When Ahaziah fell through his lattice (one wonders what he was doing on it), and injured himself, he sent his messengers to Baal of Ekron to find out if he would recover. God intercepted them with Elijah's ready answer: that his life would end because he did not inquire of Israel's God--the only true God.
Ahaziah then sent an armed military escort to bring the prophet in for questioning. In this poem I've treated it less emotionally and thoughtfully, more playfully. Not because the subject matter is playful, but because of how frequently we (Ahaziah in this instance) do not take spiritual matters seriously. Our light-handed approach is out of step with the weight of glory we encounter daily.
Advent, day 20. One Prophet and Fifty-one Men.
2 Ki 1:20 Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.
“Is it because there is no God
in Israel you can ask?
That you must send to pagan gods,
begging a stone mask?
Did God leave you to go your way—
or was it you left Him?
You’re fallen low and failing fast,
your chance at life is slim.
Because you chose the Baal of Ekron,
you will surely die.
Your false god cannot free you from
the bed on which you lie.”
This woeful news came to the king
by messengers he’d sent
to Ekron, but were stopped en route,
informed of God’s intent—
By one Elijah, prophet rogue,
Ahab’s nemesis.
Now Ahab’s son will take him on,
his soldiers must not miss
The wandering, hate-filled treason-monger
who prophesied all gloom,
whose very presence guaranteed
a pall to every room.
So captain with his fifty men
marched off to find the man
who foretold Ahaziah’s death
and trouble on the land.
“Man of God,” the captain called,
“Come down off that hill.
By king’s command, I’ll take you in.”
That task he’d not fulfil.
“If man of God I am,” he said,
“let fire fall from high,
scorching all your valiant men,
and surely you will die.”
As he said, the fire fell—
and burned the men alive.
Obtuse and blind, the angry king
sent fifty more to strive.
Who met an equal fate of fire
when their captain called him out.
This enraged the king the more
and mimed his father’s pout.
Alas a third benighted group
was sent to apprehend
the incendiary prophet, but
their captain saw the trend.
With great respect did he beseech
the caller of fire from heaven,
“Please have respect and pity us,
we’re doing as we’re bidden.”
Elijah went with them and showed
he feared not anything:
all the men were witness to
the death of a petulant king.
There is a God in Israel, hear
and know His Word: and fear.
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