Reading Passage: 2 Chron 18
Micah said, “As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” 2 Chron 18:13
Jehoshaphat, the Judean king, entered into a matrimonial alliance with Ahab, the king of Israel. Ahab wanted Jehoshaphat to go with him against the Syrians in war. He was ready to go, but fearing God, he said, “only after God’s consent!” The easiest way was to ask a prophet.
“That’s not a problem”, Ahab said “I have 400 of them in my custody.” “Go up; for God will give it into your hands,” said all the prophets! Jehoshaphat, however, doubted their integrity. “Is there not here another prophet of the LORD?” He asked. “There is a guy, but I hate him… He always speaks against my desires. So, I don’t entertain him these days,” said Ahab.
What a pity! The king expected the prophet to sanction all his wild desires.
Prophet Micaiah, the rebel in Ahab’s sight, was finally summoned. Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” “Why, Micaiah? Why can’t you be just one among the other 400?” The king’s messenger asked him and said, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”
A prophet is a messenger of God. He speaks on behalf of God! Who decides the content of the message? It is neither the messenger, nor the one who is addressed to. It is the author of the message… God himself!
The voice of Micaiah was an isolated one. He was not in for a compromise. However, there were 400 prophets, who prophesied “in the name of the Lord” (v.10) and ready for a compromise. “Oh Micaiah, prophesy the truth. Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead?” asked the king. “What did your official prophets say? Why don’t you hear their voice and go?” Micaiah mocked at the king. ”What they said is their truth or your truth. But I tell you ‘the’ Truth. Israel is going to become a shepherdless sheep. You are willing to go die in this battle.” Micaiah was thrown into prison for his uncompromising words, but what he spoke was God’s truth. King Ahab died as he prophesied.
Prayer: Lord help me to stand uncompromising for your truth, even when I need to suffer for it.
