One of the greatest deficits in the last days of Israel’s and Judah’s existence before being overcome by pagan nations was ears willing to hear what God had to say about their situation. They had no lack of preachers parroting what politicians wanted them to say. Both government and religious gathering places had become non-prophet organizations in the sense of banning anyone to speak truth for God.
Ungodly King Ahab called Elijah a troubler of Israel. Elijah corrected him…
“I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals [idols].” [1] Then, he challenged the politician to gather his press corps to a debate. King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, had a total of 850 false prophets (reporters in her pocket) who ate her table.
When the big day came, and all were gathered, Elijah said to those propagators of false information, “You call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” [2]
The pagan prophets could not produce results. They were professional liars and deceivers. They were not connected to the true God. When Elijah prayed a brief prayer, the fire fell. On that day, the propagandists of Queen Jezebel were silenced. All were put to death by the people. Her career was not over yet, but her last day of ungodly influence on the nation was nearing.
Just before Jezebel’s husband’s reign ended, he had a plan, he wanted to form a coalition with the king of Judah’s army to take land from the king of Syria. The king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, planned to join in on this land grab, but with one condition. He asked, “Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.” [3]
“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.’” [4]
King Jehoshaphat recognized that Ahab’s prophets were not the kind of prophets he was used to listening to, so he asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” [5]
“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.’” [6]
King Jehoshaphat wanted to hear from this prophet that King Ahab hated. King Ahab sent for him, but Ahab’s messenger told the prophet of the Lord, “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.” Micaiah responded, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” [7]
At first Micaiah, repeated what he was told to say, but he said it in such a way as to provoke King Ahab to order him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” [8]
So, Micaiah revealed to all present the vision and the words that the Lord gave him. 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.’
The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘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 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.’” [9]
A false prophet slapped Micaiah. King Ahab imprisoned him. He ordered that Micaiah be dined on the bread and water of affliction.” But that very day, King Ahab died in battle. [10]
After reading these Biblical accounts of kings and prophets, one question to ask ourselves is, “In what ways is our nation being lied to and deceived by ungodly leaders and their propagandists? Another question to ask ourselves is, “Who is speaking the Word of Lord, inspired by the Spirit of Truth, namely the Holy Spirit, to these deluded despots?”
“Dear Heavenly Father, please grant us the grace as You did to Elijah and Micaiah to bring truth with power and love to the place where people gather to hear the truth. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”
[1] 1 Kings 18:17-19
[2] 1 Kings 18:24
[3] 1 King 22:5
[4] 1 Kings 22:6
[5] 1 Kings 22:7
[6] 1 Kings 22:8
[7] 1 Kings 22:13-14
[8] 1 Kings 22:15-16
[9] 1 Kings 22:17-23
[10] 1 King 22:24, 27, 37
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