Broken Kingdoms: WK3 - FRI
A kingdom stuck in a vacuum - 1 Kings 22:4-9
4 Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”5 Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”
6 So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”
They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”
8 The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
9 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Another fascinating story with lots we could talk about, but the focus for our time today will be spent on the wisdom of surrounding yourself with people who see things differently than you do; people you admire, and people not afraid to say something that challenges your opinions or beliefs.
As I Kings 22 starts, we learn that there had been some peace in Israel, especially concerning the kingdom of Aram. However, they soon discover a town that once belonged to Judah, that was still inhabited by the people of Aram even though they had been defeated.
Ahab wants to take it back, reaches out to Jehosaphat, King of Judah, for help. Jehosaphat had shown himself to be a king who at least sought God’s counsel before acting, and he expresses that same characteristic here. He wants to make sure that taking back this town of Ramoth-gilead is the right thing to do.
In response to Jehosaphat’s request, Ahab summons his “court appointed” prophets, to get their wisdom. The problem with court appointed prophets is that they are notorious for simply agreeing with what the king wants to do anyway. They cared more about the king’s opinion of them, and his ability to take care of them, than they did being loyal to Yahweh and sending a message from Yahweh even if it wasn’t popular.
As expected, these court appointed prophets agree with their king, but Jehosaphat see’s through the charade. He says, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question?”
We’re told there is one, Micaiah, but the king hates him because he “never prophesies anything but trouble for me!” And that’s how Jehosaphat knows Micaiah works for Yahweh and not the king. It’s not that Yahweh is going to go against you all the time, it’s that Yahweh is going to speak truth because that’s who Yahweh is, and He’ll do so even if it’s not what you most want to hear. Why? Because he cares more about the person you are becoming, than the comfort you enjoy.
A mentor friend of mine once said, “Truth isn’t fragile.” The context is, truth doesn’t have to be defended or else it collapses. Truth is true whether I defend it or not. I mention that here because it’s important to be humble enough to listen to those who have a different opinion, or ideology, or even set of beliefs than you. We grow most when we are challenged, and certainly, growing hurts, it’s uncomfortable, even painful at times (I speak from experience, I grew 6 inches in 6 months in high school and believe me, it hurt). But growth is for our own good, and a variety of voices and opinions can make us stronger when we are willing to surrender and submit to he who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Ahab wanted simply to surround himself with people who looked like him, talked like him, thought like him, and encouraged him, whether he was right or wrong. His approach to life got him killed.
Jesus once told us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10) Sometimes, to get that rich and satisfying life, we have to learn some hard lessons, we have to be challenged, held accountable, but we also have to trust that God has only our best in mind. I pray we could trust him in our journey, more than we trust ourselves or those that only agree with us all the time.
4 Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”
Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.”5 Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”
6 So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”
They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”
8 The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
9 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”
Another fascinating story with lots we could talk about, but the focus for our time today will be spent on the wisdom of surrounding yourself with people who see things differently than you do; people you admire, and people not afraid to say something that challenges your opinions or beliefs.
As I Kings 22 starts, we learn that there had been some peace in Israel, especially concerning the kingdom of Aram. However, they soon discover a town that once belonged to Judah, that was still inhabited by the people of Aram even though they had been defeated.
Ahab wants to take it back, reaches out to Jehosaphat, King of Judah, for help. Jehosaphat had shown himself to be a king who at least sought God’s counsel before acting, and he expresses that same characteristic here. He wants to make sure that taking back this town of Ramoth-gilead is the right thing to do.
In response to Jehosaphat’s request, Ahab summons his “court appointed” prophets, to get their wisdom. The problem with court appointed prophets is that they are notorious for simply agreeing with what the king wants to do anyway. They cared more about the king’s opinion of them, and his ability to take care of them, than they did being loyal to Yahweh and sending a message from Yahweh even if it wasn’t popular.
As expected, these court appointed prophets agree with their king, but Jehosaphat see’s through the charade. He says, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question?”
We’re told there is one, Micaiah, but the king hates him because he “never prophesies anything but trouble for me!” And that’s how Jehosaphat knows Micaiah works for Yahweh and not the king. It’s not that Yahweh is going to go against you all the time, it’s that Yahweh is going to speak truth because that’s who Yahweh is, and He’ll do so even if it’s not what you most want to hear. Why? Because he cares more about the person you are becoming, than the comfort you enjoy.
A mentor friend of mine once said, “Truth isn’t fragile.” The context is, truth doesn’t have to be defended or else it collapses. Truth is true whether I defend it or not. I mention that here because it’s important to be humble enough to listen to those who have a different opinion, or ideology, or even set of beliefs than you. We grow most when we are challenged, and certainly, growing hurts, it’s uncomfortable, even painful at times (I speak from experience, I grew 6 inches in 6 months in high school and believe me, it hurt). But growth is for our own good, and a variety of voices and opinions can make us stronger when we are willing to surrender and submit to he who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Ahab wanted simply to surround himself with people who looked like him, talked like him, thought like him, and encouraged him, whether he was right or wrong. His approach to life got him killed.
Jesus once told us, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10) Sometimes, to get that rich and satisfying life, we have to learn some hard lessons, we have to be challenged, held accountable, but we also have to trust that God has only our best in mind. I pray we could trust him in our journey, more than we trust ourselves or those that only agree with us all the time.
- When was the last time someone, or something (a position, a book, an idea) challenged your previous understanding or way of thinking? What happened as a result of that challenge?
- Who are the people you surround yourself with that you trust, even if they see things differently than you?
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