Focus Chapters:
- 1 Kings 22:10-28
- 2 Chronicles 18:9-27
- 1 Kings 22:29-35
- 2 Chronicles 18:28-34
- 1 Kings 22:36-40
- 1 Kings 22:51-53
- 2 Chronicles 19
- 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
Standout Verse(s):
THE ACTION
1 Kings 22:10-13 NLT
King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them. One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”
All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”
Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”
THE REACTION
2 Kings 22:14-18 NLT
But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.”
When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?”
Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for the Lordwill give the king victory!”
But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?”
Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’”
“Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
Observation (s):
- Before two kings, the majority prophesied that the kings would win their battle.
King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them. One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”
All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”
- Micaiah was pressured to agree with the majority.
Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”
- Despite the peer pressure, Micaiah choose to speak as the Lord directed, going against the majority.
Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’”
“Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
Application:
Sometimes I hestitate to speak up, when directed by the Lord. This situation worsens expecially when I am in a crowd and the majority is swaying in the opposite direction of that of which I am being led. I struggle because of my fear of standing out and being made to look foolish.
When Micaiah is faced with a similar situation, he reacts differently. Micaiah stood before two kings and men who were said to be prophets. Despite all this, he chose to stand up and speak as the Lord directed. The majority declared that the kings would win the victory but Micaiah spoke as directed by God, declaring otherwise. Despite peer pressure, he delivered negative news when the majority delivered positive!
Will you speak as the Lord directs even if it means going against the majority?
2 Responses
Lord help me to do and say according to your will and not go with the majority against your will….Amen!!
Amen!