The Prophet of God, Micaiah stands alone

                                                                    1 Kings 22:10-20

 

August 3, 2021

 

 

 

Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them.   Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these, you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”

All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”  The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.  ” But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”  When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”  “Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.” The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”  Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”  The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”  Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left.  And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

 

Patrick Morley has written a book on “The Four Voices”; taking control of the conversation in your head.  I cannot put myself in Micaiah's place for I am not in the prophet business, but I can tell you that if you believe the Scriptures and do what they instructed you to do, you will often find yourself standing alone in the crowd.  The apostle and  Jesus tell us that a time will come when those who follow Christ will be persecuted.  

 

At the time of this word from the apostle, Paul was in prison in Rome, and he is feeling rejected.  But it was Christ who gave Paul this victory; “We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Cor. 4:8-10).

 

As stated, Micaiah was the odd man in this group of what I refer to as hired hands, if your pastor is your employee, fire him and find a man who cannot be bought, who does not fear you but does fear God.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice