1 Kings 21:20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord.
Ahab may have been the most evil of all the kings of Israel, especially when it comes to worshipping and serving the Lord as God and serving Him only. He “sold himself to work evil.” He refused to admit his sin against God. Instead, he accused Elijah of being his enemy. Talk about “shooting the messenger.” The truth: Ahab was the enemy of God. Envy and rage blinded him from seeing his own sin.
We also are blind, dead, and an enemy of God, so much so that it is impossible for us to see our own sin. It must be supernaturally revealed to us through the Word and the Spirit. He reveals our selfish nature and convicts us of sin and guilt. Then He shows us our Savior Jesus Christ, who died for us. By the power of the Word we see and admit that we, too, have sold ourself to work evil. But Jesus sold himself to give goodness and life.
It is impossible to admit that we are sold out to evil, that we are in desperate need of forgiveness and salvation, until the Spirit convinces us through words of Law and Gospel. A prophet reveals the truth our sinful self refuses to see. We falsely say, “I’m a good person. I’m not that bad.” Without the Word we remain deceived and lost. With the Word we are gloriously saved and found.