Lesson 386: "The Appearance of a King"
The most dangerous words spoken are the “twisted” Words of God coming from a false teacher/prophet.
There was no one like King Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the Lord said was wrong (1 Kings 21:25). Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat to go to war with him which Jehoshaphat agreed to but first wanted to ask if this was God’s will. Ahab called together 400 of “his” prophets, prophets of Baal, and they assured the king that the Lord would hand over Ramoth in Gilead. Now, true, God had caused the false prophets to lie because it was His plan for Ahab to meet his death as predicted (1 Kings 21:19). However, the false prophets not only took credit but tried to discredit Micaiah (1 Kings 22:24). Jehoshaphat, wanting a “true Word” insisted on asking a prophet of the Lord, Micaiah, the Lord’s prophet whom Ahab hated (1 Kings 22:1-8).
Ahab was so angry over Micaiah’s prophecy and his advice that he sent him to prison until he returned SAFELY from battle. Micaiah gave the king one last warning; “Ahab, if you come back safely from battle, the Lord has not spoken through me” (1 Kings 22:28). “The Word of the Lord is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us where the soul and spirit are joined. Nothing in the world can be hidden from God” (Heb. 4:12-13) but King Ahab tried to “hide” when he shed his royal robes before going into battle (1 Kings 22:29-38). Micaiah’s message had penetrated through the king’s armor but he ignored it. In his heart he knew the Word Micaiah had given was true so he proposed a plan not only to hide but to put King Jehoshaphat to death in his place. God’s plan trumped Ahab’s and a random arrow hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor and the “plain clothed” king died.
Several messages are within this story. Ahab had the appearance of a king but was evil and wicked. He removed his robes to try to hide from God, Micaiah, the enemy and Holy Spirit. But the king, like we today, are known by our fruits/actions, whether good or evil (Matt. 7:15-20). The second message is recognizing a false prophet. “If what a prophet proclaims in the Name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord HAS NOT spoken” (Deut. 18:22). The third message is that as a true teacher of the Word of God and His messenger, we will stand alone. We are the minority and like Ahab and Micaiah, some will hate us because we do not tell them what they want to hear (1 Kings 22:8, 14, 18) because their itching ears want to hear only good stuff (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Never take off your robe and strive to keep it clean (Rev. 3:4), speak God’s Word (Ezek. 2:7) and STAND (Eph. 6:14) and remember Martin Luther’s answer when told that the whole world was against him; “then I am against the whole world”. Honor the KING and take on a kingly appearance!