Chapter 179. 2 Chron. 18:1-27.
WHEN Jehoshaphat had become rich and powerful, he forgot, to some extent, what was due to the Lord, and made an alliance with Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, and went down to Samaria to make him a visit. Ahab was very glad to see him, and made a great feast for his royal guest. He had a large number of sheep and oxen killed and roasted for Jehoshaphat and the people that were with him, not because Ahab thought so much of him, but for what advantage he might gain from so rich and great a friend. They had not been together very long when Ahab proposed that Jehoshaphat go with him to fight against the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead and take this city, which belonged to the Israelites, but had fallen into the hands of the Syrians. The king of Judah was very willing to go. “I am as thou art,” said he, “my people as thy people, we will be with thee in the war.” Was this right? Jehoshaphat was a servant of God and Ahab a wicked idolater. Should God’s people choose their friends among Satan’s slaves and to love their company?
Jehoshaphat did not, however, like to go to battle without asking God’s mind about it. He wished Ahab to ask the prophets to tell them the word of the Lord. There were many wicked prophets of Baal in Israel then. Ahab called them all together (there were about four hundred of them) and asked, “Shall I go to Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” They all answered, “Yes, go. God will give the city into thy hand.” But Jehoshaphat feared that these wicked prophets were deceiving Ahab, and inquired whether there was not a prophet of the Lord to inquire of him. The king of Israel replied, “There is yet one man, by whom we might inquire of the Lord; but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil; his name is Micaiah, the son of Imla.” But Jehoshaphat still wished to see Micaiah and Ahab sent a messenger to call him.
When the messenger came to Micaiah he said, “The prophets have all declared good to the king, therefore let thy word be like theirs, and speak thou good also.” But Micaiah answered, “I shall speak the truth which God tells me to speak.” Micaiah was not afraid of Ahab’s anger, but he was very much afraid of displeasing God by speaking lies and deceit. May the Lord give every one of His own to do the same!
The two kings were sitting upon their thrones dressed in gorgeous robes, in a place that had been cleared for them at the entrance of the gates of Samaria. Before them stood the prophets of Baal, prophesying “Go to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper, for the Lord shall deliver it into the king’s hand.” One of the prophets, name Zedekiah, had made himself horns of iron, and stood with them prophesying, “Thus saith the Lord, with these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.”
When Micaiah came, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go up to Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?” Micaiah began to tell Ahab of the fearful message God had sent to him.
“I saw a vision, the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the holy angels standing around Him. The Lord asked who would go to tempt Ahab to go to Ramoth-Gilead that he might fall and die there. A wicked spirit came and said, I will tempt Ahab to go to Ramoth-Gilead, I will teach his prophets to lie and deceive him, and they shall persuade him to go. Then God told the wicked spirit to go and do as he had said.”
Then Micaiah turned to Ahab and continued, “These lying prophets who stand around are those whom the wicked spirit has taught to deceive. They are tempting thee to go to the battle and thou shalt fall and die there, for God Himself has spoken evil against thee.”
Zedekiah, the prophet, with the iron horns, was standing by Micaiah as this man of God was boldly testifying the truth. He became very angry, and struck Micaiah, saying, “Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak to thee?” Micaiah answered, “Behold, thou shalt see on the day when thou shalt go to an inner chamber to hide thyself.”
Ahab commanded his servants to take away Micaiah and put him in prison, feeding him on bread and water till his return in peace. But Micaiah said, “Thou shalt never return in peace again,” and called the people to be witnesses to it.
Like Ahab, thousands are being deceived by evil spirits sent by Satan, and made to believe all is peace and safety for them, that they do not need a Saviour, that they have never done any harm; that there is plenty of time, for they will not die for a long time to come. I trust none of my readers will be so blind as to believe these things, but that God will open their eyes, and see their real lost condition before God, if yet in their sins.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
ML 06/10/1917