1 Kings 22:23
“Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”
Micaiah speaks the truth boldly and declares that the 400 prophets are driven by a lying spirit. The truth, he tells Ahab, is that you will be defeated by the Syrians: “The Lord has declared disaster for you.”
Needless to say, Micaiah’s message of truth did not sit well with Ahab. Nor did it sit well with the false prophet Zedekiah. But because Zedekiah enjoyed the favor and protection of Ahab, he was free to denounce and attack Micaiah.
“Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” (1 Kings 22.24-25)
Micaiah knew the truth and spoke the truth boldly; he wasn’t fazed by the bluster and violence of Zedekiah. Therefore, Micaiah stood strong and didn’t flinch. He simply told Zedekiah: ‘When the time comes, you will see. You cannot hide from God’s truth.’
“And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.” And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!” (1 Kings 22.26-28)
Micaiah is thrown back in prison, while the 400 lying prophets continue to enjoy the king’s favor. But putting Micaiah in prison wouldn’t change Ahab’s destiny of defeat. Ahab was about to experience the truth of Micaiah’s message, as well as the lie of the 400.
It was an experience Ahab would not live to tell about.
*It is important to note that the scripture says the Lord put the lying spirit in the mouth of the unfaithful prophets. The Lord gave Ahab the message that he wanted to hear, and the Lord used the willfully deceitful prophets as messengers. This is a sobering thing. Sometimes God brings judgment simply by allowing sinful people to have what they want.
Whatever situation in life you are facing, trust God and stand strong.
