1 Kings 22:1-28
Micaiah Warns Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1–27)
1 Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. 2 Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel.
3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?”
Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the LORD today.”
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?”
So they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
7 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?”
8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”
And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”
9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!”
10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king’s hand.”
13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”
14 And Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.”
15 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”
And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king!”
16 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”
17 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’”
18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 20 And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”
24 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit from the LORD go from me to speak to you?”
25 And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”
26 So the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.”’”
28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”
After three years of peace between Syria and Israel, Judah and Israel combined forces to attack Syria and reclaim lost territory. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to fight their enemy at Ramoth Gilead but first asked for God’s word from Israel, which is interesting since Jerusalem and the temple were in Judah. The prophets came in droves to assure victory for this endeavor, but Jehoshaphat did not trust them with their unanimous approval among all four hundred of them. He asked if there was still a faithful and true voice of God in the multitude who would speak the straight truth for whether they should engage the enemy in battle as they both were prepared to fight for the right. The king of Israel, Ahab, told the king of Judah that there was one, Micaiah, but that he only prophesied evil against Ahab and not good. That should have been an indication to the king that it was not the prophet but the LORD opposing him. They even sent a messenger to the prophet to urge him to agree with the other four hundred, yet the faith voice of God told him that whatever the LORD said to him, that he would speak for the LORD. At first he mocking answered the same false advice to go to battle because the LORD would deliver the enemy into their hands. The king knew he was not serious and asked again for the truth. He prophesied the word of God by telling them that the people have no master and should return to their houses in peace. He also explained why in that all Israel was seen to be scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd, an immediate truth with a future-looking deeper need for a Shepherd in the Messiah to come (Matthew 9:36), Jesus the Christ. All God’s people, Israel, Judah, and from all nations promised to Abraham (Galatians 3:8), all need this Shepherd (John 10:14) and King to rule and lead them to still waters (Psalm 23:2, John 4:14, Isaiah 55:1, Revelation 7:17) for true satisfaction and deliverance. May we all find our rest and victory in Him who is the truth we seek and the divine Ruler over us all in His lovingkindness for eternity. Sheep need a Shepherd and those who tell the message at all costs to escape the wrath of God on our sins and find peace (Romans 5:1) with Him. No earthly ruler can protect or provide for us but Him.
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