1 Kings Chapter 22
Three years before the incidents in this chapter, upon hearing the condemnation the Elijah had pronounced upon him, Ahab mourned his imminent death.
He humbled himself enough that God then said He would not bring the pronounced calamity in his days (21:29). Yet, within just three years, he would go on to disregard the severity of God’s words once again.
When Ahab was visited by Jehoshaphat, he raised the issue of Syria wrongfully ruling Ramoth in Gilead. Jehoshaphat, doing what was right in God’s eyes (22:43) as always, requested to inquire for God’s word. In response, Ahab brought in 400 prophets. All of them were presumably known to him to be servile (“prophets of yours” 22:23), since he deliberately left out Micaiah, whom, in his own words, he hated for prophesying evil concerning himself.
In fact, there seemed to be a culture for the prophets to speak (only) encouragement to the king. One even came prepared with props (22:11) for his acting before the king.
When asked the first time, Micaiah encouraged Ahab as his messenger requested (22:13, 15).
Yet, Ahab knew in the back of his mind that that was not the true word of God (22:16), and that the true word of God to him was evil (22:18). Still, he believed his prophets’ words, because God has declared disaster against him (22:23).
Indeed, Ahab would put on a disguise that failed to protect him, and die due to his battle wounds.
For us today, is the word of God attractive and comforting only when it concerns God’s grace and mercy?
Do we find warnings in the Bible to flee from sin annoying?
Do we ignore God’s word when it makes us uncomfortable by warning us of eternal punishment?
Let us humbly receive God’s word, for those who do so shall be blessed with eternal life.
