Ever had to make an important decision and needed wise counsel? I know that I have needed it and went looking for it. It is wise to take care of who you’re listening to and what is being said. Here is an illustration.
In 1 King 22, Jehoshaphat has gone to King Ahab to discuss an important military matter. He wanted help in retaking a citing that rightfully belonged to them. Before rushing off, Jehoshaphat suggested they’d seek the counsel of God: (1 King 22:1-5):
1 Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. 2 In the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 Now the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”
5 Moreover, Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”
The taking of a city is not an easy task, even by today’s standard. Jehoshaphat is wise to seek God of Israel on this matter. At first, King Ahab inquired of the court prophets and here’s what happened (1 King 22:6-12):
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?” 8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made horns of iron for himself and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are consumed.’” 12 All the prophets were prophesying thus, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.
King Jehoshaphat was not going to listen to these guys. For one thing, they were not prophets belonging to God, Almighty. Secondly, everyone spoke favorably of the coming military endeavor. One man thought he heard from God of Israel and proceeded to make declarations about what would happen. There is just one problem; they were deceived.
It was not long before Micaiah showed up. He was a godly man who spoke what the Father has given him; rather then what sounds good or popular. Micaiah was not someone who gives in to peer pressure. According to King Ahab, the man never spoke anything positive about him.
Let me ask you this question. Would you prefer a man who spoke the truth, in a loving and right fashion? What if the truth is negative? Contrary to popular myth, it’s not wrong to say something negative; if done in a loving fashion.
If I was in King Jehoshaphat’s shoes, I’d prefer a man like Micaiah over Ahab’s court prophets. For Micaiah will tell the truth; even though I may not like it. This is in sharp contrast Ahab’s court prophets. They never confronted King Ahab about his sins. They only spoke what’s favorable and pleasing to him.
There is more to this story than what I have shared in this blog post. The rest can be found in 1 King 22:13-28. It is worth noting that the court prophets were under the influence of a deceiving spirit. What was this spirit’s goal? It was the destruction of King Ahab.
Hence, it is important to listen more to what God, the Father is saying through His Spirit rather than listening to what others are saying. The Father cares about you and will help you in dealing with your mess. You can trust God, to reveal what’s true and what’s false.
Are you willing to listen to God, the Father?
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What a well written and timely post…we live in a world where it is “your truth” and “my truth” rather than THE TRUTH…and we seem content to let it remain that way. How we need to be reminded that there is OBJECTIVE truth and that, through all the other voices out there, it can easily be drowned out. “The Holy Spirit is a gentleman” as they say, and will not force Himself upon us. But it pays to listen.