Jehoshaphat did not condemn Ahab’s false prophets, as he should have done, for when we have chosen the company of the world we have to be careful not to offend! Surely the world of today is the same as it was in Ahab’s day; it does not want the truth. Jehoshaphat said in an inoffensive way, “Is there not here a prophet of the Lard besides, that we may inquire of him?” Ahab answered, “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.” Jehoshaphat knew at once that this was the right man — a true prophet of the Lord but again he felt he must speak carefully, in on unoffending manner, and so he replied, “Let not the king say so.” Poor Ahab’s wicked heart came out when he said, “I hate him,” for the world hates the truth of God and those who speak it.
Let us notice here that Micaiah did not mix his testimony with that of the four hundred prophets of Ahab. He was not like many an evangelist today who keeps in favor with the modernists as well as the fundamentalists, and stands with both. No, he was a separate man, even in his testimony. Is this not a lesson for us in our day of worldly association among the true children of God?
Ahab then sent a messenger to get Micaiah. There were the two kings, Ahab and Jehoshaphat, dressed in their grand robes, sitting on their thrones with the prophets prophesying before them. What a picture of present day religion which has so much outward show; but the true testimony of God is not of this character.
The messenger who was sent to get Micaiah told him that the prophets of Ahab were speaking good with one consent. He said they were all agreed in their testimony and suggested that Micaiah should speak the same. Why make himself unpopular? Why not please the crowd? Micaiah replied, “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.” When Macaiah came to this great religious concourse, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?” It would appear that perhaps even Micaiah was overcome by this impressive gathering, and by the presence of Jehoshaphat among them, for he replied, “Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” Strange to say, however, even this message did not, set Ahab’s gulity conscience at rest. He expected a faithful testimony from Macaiah, just as the world expects a faithful testimony from the separate Christian. They are surprised when we take the place of men pleasers, as alas we do at times. They hate the truth, and yet expect to hear it from us, as Ahab expected it from Micaiah. Thus Ahab said to him, “How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?”
Micaiah then spoke up faithfully and told the king of this coming defeat and death, and of how Israel would be left without a king that day. Ahab then turned to poor, uncomfortable Jehoshaphat and said, “Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?” How ashamed Jehoshaphat must have felt! What a terrible thing is the fear of man and yet how real it is when we choose the company of the ungodly world instead of the path of obedience.
ML 08/19/1956