Around 822-800 B.C., Syria and Israel had not been at war for about three years. Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) visited Ahab (king of Israel). Ahab was talking to his employees (servants) reminding them about a territory that belonged to them.
Ahab presented a proposal to Jehoshaphat to go to war to regain (usurp) the territory. Jehoshaphat was agreeable with Ahab, saying “My horses are your horses, my people are as your people.” It’s not wise to get in with someone just because the person/s is your friend or close associate.
In 1 Kings 22:5, Jehoshaphat offered Ahab some very good advice in a tactful manner, “Enquire. I pray that you seek the word of the Lord today.” He was saying to him, before you make such a serious decision to go to battle, it is wise that you talk to the Lord about it first.
This is advice from ancient times, but it applies to here and now. Before you set out to accomplish a project, seek wise counsel to avoid significant loss. One of the problems today is that when a person becomes powerful, that person sometimes loses conscience to hear wise, moral advice. They become their own rule maker and self-worshipper, a pathway to entrenched idolatry.
Once you get into something, it isn’t so easy to get out. If you get into a project, ask yourself, “Did I weigh it out first? Did I count the costs beforehand?” As written in Luke 14:28, “Are you intending to build a tower, do you sit down first and count the cost to determine if you have sufficient funds to finish it?”
That is, have you looked at the time to complete it? Did you hire a company of good experience and reputation to complete it? Did you check their references? Did you make a good contract to hold your contractor and his/her subcontractors to their responsibility or did you make a tight contract and not pay them all the money in advance, and they leave you and didn’t finish?
In response to Jehoshaphat’s inquiring statement, Ahab said, “There is Micaiah, but I hate him. He only prophesies bad things when I ask him about my business.” (I Kings 22:8) Obviously, Ahab is a hardheaded, self-loving, power-seeking individual.
Jehoshaphat and Ahab got together formally dressed in their throne attire and all Ahab’s prophets prophesied to them saying, “Go on to battle and take back our territory (Ramoth in Gilead). The Lord will deliver it into the king’s hands.” (I Kings 22:12)
They are so accustomed to the unfailing goodness of God; Ahab’s false prophets think it will be the same as before. Meanwhile, a messenger went to seek Micaiah. The messenger told Micaiah what the prophets had said. When someone never tells the truth to you, that may not be a real friend. The messengers said, “I want you to say the same thing also.” (I Kings 22:13)
Ahab said, “Okay, Micaiah, shall we go to battle or not. Speak that which is good.” Micaiah said, “I will only speak that which the LORD tells me to speak. Ahab had pressured him to be like the others by not speaking the truth, but Micaiah said, “I will tell you the real truth.” He gave him bad news.
“I saw Israel scattered upon the hills like sheep with no shepherd and the Lord said, ‘These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.’”(I Kings 22:17) Hearing the truth angered Ahab. Well, the fact is there are some who only want to hear good things and not the truth.
Micaiah’s prophetic gift allowed him to see and hear the truth. He went on to say, “Hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left. The Lord said, ‘Who shall persuade Ahab that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?’ And one said this manner, and another said on that manner. A spirit came forth and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
“The Lord said, ‘How will you do it?’ The spirit said, ‘I will go forth and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets’ and the Lord said, “You shall persuade, and you shall prevail. Go forth and do so.’”
Micaiah said, “Therefore, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all Ahab’s prophets and the Lord has spoken evil concerning you (Ahab).” Ahab put Micaiah in prison and ordered that Micaiah be fed “with the bread and water of affliction (unsavory, course bread and puddle water and be fed sparingly) until I come (return) in peace.” (More reading in verses 29-40.)
But Ahab failed. He was killed in battle. Ahab had received other warnings of his death by Elijah when he killed Naboth (1 Kings 21:19) and plotted the takeover of Naboth’s vineyard with the assistance of his evil wife, Jezebel, and now Micaiah warns him.
It takes time and attentiveness to hear the word of the Lord, but we save ourselves a lot of heartache and trouble when we use patience, wisdom and knowledge before we make a mess of things. Ahab listened only to his own press releases and got killed in battle.
He limited his listening to his private audience of false prophets who told him favorable things. His wisdom was shallow. His ears were shut. How many of us will only listen to words that have a good flavor?
That is unrealistic. Life is good and not good. Savoring wisdom by waiting to hear the words of wisdom from God is more rewarding. Jesus suffered for doing good and in obedience to “Our Father.”
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Any errors? Let me know. References: The Holy Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary. Studylight.org.
