BOLD TRUTH Posted 4.10.08
1 Kings 22
Our final chapter in 1 Kings focuses on God’s love for truth. A truthful person is one who is real, honest, and genuine. In chapter 22, Ahab and Jehoshaphat provide visual examples of complete opposites in this regard.
How can we become people of truth? 1 Kings 22 shows that we must seek it, understand it, share it, and live it.
SEEK IT (Read 1 Kings 22:1-18)
Seeking bold truth requires a commitment to God above all (verses 1-5)
While many of us will not be making decisions about leading a country in to war, we must still hold fast to the principle of seeking God first in all things. Ahab was ready to rush into conflict without any guidance except his own desire. Though Jehoshaphat was eager to protect this newfound peace with the king of Israel, he knew the need for God’s input. How often do we undertake projects or agree to activities without bothering to really seek the Lord’s wisdom? Jehoshaphat’s encouragement to, “First seek the counsel of the LORD” (verse 5) applies to us all.
Seeking bold truth requires discernment (verses 6-7)
Ahab brought in 400 men who called themselves prophets of God, but Jehoshaphat obviously sensed the absence of God’s presence. This ability to sense God’s involvement in a situation is a form of discernment and should be sought by all who follow the Lord. Too many loud voices proclaim God’s wisdom but are only a poor imitation. We must persevere to know the genuine representatives of God as opposed to being led astray by others.
Seeking bold truth requires submission to the “good news” and the “bad news"
(verses 8-9)
The saddest aspect of this story is that Ahab apparently knew the shallowness of those he depended upon, but he chose to fill his life with that which made him comfortable and with those who agreed with him. His obvious disdain for Micaiah lends credence to the widely held view that Micaiah was the unnamed prophet who rebuked Ahab for not putting Ben-hadad to death (1 Kings 20:35-43). Ahab wanted only “happy reports” and “good news.” But sometimes the truth is neither happy nor "good news", and failing to submit to it can bring great pain, and in this case, death.
How are you fighting the truth that God is revealing in your life? Submission to God’s truth and God’s ways will prove much healthier than resistance!
Seeking bold truth requires impartiality (verses 10-14)
What an intimidating situation Micaiah found himself in – the royal thrones with all the pomp, 400 other prophets dramatically proclaiming victory for the kings, and the voice of his escort insisting he “go with the flow.” If we are truly seeking God’s truth we must be impartial to our circumstances and peer pressure, and commit ourselves to God’s leading alone.
I personally know the temptation to want to please those around me and “make everyone happy,” but Micaiah said it best when he proclaimed in verse 14, “As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me.” Short-term ramifications may be painful when we seek God’s truth impartially, but the eternal rewards will be more than worth it.
Seeking bold truth requires submission (verses 15-18)
We revisit this admonition because in these verses it is obvious that Ahab knew the truth. Micaiah’s original response was apparently said with sarcasm, and Ahab challenged him to be honest! The irony would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Ahab demands the truth then refuses to submit to it because “he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad…” (verse 18). Ahab simply did not want the truth to be the truth! We cannot change God’s truth, but we can benefit from it if we will choose to submit.
Perhaps you are fighting the truth that you need a healthier lifestyle or your children need more of your attention. One of my friends knows she needs to exercise more and another was told by the doctor the importance of decreasing her sugar intake. These are known truths. Will we submit? It would have changed and extended Ahab’s life to submit to the truth Micaiah shared. It could change and extend your life as well.
In what situation do you lack truth? Whose truth are you seeking?
UNDERSTAND IT (Read 1 Kings 22:19-28)
Often the Lord dispenses a truth and we must obey simply “because He said so.” But more often than not I find the Lord more than generous in providing clarification and explanation for the direction He has for my life. He loves to give understanding, but once again, we must receive it and embrace it.
God gave Ahab and Jehoshaphat an amazing glimpse into the spiritual aspects of their situation through Micaiah’s continued discourse. Basically, God is giving them a choice, to believe the truth or a lie. Deuteronomy 13 explains that when God allows lying prophets to speak, “The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul…hold fast to Him…” (Deuteronomy 13:3-4).
We spend much of our time in educational institutions that test us regularly, why do we think it odd that God may want to test our faith periodically as well? More importantly, are we passing the tests?
In what area do you need more understanding of the truth? God provides it often through His Word, prayer, and often through godly people like Micaiah.
SHARE IT (Reread 1 Kings 22:19-28)
An equally important aspect of these verses is Micaiah’s willingness to share God’s bold truth. He was not in favor with the king, the truth he had to share was in opposition to all other counsel the king was receiving, and the truth predicted the king’s demise. How willing are we to share God’s truth in difficult circumstances?
The tragedy is that Micaiah’s words would have saved Ahab’s life had he listened. Micaiah could not force the correct response from Ahab and Jehoshaphat and neither can we force others to receive the truths we share. We are merely responsible for our part, and God must cover the rest.
Who can you share God’s truth with today?
LIVE IT (Read 1 Kings 22:29-53)
While seeking, understanding, and sharing God’s truth are paramount in our Christian walk, it will all fall flat if we fail to live it out on a daily basis. Ahab sought and understood quite a bit, but he refused to embrace God’s lordship in his daily life.
Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD,” (verse 43), and lived it out even when he made mistakes. There are several key principles to living out God’s truth in these verses.
Do not rebel against God’s truth (verse 29)
Verse 29 reveals complete disobedience to God’s word as the two kings head out to war. Ahab either didn’t believe Micaiah or thought he could manipulate the future. Jehoshaphat seems to be operating in appeasement mode. Both responses are unacceptable and harmful.
Beware of disguises (verse 30)
It was a common practice in war to target the king. Many battles could be shortened and lives spared by killing the leader and thus scattering the troops. Why Jehoshaphat agreed to enter the battle on Ahab’s terms is a mystery except that he was so committed to making this friendship work. We often make the same mistake. While others are hiding the truth we neglect our discernment and put ourselves and our families at risk.
God protects those whose heart is full of His truth – even when they make mistakes
(verses 31-33)!
2 Chronicles 18:31 provides the following additional details of this event, “…Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him…” When Jehoshaphat returned home after Ahab’s death 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 also records that God rebuked him for his alliance with Ahab.
Protection and correction can be expected as we seek to live out God’s truth. Ahab’s resistance to God’s guidance sealed his downfall.
You cannot escape God’s truth (verses 34-40)
The tragedy of these verses is how easily the outcome could have changed. Had Ahab embraced the truth Micaiah shared and ended his plans to go to war at that time, the future would have been different. Repentance is available as long as we have breath.
What is God’s truth for your life today? How are you responding?
Truth produces good fruit (verses 41-53)
The final paragraphs of this chapter provide us with an overview of the choice always available to us. Verses 41-50 explain more details of Jehoshaphat’s life, a life lived for truth. He was blessed as he followed God’s ways. His failure to remove the high places reminds us that there is always room for growth and that he wasn’t perfect. God blessed his kingdom with peace, victory, and purity, which can be ours as well as we devote our lives to Him.
The story about the wrecked ships is enriched by reading 2 Chronicles 20:35-37. Ahaziah and Jehoshaphat made an agreement to sail together, but God rebuked Jehoshaphat, and God Himself wrecked the ships. In the 1 Kings 22 account, it seems that Ahaziah came back a second time, but Jehoshaphat had learned his lesson and refused. I love happy endings, and Jehoshaphat’s legacy is one.
The final verses summarize Ahaziah’s reign which produced no good fruit. He loved wickedness and idolatry and angered the LORD.
These two men represent the two choices we have every day. Will we choose to live in God’s bold truth or dedicate our lives to the lies of self and sin?
I pray each of our lives will echo the verse that set the tone for this entire study, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth below – You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way”
(1 Kings 8:23).