Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on 1 Kings 22:1-29.
And the
king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, 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. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king
say so (1 Kings 22:8).
Ahab’s description of Micaiah recalls his
interactions with the better-known Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 18:17-18; 21:20).
Some kings only want to surround themselves with “Yes-men.” Ahab only wanted
prophets who could give him good news, confirm him in his own desires. He did
not want a prophetic minister who would bring the word of the Lord to rebuke
him, exhort him, admonish him.
There are parallels between this account of
Micaiah son of Imlah and the ministry of Jeremiah which took place in later
generations. Jeremiah will say of the false prophets of his day: “They have
healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace,
peace; when there is no peace” (Jer 6:14). Paul, likewise, will write to
Timothy with a similar warning: “For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears” (2 Tim 4:3).
Just think of how silly that is? What if you went
to your physician to have a physical, but you told him ahead of time, I only
want you to give me a good report. If you find a tumor or an irregular heart
beat or high blood pressure, just ignore that and tell me I’m fine.
Wouldn’t you want your physician to tell you the
truth? What about your spiritual physician?
Grace and
peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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