King Ahab is one of the most interesting kings of the Old Testament. He was, on one hand, a strong soldier, capable of ruling as king, able to identify sin, and even repent. On the other hand, he was weak, selfish, and made some very unwise decisions. His biggest mistake was in marrying Jezebel and allowing her to bring idol worship to God’s people. He is called the most wicked king of Israel.
Syria was one of the enemies of Israel, but the two nations had been at peace for three years. Ben-hadad, king of Syria, had taken the city of Ramoth Gilead in battle; but he had promised to return it to Israel (First Kings 20:34). Ramoth was a city of refuge, one of six cities available for the protection of those who had unintentionally caused the death of another person.
Ahab approached Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, and requested his help in going into battle to take Ramoth. Jehoshaphat agreed, but he thought they should inquire of the Lord if this was a good idea. Ahab called together a group of prophets, 400 of them, and asked their advice. They said the Lord would be with them. These men were not true prophets of God. Jehoshaphat then wanted to know if there was not a prophet of the Lord besides these from whom they might get an answer to their question. Ahab informed him that there was a man of whom they could inquire, but Ahab said he hated this man. He said this prophet never prophesied anything good about him. Jehoshaphat wanted his opinion.
The two kings sat on their thrones, and Micaiah was brought to them. The messenger sent to get him informed him that the other prophets had prophesied good to King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat. He told Micaiah that his answer should be the same. Micaiah said that he would speak only what the Lord told him to say.
When he approached the kings, the other prophets told them the Lord would deliver Syria into their hands. Micaiah told them to go, for the Lord would deliver the city to them. He must have said this in a mocking tone because he knew that Ahab was not going to listen to him. Ahab’s response seemed to show that he wanted to discredit Micaiah. Micaiah was not affected by Ahab’s attitude, and he continued by telling him, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd” (First Kings 22:17 ESV). Micaiah’s reward for his vision from the Lord was prison with limited food and water. Ahab and Jehoshaphat went off to war against the warning of Micaiah.
In the end, Ahab was killed in battle. Jehoshaphat was later reproved by Jehu, a prophet of God. This came about because, as Jehu put it, he helped the ungodly and loved them that hate the Lord (Second Chronicles 19:2).
Jehoshaphat was condemned for supporting the ungodly. He believed prophets that were not true prophets of God. He saw the terrible treatment of Micaiah. He went into battle in a disguise that could have caused his own death. Though he asked for the support of the Lord, he accepted false assurances and disavowed the true message from God.
The apostle John spoke of this idea in his second epistle. He was writing about deceivers and warning the people to watch out for such individuals. He says, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (Second John 10-11 KJV).
If there was ever a time when we need to not keep silent when error is taught, it is now. We can’t be a people that sits silently by while those around us call evil good and good evil. If we do, we are bidding them God speed; and we are as guilty as they.
Sandra Oliver