting time to family
See when others have a bad attitude
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self

8. Don’t Boast Before the Battle
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise

9. Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Ahab
Was very unwise:
Did more evil than others (1 Kings 16:30)
Married a pagan (1 Kings 16:31)
Turned to idols (1 Kings 16:31-32)
Spared Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20:31-34)
Selfish (1 Kings 21)
Greedy (1 Kings 21)
Yet – the proverb he repeated was excellent advice!
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise

10. Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Ahab
Don’t discount advice & instruction
Just because one giving it – don’t follow it himself!
Just because one giving it – makes unwise choices
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise

11. Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Ahab
Don’t discount advice & instruction
It is true
Hypocrite has little influence (Rom. 2:23-24)
Unwise have little impact
Reason they may have good advice:
Blinded to self
May be repeating what they heard – not that they know it by experience
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise

12. Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Ahab
Don’t discount advice & instruction
It is true
The advice you may hear:
Raising children – dangers to avoid
How to treat mate – and have happy home
How to deal with temptation
How to get along with others
How should approach Bible study
Being careful what say
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise

13. Don’t Boast Before the Battle
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Careful About Saying What We Will Do

14. Careful About Saying What We Will Do
Peter was careless (Matt. 26:31-34)
The circumstances of careless claims
Those who newly put on the armor
Think strength is greater than is
Think more capable than are
Confidence is high
Those who won one battle – assured they are ready for the next (cf. Joshua 6, 7)
Careful About Saying What We Will Do

15. Careful About Saying What We Will Do
Peter was careless (Matt. 26:31-34)
The circumstances of careless claims
Areas where we may not be careful
Critical of those who fought the battle before us (how they handled it all wrong)
“When I have children….”
“When I get married….”
“When I get out on my own…”
“If I were in charge….”
Careful About Saying What We Will Do

16. Careful About Saying What We Will Do
Peter was careless (Matt. 26:31-34)
The circumstances of careless claims
Areas where we may not be careful
Danger – easily embarrassed later
Peter was (Matt. 26)
Ben-Hadad was (1 Kings 20)
Careful About Saying What We Will Do

17. Don’t Boast Before the Battle
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Careful About Saying What We Will Do
Careful About Saying What We’ll Never Do

18. Careful About Saying What We’ll Never Do
Peter was careless in saying he would never stumble or deny (Matt. 26:31-34)
Consider self (Gal. 6:1-2)
Areas were in we are careless
“I would never do what you did…”
“I would never commit fornication / adultery”
“I would never look at what you have looked at…”
“I would never lose my temper like you do..”
Careful About Saying What We’ll Never Do

19. Don’t Boast Before the Battle
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Careful About Saying What We Will Do
Careful About Saying What We’ll Never Do
One Puts On Armor Has More to Do….

20. One Puts On Armor Has More to Do Than Boast
One may be boasting because he has little else to do
One who puts the armor on:
Battle to fight (Eph. 6)
Marriage to build (Eph. 5)
Children to train, teach and discipline (Eph 6:1-4)
Souls to instruct (Mark 16:15)
Brethren to encourage (Heb. 10:24)
One Puts On Armor Has More to Do Than Boast

21. Don’t Boast Before the Battle
Easily See in Others What Can’t See in Self
Can Get Excellent Advice from the Unwise
Careful About Saying What We Will Do
Careful About Saying What We’ll Never Do
One Puts On Armor Has More to Do….