And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 1 Kings 22:14
Micaiah prophesies against Ahab: 22:1-39. Ahab makes a treaty with Judah against the Aramaeans. False prophets promise victory, but Jehoshaphat of Judah insists on asking “a prophet of the Lord.” Micaiah is called by Ahab, and at first gives a sarcastic response (15). The tone is un mistakable, and Ahab angrily demands to know what God really says (16). Micaiah tells him. Israel will lose the battle, and Ahab will be killed.
7 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” 8 So 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.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”
13 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “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.” 14 And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”… 17 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.’ “
Micaiah also reveals that “a lying spirit from the Lord” has deceived Ahab’s prophets. The OT teaching on angels
and fallen angels makes it clear that even Satan is subject to God. The implication in I Kings is that a fallen angel (e.g., a “lying spirit”) volunteers to deceive Ahab’s prophets, and is permitted to do so by the Lord.
23 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.” 24 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?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!” 26 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; 27 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.” ‘ ” 28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”
Micaiah’s words are from the Lord. In the battle Ahab is killed, and thus the reign of one of the most evil men produced in Israel comes to an end.
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken.
1 Kings 22:41-50 / 2 Chronicles 17:1-21:3. Jehoshaphat of Judah (872-848 B.C.)
Johoshaphat is the second good king of Judah. He battles the penetration of Baal worship in Judah, and sends Levites on itinerant preaching missions to communicate God’s law to all. His own faith is shown when Judah is invaded by enemies.
43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. … 46 And the rest of the perverted persons, who remained in the days of his father Asa, he banished from the land.
Jehoshaphat builds a strong army and fortifies many cities. He also revises the legal/judicial system, to fit that ordained in the Mosaic law (cf. 2 Chron. 19:4-11 with Deut. 16:18-20).
His primary errors are to make alliances with Israel, none of which prospered. He even marries his son Jehoram to one of Ahab’s daughters, who is as evil as her mother Jezebel.
1 Kings 22:51-53, Ahaziah of Israel (853-852 B.C.)
The son of Ahab succeeds him, but rules only two years.
52 He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; 53 for he served Baal and worshiped him, and provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done.
[Study] The time of the divided kingdom saw extensive prophetic activity. Read through 1 Kings 12-22, and make a list of all the prophets mentioned. Then record whom they were sent to, and the nature of their missions. How were their messages received? From these chapters, what can you conclude about the nature and role of prophetic ministry in OT times?
