BACK AHAZIAH2 4'1m*f RT: Elijah predicts Ahaziah's death (RT == Readers' Theater: requires little or no memorization, little or no rehearsal. An indefinite number of reporters are salted throughout the audience.) ELIJAH -- (enters wearing fur tunic, headress and sandals, crosses to podium) I am Elijah, a prophet of our Lord God Almighty. The reason I called this press conference is to announce the death of Ahaziah King of Israel. Since King Ahaziah has no sons, Joram his brother will ascend to the throne of Israel. That's all I have. (turns) REPORTER -- Elijah, may we ask you a few questions? ELIJAH -- Sure. (turns) REPORTER -- We had heard that Ahaziah was injured in a fall, but noone in the palace mentioned that he was near death. When did he die? ELIJAH -- He hasn't died yet. But he will. REPORTER -- You're announcing his death in advance?! ELIJAH -- It's the least I can do after all the damage Ahaziah has done to Israel. REPORTER -- How can you be so sure this will happen? ELIJAH -- I'm a prophet of God. God told me to tell King Ahaziah that he would never leave his bed alive. I've told Ahaziah and now I'm telling you. REPORTER -- Are you saying that King Ahaziah's death is punishment for some sin he committed? ELIJAH -- SinS. Plural. King Ahaziah apparently didn't learn any lessons from the deaths of his father King Ahab and his mother Jezebel. He has encouraged the worship of foreign gods in all the high places in Israel. But I guess the straw that broke the camel's back was Ahaziah's reaction to his recent injury. Instead of sending for me to ask him if he would recover from his injuries, Ahaziah sent for the priest of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. He deserves to die. Ahaziah has completely forgotten that it was Jehovah the creator of the universe who drove out Israel's enemies and kept us safe from invasion. God won't allow the leader of his own people to act as if he no longer matters. REPORTER -- Elijah, while we have your attention, may we have your opinion about an unrelated matter? ELIJAH -- What unrelated matter? REPORTER -- Two different squads of fifty soldiers from the palace were burned to death and their bodies were reduced to ashes recently. Is this the result of some secret weapon in the hands of our enemies the moabites? ELIJAH -- No. That was me. REPORTER -- That was you?! REPORTER -- You incinerated over a hundred well armed soldiers single handedly?! ELIJAH -- Well, don't forget, I'm a prophet of God. Actually, it was God himself who sent fire and brimstone from Heaven. I merely warned them that it was coming. REPORTER -- Why would God do such a thing?! ELIJAH -- The soldiers didn't come to me for a social visit. King Ahaziah sent them to bring me back to the palace. His intention was to have me revoke the curse of death I put on him earlier. I'm quite sure that the king would have had me tortured to have the curse removed. The Lord God of Israel killed the soldiers to prevent Ahaziah from torturing me. REPORTER -- Wouldn't it have been easier to remove the curse than to kill over 100 soldiers? ELIJAH -- Easier? Yes. Just? No. I have studied the ancient scriptures and I can't find a single incident where God gave a guilty party a reprieve, UNLESS the guilty party repented. And I can assure you that Ahaziah still has not repented. That's why he will die as predicted. My hope is that Ahaziah's brother Joram will learn from the mistakes of the past when he ascends the throne. Thank you all for coming. (exits) ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |