LENT: Apr 12 - 2 Chronicles 18:13

 

 

From: Pastor Ed Thomas [mailto:pastored@spiritofjoy.us]
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2014 8:40 AM
Subject: LENT: Apr 12 - 2 Chronicles 18:13

 

"As the Lord lives,

whatever my God says,

that I will speak."

2 Chronicles 18:13

 

Let me tell you the story that led to the prophet Micaiah uttering these words -- words which should serve as a compass for all of us. 

• In the 800s B.C., Jehoshaphat was one of Judah's better kings. 

• Unfortunately even otherwise good kings -- think David and Solomon -- constantly wind up getting in trouble when women are concerned! (Humans sin and power corrupts.)

• In his early days, Jehoshaphat spent much of his early reign building walls against his evil neighbors. (That's good advice for us -- build walls against evil.)

• Later in his reign, however, he essentially broke down those walls, opting instead to compromise with one of the most evil kings in the Bible -- Ahab. The compromised, diplomatic solution was for Jehoshaphat to marry Ahab's daughter.

• In the midst of their compromised, diplomatic wranglings, Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to battle with him against Ramoth-Gilead.

• Jehoshaphat, still trying to be faithful (in spite of his compromises and sin), asked Ahab if he had any prophets available to foretell the results of such an endeavor.

• Ahab, the king of Northern Kingdom of Israel, trotted out four hundred prophets. They all said, "Go to war. You will be successful."

• Jehoshaphat recognized, however, that Ahab's four hundred prophets might not have been speaking for God, saying, instead, what Ahab wanted to hear. So as politely as he could, Jehoshaphat asked Ahab if he had any other priests of God. Scripture says, "7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah."

• The point of the story is Micaiah's integrity. He said, "As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak."

To wrap up the story,

• Micaiah's advisors told him to make King Ahab happy and agree with the priests of Baal.
• Micaiah, for a moment (and probably sarcastically and maybe wishfully) suggested that Ahab ought to go into battle indeed.
• However, dropping the sacrasm, Micaiah eventually told the truth. He foretold a battle that would lead to Israel's destruction.
• He also said that evil spirits -- through Ahab's prophets -- had been trying to provoke Ahab into this disastrous battle.)
• Some of the other prophets -- like Zedekiah -- slapped Micaiah, "7 When did the Spirit of the LORD leave me to speak to you?"
• They threw Micaiah in prison.
• And Ahab and Jehoshaphat went out to war.
• The enemy specifically trageted the kings.
• God protected Jehoshaphat.
• Ahab was killed.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who only wants to speak God's Word

and only wants to listen to truth