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Micaiah – The Non-Politically Correct Prophet (2 of 2)

Focus Text: 1 Kings 22:28

Micaiah had been adequately “coached” as to what to say before Ahab and yet he refused the counsel saying, “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.” (1 Kings 22.14). Now the acid test came!

“Then he [Micaiah] came to the king [Ahab]; 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!’ 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?’ 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.’ And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat [King of Judah], ‘Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?’ 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. 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. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 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.’ 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.” (1 Kings 22.15-23).

Those words of Micaiah hit too close to home for Ahab’s hirelings. “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?’ And Micaiah said, ‘Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!’ 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; 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.”’” But Micaiah said, ‘If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.’ And he said, ‘Take heed, all you people!’” (1 Kings 22.24-28).

At all times, in all places, and under all circumstances Micaiah knew the strength of God’s word! He knew that God would make good His promises to bring Ahab to naught and so he did not back down one iota when he was challenged by Ahab and all his hosts. The faith possessed by Micaiah is exemplary for all men of all ages. When God says a thing, it is forever settled, or as the Psalmist put it, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119.89).

Hundreds of years later. Paul said it another way when he counseled Timothy saying, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1.7). Micaiah certainly did not have the spirit of fear but trusted explicitly in God’s word!

Questions:

1. When Micaiah initially told Ahab to “Go and prosper!” what type of speech was he using?

2. Why did Ahab react the way he did to Micaiah’s first response? What does this show about what he really thought of the words of his false prophets?

3. Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace the LORD has not spoken by me!” How could he be so sure of his words?

4. If God’s word is settled in heaven, how can it be shaken, altered, or weakened in any way?

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

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