Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of my Sunday School lesson commentary and preview. This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Micaiah: Speaking Truth To Power” and is found in 1 Kings 22:15-23, 26-28.
Micaiah is one of those Old Testament prophets that not much is known about or written about. He appears in the Book of 1 Kings and in 2 Chronicles 18. In both cases, it gives the account of an inquiry by King Ahab of the Northern kingdom and King Jehoshaphat of the Southern kingdom of the prophets in the North as to whether they go to war against a king Ahab had already defeated twice before.
Ahab invited Jehoshaphat to join him in a campaign against a neighboring king to his north, Ben-hadad of Aram in Syria, who had taken and fortified the city from Ahab’s father Omri. Jehoshaphat’s son had married Ahab’s daughter which may account at least in part for Ahab asking Jehoshaphat to join him in war and Jehoshaphat agreeing.
While Ahab is described as a king which did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, Jehoshaphat is described as one who “walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD”. And while He fell short in some areas, by and large he was a king who feared the Lord.
So before going to battle, Jehoshaphat wanted to know what the Lord had to say about it. First Ahab called upon the 400 prophets he consulted and all of them said God will give him the victory and deliver Ben-hadad into his hands. But Jehoshaphat was not satisfied with them because they didn’t prophesy in the name of Yahweh, God of Israel.
So Jehoshaphat asked if he had a prophet who could do that. Ahab reluctantly admitted there was one, but that he didn’t like him because of what he had to say. This is where we finally meet Micaiah.
At first when asked the question of whether they should go to war, Micaiah repeats what the others prophets had said in such a way that had to let the king detect it was not the true word of the Lord. When he insisted he tell the truth, he told him it would be a disaster to go up against Ben-hadad. Furthermore, he told him that Yahweh had sent lying spirits to his prophets which he would believe and die after heeding their voice.
Not everyone is willing to tell those in power and authority something they don’t want to hear. Just as then, people now often surround themselves with others who will only say to them what they want to hear.
Today, most people don’t want to hear what God requires of them or be reminded of their sinful lives. They want to be told what they are doing is alright, just like Ahab. And because Ahab didn’t listen to the truth, but what he wanted to hear, he died from a wound sustained in battle and the dogs licked his blood as the prophet Elijah had said (1 Kings 21:19).
As so shall it be to all who have “itching ears” who go from church to church and preacher to preacher until they find someone who will overlook and allow them to feel comfortable in their sin.
Today, we are all called to speak “truth to power”. The power of pressure to conform to the expectations and practices of the culture we find ourselves in who want to define for themselves what is wrong or right, what is good or evil or even if there be any such thing.
Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday. Invite someone to come and share your thoughts with the class. Sunday School at Flag Branch will begin at 9:00 am and you are invited to join us at www.fbmbc.org and clicking the online services link.
You and others can also join us by dialing 508 924-2890. If you have any comments or questions before then, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview and I will get back to you. So, as always remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
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