As the enemy of Israel, Ben-Hadad, strutted around boasting about what he was going to do if Israel refused to surrender. His confidence was as inflated as a hot-air balloon on parade day. The King of Israel, Ahab, who was not exactly famous for his wisdom, actually came up with a good line for once. In 1 Kings 20:11 he said, “One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off” (New International Version). The New Century Version makes it even plainer: “The man who puts on his armor should not brag. It’s the man who lives to take it off who has the right to brag.” And then, of course, the Living Bible cuts straight to the point in language everyone understands: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” Apparently, that proverb had been circulating long before farmers started keeping score with eggs.
Ahab might not have been the brightest crown in the royal collection, but this one statement was solid gold. There’s something refreshing about hearing him say something wise for a change. It’s a great reminder for all of us who are tempted to plan our victories before the battle has even started. Proverbs 27:1 says the same thing: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Life has a way of humbling those who think they have it all figured out. Just when you think you’re heading for a smooth week, the car breaks down, the Wi-Fi dies, or your coffee spills on your clean shirt. Boasting about tomorrow is like assuming your GPS will never say, “Recalculating.” It’s best to keep a little humility in the tank.
And then there’s the old saying from Proverbs, “Pride comes before a fall.” Ben-Hadad learned that lesson the hard way. His boasts hit the ground about the same time his army did. The Lord intervened on behalf of Ahab and completely turned the tables, delivering a decisive victory over the Syrians. It turns out that God is not particularly impressed by swagger. Ben-Hadad came dressed for triumph but ended up crawling away in defeat. Maybe if he had spent less time bragging and more time listening, history might have been a little kinder. But as it stands, his story reminds us that it is better to take your armor off quietly than to boast while putting it on loudly.