1 KINGS LESSON 28
We will begin this lesson in I Kings 22:1 "And they continued
three years without war between Syria and Israel."
This peaceful time began immediately after the second war with
Ben-hadad.
I Kings 22:2 And it came to pass in the third year, that
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was a good king. There had not been good relations
between Israel and Judah, since the break of the twelve tribes into
Judah and Israel. Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, had married the
daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, though. We know from that, there was
some communication between the two. Now, we see the king of Judah
coming to meet with the king of Israel. One sure thing was, that Syria
was their mutual enemy.
I Kings 22:3 "And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know
ye that Ramoth in Gilead [is] ours, and we [be] still, [and] take it
not out of the hand of the king of Syria?"
The king of Israel that Jehoshaphat went to see was Ahab. We
find, from this, that Ben-hadad had not kept his word. He was still
holding Ramoth of Gilead, which he had promised to give to Israel. We
see that Ahab does not have confidence that his troops alone, without
the help of God, could take the city back. He not only wants the
troops of Judah to help him, but Judah's God.
I Kings 22:4 "And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me
to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of
Israel, I [am] as thou [art], my people as thy people, my horses as
thy horses."
He could have answered no, but he, probably, did not like Syria
holding a town so close to his own territory. Jehoshaphat jumps in
quickly by saying, that what is his is, also, Ahab's.
I Kings 22:5 "And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel,
Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day."
It is interesting that Jehoshaphat waited to call the prophets
in, until after he had promised to help Ahab. Why did Jehoshaphat not
ask his prophets? It is a credit to Jehoshaphat, that he wanted to
inquire of the Word of the LORD.
I Kings 22:6 "Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets
together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go
against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go
up; for the Lord shall deliver [it] into the hand of the king."
These 400 prophets could have been the prophets of Astarte, but I
would assume these are prophets of the LORD, even if they had been the
ones who practiced calf worship mingled with worship of God.
I Kings 22:7 "And Jehoshaphat said, [Is there] not here a prophet
of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?"
Jehoshaphat, for some reason, did not trust the 400 prophets. He
senses that these prophets are not in good standing with God.
I Kings 22:8 "And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
[There is] yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may
inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good
concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say
so."
"Micaiah" means who is Jehovah. There are several things we must
see in this. Jehoshaphat did not trust the message of the 400
prophets. Ahab hated Micaiah. Micaiah was a prophet who told the
truth, and he had nothing good to say about Ahab.
I Kings 22:9 "Then the king of Israel called an officer, and
said, Hasten [hither] Micaiah the son of Imlah."
Ahab felt he needed the help of Jehoshapat so badly, that he
would chance a bad report from him. He sends for him to come to the
palace.
I Kings 22:10 "And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of
Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void
place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets
prophesied before them."
These were their robes of authority as kings of their people. It
is interesting that Jehoshaphat sat on his own throne. It was,
possibly, a portable throne, carried with his for just such an
occasion. The 400 prophesied, even as they sent for Micaiah.
I Kings 22:11 "And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns
of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push
the Syrians, until thou have consumed them."
"Zedekiah" means Justice of Jehovah. The name lets us know that
these were not prophets of Astarte. "Horns" denote power. The fact
they were made of iron, means they are almost unbreakable.
I Kings 22:12 "And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up
to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver [it] into
the king's hand."
It seems, all 400 prophets agreed that they should attack Syria
and take Ramoth-gilead. They are promising the blessings of the LORD
on the army of Israel and the army of Judah.
I Kings 22:13 "And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah
spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets
[declare] good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray
thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak [that which is]
good."
Not only had Ahab sent for him to come and prophesy, but the
messenger is trying to tell Micaiah what to say. He would not be a
true prophet, if he prophesied what the king wanted to hear. He would
have to speak the Words the LORD put into his mouth.
I Kings 22:14 "And Micaiah said, [As] the LORD liveth, what the
LORD saith unto me, that will I speak."
Micaiah would go, but he would say exactly what God tells him to
say.
I Kings 22:15 "So he came to the king. And the king said unto
him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we
forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall
deliver [it] into the hand of the king."
The king asked the same question of Micaiah, that he did of the
other prophets, and got the same answer the other prophets had given.
So far, it seems there is no reason why the kings should not proceed.
I Kings 22:16 "And the king said unto him, How many times shall I
adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but [that which is] true in the
name of the LORD?"
This is the reply the king gives to Micaiah. He wants the
absolute truth from the LORD.
I Kings 22:17 "And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the
hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These
have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace."
Micaiah had not given this part of the prophecy, until he was
pressed by king Ahab. Now, he speaks that the soldiers who were sent
to battle will live, but the king will die and leave them with no
leader. They will return to their homes, because they have no leader.
I Kings 22:18 "And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did
I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but
evil?"
The king of Israel, these verses keep referring to, is speaking
of Ahab. Ahab knew that he had displeased God. He could expect nothing
more than what the prophet had said, if he is a true prophet.
I Kings 22:19 "And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the
LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven
standing by him on his right hand and on his left."
This is Micaiah speaking on. He says, let me tell you even more.
This is a statement from the prophet, that it is truly the LORD who is
the King of all the earth and the heavens. It is His will that is
done. Those standing around Him are subject to do whatever He wishes.
I Kings 22:20 "And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that
he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner,
and another said on that manner." I Kings 22:21 "And there came forth
a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him."
This is the vision that Micaiah had of what goes on in the
heavenlies. The LORD dispatches a spirit to go, and persuade Ahab to
go to the battle at Ramoth-gilead, and fall there.
I Kings 22:22 "And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he
said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of
all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade [him], and prevail
also: go forth, and do so." I Kings 22:23 "Now therefore, behold,
the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy
prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."
In a sense, he is accusing the 400 prophets, first brought before
Ahab, to be lying. He explains that the LORD, Himself, sent the lying
spirit to deceive even the prophets. They have given the message sent
from the throne of the LORD, but it is placed in their mouths by the
lying prophet.
I Kings 22:24 "But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and
smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the spirit of the
LORD from me to speak unto thee?"
Now, Zedekiah is accusing Micaiah of lying. He strikes him on the
face, to show his disgust for his prophecy.
I Kings 22:25 "And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that
day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself."
This is a true statement. Time will prove which of the prophets
are telling the truth. Zedekiah will hide in an inner chamber when he
discovers that Micaiah' prophecy is true.
I Kings 22:26 "And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and
carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the
king's son;" I Kings 22:27 "And say, Thus saith the king, Put this
[fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with
water of affliction, until I come in peace." I Kings 22:28 "And
Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken
by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you."
A prophet had a rough life, if he told the truth. Many times, the
message for the king was not what he wanted to hear and he punished
the prophet. In this particular case, they put him in prison and gave
him nothing but bread and water. Ahab had believed a lie, and would go
to war. He believes he will come back successful, so he says, "until I
come in peace". If Ahab returns, Micaiah is a false prophet.
1 Kings 28 Questions
1. How long does verse 1 say, that Israel and Syria continued without
war?
2. When had this peaceful time begun?
3. What kind of king was Jehoshaphat?
4. Who had married the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel?
5. Who did the king of Judah go to see?
6. What city did Syria still have, that was to have been Israel's?
7. What did Ahab ask Jehoshaphat to help him do?
8. How did Jehoshaphat answer him?
9. What did he ask the king of Israel to do?
10. How many prophets came?
11. Was Jehoshaphat satisfied with their prophecy?
12. Who was the lone prophet sent for next?
13. Why had Ahab not called him with the first group?
14. Where did the kings receive the prophets' messages?
15. Which prophet made the horns of iron?
16. What does "Zedekiah" mean?
17. What did all the prophets tell the kings to do?
18. What did the messenger to Micaiah try to get him to agree to do?
19. What was his response?
20. What vision did Micaiah have of heaven?
21. Who sent the lying spirit?
22. What did Zedekiah do to Micaiah, after he told his vision?
23. What did Ahab have done to Micaiah?
24. If a prophet told the truth, he had a ________ life.
25. If Ahab returns, Micaiah is a __________ prophet.
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