Which Word Do You Listen To?

1 Kings 22:1-40

READ vv. 1-4

1 A NEW ALLIANCE, vv. 1-4

Our text begins with a mention of Syria, again. If you were with us a couple of weeks ago - Back in chapter 20, Syria’s king walked into Israel’s neighbourhood with a gang of 32 other kings and their forces - and tried to bully Ahab into handing over everything he treasured - including his best wives. You’ll remember that Ahab had no business being able to stand up against such an overpowering force .... but God stepped in with miraculous power. Ahab and Israel ended up beating Syria not once, but twice - even though, before the second battle, the Bible tells us that the battle field looked like a massive army on one side (that was Syria) against a couple of little flocks of goats (that was Israel). And just like He does so often in history - including today - God gives His people impossible victories.

The problem is - the story doesn’t have a happy ending. Ahab leaves the king of Syria alive - even though he knows better. He ends up making an agreement with him that involved sparing the King of Syria’s life in exchange for him returning to Israel the territories that he had already stolen from her.

Well, verse 1 tells us that three years have passed since then. On the plus side - there’s been no war between the two nations. On the negative side - the king of Syria hasn’t kept up his end of the bargain. It seems that Ramoth-Gilead, that belonged to Israel - still hasn’t been given back. That’s a big deal - first of all, because a deal is a deal. And second of all - because Ramoth-gilead is an important city. It’s North East of Samaria - across the Jordan River, about 25 miles … and it just happens to sit right on the major highway that connects Arabia to the east and Syria up north. That means all the trade in the area has to pass through that city: every caravan carrying spice or incense or whatever - has to pass through THAT specific … and that means whoever holds that city - gets to collect the tolls on all the traffic passing through. That means lots of money. And that’s a big deal to a king and his economy. It’s kind of like Winnipeg - all the trade from east to west passes through town and you may not want to live there yourself - but if it belongs to your country - you sure do want it back.

Well it just so happens that, while Ahab is stewing about Ramoth-gilead, King Jehoshaphat of Judah comes down from Jerusalem for a visit. Remember, Judah is the other half of what was originally one nation - Israel, that has been split into two: north and south … Israel and Judah. And you notice that v. 2 says that Jehoshaphat came DOWN to the king of Israel - even though he’s coming from the south to the north. You would think that a trip in that direction would be described as him going UP to Israel. Nope. In the Bible, whenever you go FROM Jerusalem TO anywhere else - the trip is described as ‘Going DOWN’ - and that’s not because of physical elevation of the city … it’s because this is where God’s Temple is. This is the place where the LORD chose to dwell, out of all the earth … this is seen, in the OT world - as the CLOSEST place to heaven that you can get on the earth. So King Jehoshaphat COMES DOWN for a visit to his spiritually wayward relative in the north.

Ahab has just been ranting to his aides, in v. 3, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” Then he turns to Jehoshapat and asks him for some help. Verse 4, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” “Will you help me get my city back?”

And even though there doesn’t seem to be anything in the deal for Judah, Jehoshaphat replies (in verse 4): “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses” .... which, translated means, ‘Sure’.

BUT - Jehoshaphat shows that he is a man of God because he adds a condition: v. 5, “Inquire first for the word of the LORD.” We have been following Ahab’s life for the past 6 chapters - since chapter 16. We have never … Ever … not ONCE .... heard this king of Israel ask the LORD for direction before doing anything. That’s telling, isn’t it?

________________________________

2 SEEKING GOD’S GUIDANCE, vv. 6-28

A A WORD THAT CONFIRMS, vv. 6-14

Well, Ahab has never asked the Lord’s direction - but it’s not because he doesn’t have the resources to do it. In fact, v. 6 tells us that all it takes is one snap of the fingers and presto: not just one or two … but a team of four HUNDRED prophets show up - ready to give God’s answer to Ahab. The king of Israel asks: “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?”

Now when you think of seeking God’s direction in your life - a big decision you’re faced with - an uncertain future that you know you don’t want to make a foolish choice - so you go to the Lord - if you’re like me, you expect to take some time. You pray about it, you search God’s word for direction … you pause to listen.

Not these prophets. No sooner does Ahab ask the question, than the answer comes back - at the end of verse 6, “And they said, ‘Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.’”

Wow - that was fast. It was fast - and, if you read the response carefully - it’s also a little vague: “Go up” … that part’s clear. But what about the result? “The Lord (that’s not all-capital leter LORD - that’s not Yahweh) - which Lord are they talking about? And another question is, ‘Which king?’ “Some lord - will give the victory into the hand of some king.” Who knows whether they mean the King of Israel - OR - the King of Syria? Are they telling him to go to battle because Ahab is going to win … OR … because Ahab is going to defeat?’

Well, if we are suspicious when we read the message coming from these prophets - so is Jehoshaphat. Something smells fishy to him. There are so many of these prophets - they are all giving one, quick response .... and … he knows they’re on the payroll of the palace. These guys are getting paid by Ahab and Jehosphaphat doesn’t trust them. So he asks for a second opinion - a 401st opinion, actually.

Verse 7, “But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?”

Ahab’s face falls. Verse 8, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah, the son of Imlah, but I HATE HIM, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.”

Hmmm - - Ahab doesn’t seem to be very concerned about getting at the truth - he seems to judge the messages he hears by what they do for his self-esteem.

“Oh man! You had to ask! There’s one more prophet - Micaiah - but I hate the guy.” Jephthah scolds him and Ahab turns to the attendant standing by his side and with another snap of the fingers, says, v. 9 … “Go and get Micaiah”

The attendant leaves and the two kings wait. Verse 10 describes the scene. READ vv. 10-12

The only place in the city big enough to accomodate the crowd on hand is just outside the city gates, on the large, flat stone slab of the threshing floor, where the people bring their grain at harvest time. See the two kings, dressed in their flowing robes and seated side by side, each on a throne of their own, elevated above the throng below. There is a crowd gathered to watch, as close as they can get and there are, in front of the two of them, 400 prophets - doing their ‘prophesying’ (it’s the same word used for the the prophets of Baal, back in chapter 18, when they were trying to call down fire from Baal. 18:29 says that they were ‘raving’. That’s what’s going on here - minus the slashing themselves). It’s quite the service.

And church is always a blast when Zedekiah is there. Verse 11 tells us that this particular prophet brought along something he had made at home … he had a pair of horns that he had put together at his home forge. He lifts them up, puts them across his forehead and says, ‘Look at me, king - see these horns - I’m a bull. And God says, ‘this is what you’re going to do to the Syrians - gore them like a raging bull.’”

Clearly, Zedekiah was an early member of the creative arts in worship/ interpretive dance team. We don’t do that here, but some churches do. Zedekiah was ahead of his time.

Zedekiah may very well have been thinking about a particular Scripture while he was doing his dance. In Deuteronomy 33:17, Moses is giving his parting blessing to 2 tribes: Ephraim and Manasseh - two tribes that just so happen to be the core of this northern Kingdom in Ahab’s time. Listen to what Moses promises them: “A firstborn bull, he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousand of Ephraim, they are the thousands of Manasseh.”

So Zedekiah probably isn’t just making this up out of thin air - he has a Bible verse that came to mind - so he’s taken it out of its context and he’s applying it here. Zedekiah dances, people cheer and the atmosphere is electric - this is a time of motivation and celebration - like the pre-game routine of a sports team. The people are getting pumped.

Meanwhile, as all of the people are dancing at church … the king’s limousine pulls up outside of Micaiah’s house. READ vv. 13-14. The chauffer goes in to get the prophet and, as he’s walking him back to the car, he says, ‘Hey, just a heads up: ALL of the prophets are on the same page. Everyone there is VERY POSITIVE about the king’s question … if you catch my drift. Just sing from the same song-sheet and don’t make waves. It will make the day go better for everyone.’

Do you see what’s going on here? Ahab and this messenger have the same understanding about God’s word. Ahab hates Micaiah because he never gives the answer he wants to hear and the chauffer is pushing him to go along with the choir and give a positive word. They both think that God’s messenger can change the Word to make the audience feel good about themselves.

Micaiah’s response is immediate and it is firm. Verse 14, “As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak.” In other words: “I don’t make up the message of God’s Word; I can’t spin it - the message is GIVEN and I have to share what’s given to me. I am CAPTIVE TO THE WORD OF GOD.” And I wonder, friend, how many people listening today can say, “That’s how I live”? “God’s Word is Free - I’m not”.

ILLUSTRATION - - Over the years, I have had a number of couples come to me and ask me to perform their wedding.

What about you?

In so many ways, at so many times, don’t you feel that it would be easier to just shape the message? But then when you think about it - the very fact that I don’t control the Word of God means that I can TRUST His Word. Because it comes as a Word from OUTSIDE AND ABOVE - and I can hold on to that.

B - A WORD THAT CONFRONTS, vv. 15-28

When Micaiah arrives at the makeshift throne room on the threshing floor, Ahab motions him closer and puts him under the spotlight. Verse 15, “And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, ‘Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?’ And Micaiah says ....

“And he answered him, ‘God up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.’”

Well, does that answer surprise you? It’s so positive! In fact … a little TOO positive. It’s almost word for word the very message that the 400 yes-men gave to the king. Ahab is surprised - in fact, he’s frustrated - he hears the words and hears the tone and he knows Micaiah - there is no way he means what he’s saying: Vers 16, “But the king said to him, ‘How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

Ha - the king who doesn’t seem to want to hear the true Word of God is now angry because he thinks the prophet isn’t giving him the TRUE word. Ahab doesn’t want to hear God’s Word - but he also doesn’t like to be mocked. And that’s exactly what has just happened.

Micaiah clears his throat and starts to speak the real message he has - and it’s in the form of a vision he shares. READ vv. 17.

“Israel scattered … no shepherd.” That can only mean one thing … that the king is dead. In fact, notice the end of the verse: “These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.” It’s almost as though he’s saying that the people can go home in peace, once the evil king - the master, is dead. This is a hard word Micaiah has spoken.

Ahab turns to Jephthah in agitated exasperation: Verse 18, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

In verses 19-23 Micaiah fills in the details of his vision. READ vv. 19-23

Important. In verses 10-12 the temporary throne room on the threshing floor is described for us, with the two earthly kings on their thrones. Now, Micaiah turns everyones attention to the true throne room - of the universe. There is the LORD, on his heavenly throne … he has declared disaster for Ahab, v. 23 tells us. So how is He going to bring that disaster from heavenly planning session to the earth of history? Well, one spirit steps forward and says, “I’ll do it … I will be a lying spirit in the mouths of all of his prophets.” And God says, “Great idea - go and do it - and I will make sure it succeeds.”

And as soon as we read that, there are HUGE questions in the minds of many: you’re wrestling with the character of God. How can a GOOD and HOLY God look to ENTICE Ahab to do something wrong. How could the God of Truth ever stoop to deceive someone?! Why, that’s sin!” If that’s what you’re struggling with then you’re not alone and it’s good to wrestle with these things in the text, but let me say in response: “IT ISN’T! This isn’t deception and It isn’t sin on God’s part. It can’t be!”

Look at what’s going on here: God gives Micaiah a vision for him to pass on to Ahab - so it’s not trickery. You’re not tricking a person when you tell them up front what you’re going to do … you’ve taken the deception clean away. IN FACT - you have just interpreted the whole day - and the response of all of the prophets - you’ve cleared up any confusion that Ahab may have had .... and you’ve done it while Ahab still has a chance to make up his mind about going to war. This is actually a story of God’s grace to Ahab - warning him of danger ahead.

Except it’s not received as a gift. Micaiah’s message isn’t taken as a message of God’s grace. READ vv. 24-28. No sooner does Micaiah fill in the details of his vision, than Zedekiah puts down his horn hat walks straight up to him and smacks the faithful prophet, right straight across the face. “How did the Spirit of the LORD make his way from me to you? … Because I was speaking in the Spirit first!””

Ahab calls the guards over to put cuffs around Micaiah’s wrists and carry him off to prison. “Put this man on prison rations until I come back in peace to prove him wrong.” And again Micaiah doesn’t miss a beat. Verse 20, “IF you return in peace, then the LORD hasn’t spoken by me.”

See the unwavering faithfulness of this solitary prophet. And do you understand now why he would have started his time with the king by just telling him to go ahead and attack? He did it because he already knew that Ahab wasn’t interested in listening to God’s word. He already had his mind made up. He was beyond the point of changing direction and listening to God’s message was an empty formality.

And that reminds me of so much of the Christian Church today -

PSALM 95 -

3 GOD REVEALS THE UNFAILING TRUTH OF HIS WORD, vv. 29-40

As soon as Micaiah is ‘safely’ locked in jail, v. 29 tells us that the ‘king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah head out for the battle-field. READ vv. 29-38. While this alliance is on the way, the king of Syria prepares his men for the fight ahead. See his strategy in v. 31. He’s told the 32 captains of his chariots to not just fight willy-nilly. This is going to be a battle of precision. “You’ve got one target and one target only,” he says. “Focus on your one target … no small-time enlisted men; no generals … your ONLY target is the king of Israel.”

Now that’s a big problem when it comes to God’s word, through Micaiah, being fulfilled because Ahab has a plan of his own. In v. 30 - he tells Jehoshaphat - you wear your royal robes into battle - I’m going to get changed into something a little less … conspicuous. That’s interesting - Ahab doesn’t trust God’s Word. He doesn’t have any intention of OBEYING God’s Word … but He DOES have a little bit of fear about God’s Word being true.

And this change could spell disaster for God’s plan. Because Ahab doesn’t even recognize the plan of Syria’s king to go straight for the king. Jehoshaphat certainly doesn’t know the plan .... otherwise he wouldn’t be dressed like he is. But even not knowing the enemy’s plan - doesn’t it strike you as strange that the king would step off of the throne in his royal robes … and then jump into a wide-open chariot, with the same robes - and head into battle? Could you be any more conspicuous?! It’s like wearing a red shirt into an arena where a raging bull is just waiting for you. This is suicide.

We read it and we want to shout, “Don’t do it, Jephthah! You want to follow God, but you’re riding into a trap!!’ Jehoshaphat does exactly as Ahab suggests. So Jephthah has prepared about as poorly as he could, Ahab and the king of Syria have both prepared about as well as they could … and it looks like God’s word is going to return to Micaiah’s mouth … empty. And you wonder: “Did God see this coming? Is He going to be caught off guard?”

Sure enough, v. 32, when the Syrians see Jehoshaphat, they think, “Hey - there’s a king … there’s AHAB!” And they set out in hot pursuit. Jehoshaphat cries out - the enemy soliders realize it’s not their target, so they leave Judah’s king alone. Well, at least he’s safe, but still - it seems like God’s word is going to fail. Because Ahab is disguised - nobody can tell who he is - and finding him in the middle of his whole army … why, that’s like finding a needle in a haystack - while the haystack is trying to kill you!”

Oh, but not so fast. Verses 34-35, there is one man, “A certain man drew his bow AT RANDOM ...”. He pulls back the string and lets the arrow fly into nowhere in particular - just the vicinity of a crowd of enemy forces within shooting distance.

… And, out of the all of the soldiers from Israel and from Judah … this arrow just happens to strike one, single, enemy combatant … which just happnes to be … Ahab, king of Israel.

And not only does it it hit him … but it turns out Ahab is wearing armour - not only disguised but protected - smart man. But the arrow finds its way, right into the tiny gap between his scale armour and his breastplate. It would take massive practice to hit such a perfect shot! Add to that the fact that the archer didn’t even know where the king was … and you have one conclusion and one logical conclusion to take from this battle and the point is this: The Word of God, just like this archer’s arrow .... ALWAYS hits its mark … no matter how great the odds are against it!

The arrow finds its mark in Ahab, he tells the driver of his chariot to get him out of the battle. And spends the rest of the day, propped up in the chariot, facing the fight and then, to falls, he breathes his last and the king of Israel … dies.

Now before Micaiah got thrown in jail - he declared God’s message, in v. 17, that the army on the field, like sheep, would go home in peace after the shepherd was gone. Ahab said, ‘No way, I’m coming back to your jail cell … ‘in peace’ after I win the battle.

Well, Ahab is dead and v. 36, “… About sunset a cry went through the army, ‘Every man to his city and every man to his country!’” And the soldiers go home … in peace.

So at the end of the day - who’s word stands firm?

And there’s more: After the death of Naboth - when Jezebel had the innocent man murdered in chapter 21 for not selling his vineyard to Ahab … remember what Elijah promised? It was another word from the LORD. Chapter 21:19 - God’s prophet said that even though the dogs were licking up poor Naboth’s blood from the ground - and Ahab was thinking he got away with the perfect crime … well, he better not get too excited comfortable in his new garden .... because he was going to take Naboth’s place: the dogs were coming for his blood too.

Now look at vv. 38-39, “And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken. Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and teh ivory house that he built an all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?”

The Word of God defines reality and is the one unfailing guide to truth.

So don’t be an Ahab - don’t think you know