I've been working on reading strait through the Bible for some time now, and I am pleased to announce that I have made it all the way to 2 Kings (bows to thunderous applause). Yes, I know, I still have a ways to go, but at least I made it through the books of the law! Anyway, no, I am not the unsung hero I mentioned in my title :-). I was referring to a prophet mentioned in the last chapter of 1 Kings. His name is Micaiah, and as far as I know, he is mentioned no where else in the Old Testament. What makes him a hero? Well, let me share with you a condensed version of his story.
This story begins when Ahab, king of Israel, suddenly realizes that Ramoth in Gilead rightfully belongs to his people, and yet they hesitate to take it. Well, this can't be right, so he calls Israel to prepare for battle. Then he asks Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, if he will back him up as well. Jehoshaphat's response is mostly favorable, but he insists that prophets be summoned to inquire of the Lord as to whether or not they will succeed. This seems fair enough, so Ahab calls on several prophets, 400 to be exact, and they all tell him to go to battle because God will deliver his enemies into his hand.
That seemed to be good enough. 400 men telling him to go for it, but King Jehoshaphat still was not satisfied.
"Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?" he asks skeptically(verse 7).
The king of Israel finally admits that there is one other prophet, but, to put it in his own eloquent words, "I hate him." (verse 8).
Are you shocked that a king would say such a thing? Well, so was Jehoshaphat.
"Let not the king say such things!" he scolded, and in the end, Micaiah the prophet was sent for, despite the king's insisting that the man never had a good word to say concerning the him.
Now Micaiah is an honest man. Very honest. As he is on his way to meet with the kings, the messenger tells him that everyone else has encouraged the king to go into battle, and that he would be wise to do the same. This is where the lesson comes in. Here Micaiah is faced with two conflicting possibilities. Possibility #1 says to lie to the king and go on his merry way. Possibility #2 says to tell the truth and risk the king's sudden wrath, which has proved rather deadly in the past. Which path will he take? Which path would you take? To find the end of this story, you can either read 1 Kings 22, or you can read part 2 of this post coming soon. Why? Number 1, I like to leave people in suspense, and number 2, my typing fingers are getting really tired:-). Until then, take care!
posted by Lydia
This story begins when Ahab, king of Israel, suddenly realizes that Ramoth in Gilead rightfully belongs to his people, and yet they hesitate to take it. Well, this can't be right, so he calls Israel to prepare for battle. Then he asks Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, if he will back him up as well. Jehoshaphat's response is mostly favorable, but he insists that prophets be summoned to inquire of the Lord as to whether or not they will succeed. This seems fair enough, so Ahab calls on several prophets, 400 to be exact, and they all tell him to go to battle because God will deliver his enemies into his hand.
That seemed to be good enough. 400 men telling him to go for it, but King Jehoshaphat still was not satisfied.
"Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?" he asks skeptically(verse 7).
The king of Israel finally admits that there is one other prophet, but, to put it in his own eloquent words, "I hate him." (verse 8).
Are you shocked that a king would say such a thing? Well, so was Jehoshaphat.
"Let not the king say such things!" he scolded, and in the end, Micaiah the prophet was sent for, despite the king's insisting that the man never had a good word to say concerning the him.
Now Micaiah is an honest man. Very honest. As he is on his way to meet with the kings, the messenger tells him that everyone else has encouraged the king to go into battle, and that he would be wise to do the same. This is where the lesson comes in. Here Micaiah is faced with two conflicting possibilities. Possibility #1 says to lie to the king and go on his merry way. Possibility #2 says to tell the truth and risk the king's sudden wrath, which has proved rather deadly in the past. Which path will he take? Which path would you take? To find the end of this story, you can either read 1 Kings 22, or you can read part 2 of this post coming soon. Why? Number 1, I like to leave people in suspense, and number 2, my typing fingers are getting really tired:-). Until then, take care!
posted by Lydia
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