2Ch 18:25 | KingComments | STEP | The messenger warns Micaiah to be careful what he says now that the four hundred prophets have all said the same thing ( ). But Micaiah is not impressed. He will only speak what his God says ( ). This is the hallmark of the true servant. Micaiah is a prisoner for God (cf. ), while Jehoshaphat is a ruler and also an ally and therefore a prisoner of a wicked man. When Ahab asks Micaiah the question whether or not he shall go up, he receives an answer ( ). In that answer Micaiah is joking the king by saying the same thing that the prophets have already said. Ahab feels this, this is not how he knows Micaiah and implores that Micaiah will speak the very truth that he is so afraid of ( ). Ahab also realizes that the four hundred have only said what he likes to hear. If we make a comparison with church history, it is clear that the church is not moving in the right direction. Yet we see that a gospel is being preached that it will all become more beautiful and better, like that there will be a revival. It is proposed to enter into dialogue with the world and to participate in bearing a common responsibility to make professing Christianity an influential power on earth. There are indeed some ‘doomsayers’ who go against this. Of them is said what Ahab says of Micaiah: ‘Did I not tell you? They preach nothing but evil and disappointments and that the world will be worse and that what I say and want is not good.’ They try to justify their vision, but eventually it will become clear who is ‘the prophet of God’. Micaiah let the word of the LORD be heard ( ). Ahab understands that the word of the LORD is judgment. He turns to Jehoshaphat to remind him that he predicted that this would be the case ( ). Jehoshaphat hears it and does nothing with it, because he is imprisoned in the snare of his alliance with the wicked Ahab. Micaiah has a message not only for Ahab, but also for the four hundred prophets ( ). He has seen in a vision what has happened in heaven. What is happening in heaven, only men of God have seen as Isaiah and Ezekiel and here also Micaiah. Micaiah tells Ahab and his prophets what he has seen and heard. This will have encouraged him enormously in his lonesome performance opposite the mass of false prophets. He has seen angels around God on His throne. He describes how the LORD entered into dialogue with His court (cf. ). There is no dividing line here between good and evil angels. Angels can be sent out for good, but also for evil. With Saul there is an evil spirit of the LORD who terrorizes him ( ). It teaches us that God disposes of all powers, good and evil. This spirit is used in God’s hand to mislead the prophets. The prophets of Ahab are driven by demons, while behind them is a spirit appointed by the LORD to let the demons do their work in those prophets. After all, it is not a battle between two armies, an army of God and an army of satan, as if it were two equal forces. God is above all and uses everything for His purpose. The false spirits in the mouths of false prophets cannot go beyond God’s permission. Zedekiah is furious and strikes Micaiah on the cheek ( ). He feels his honor is affected. Micaiah is not going to argue to prove that he spoke the words of God ( ). Its truth will be evident in its fulfillment. For Zedekiah there is a special prophecy. He will flee from room to room and also see from this that Micaiah has spoken the truth (cf. ). Micaiah is taken away ( ). What will have gone through Jehoshaphat’s mind when he sees what happens to a faithful prophet of the LORD?

‏ 2 Chronicles 18:25

The Message of Micaiah

The messenger warns Micaiah to be careful what he says now that the four hundred prophets have all said the same thing (2Chr 18:12). But Micaiah is not impressed. He will only speak what his God says (2Chr 18:13). This is the hallmark of the true servant. Micaiah is a prisoner for God (cf. Eph 3:1 ; Eph 4:1), while Jehoshaphat is a ruler and also an ally and therefore a prisoner of a wicked man.

When Ahab asks Micaiah the question whether or not he shall go up, he receives an answer (2Chr 18:14). In that answer Micaiah is joking the king by saying the same thing that the prophets have already said. Ahab feels this, this is not how he knows Micaiah and implores that Micaiah will speak the very truth that he is so afraid of (2Chr 18:15). Ahab also realizes that the four hundred have only said what he likes to hear.

If we make a comparison with church history, it is clear that the church is not moving in the right direction. Yet we see that a gospel is being preached that it will all become more beautiful and better, like that there will be a revival. It is proposed to enter into dialogue with the world and to participate in bearing a common responsibility to make professing Christianity an influential power on earth.

There are indeed some ‘doomsayers’ who go against this. Of them is said what Ahab says of Micaiah: ‘Did I not tell you? They preach nothing but evil and disappointments and that the world will be worse and that what I say and want is not good.’ They try to justify their vision, but eventually it will become clear who is ‘the prophet of God’.

Micaiah let the word of the LORD be heard (2Chr 18:16). Ahab understands that the word of the LORD is judgment. He turns to Jehoshaphat to remind him that he predicted that this would be the case (2Chr 18:17). Jehoshaphat hears it and does nothing with it, because he is imprisoned in the snare of his alliance with the wicked Ahab.

Micaiah has a message not only for Ahab, but also for the four hundred prophets (2Chr 18:18-22). He has seen in a vision what has happened in heaven. What is happening in heaven, only men of God have seen as Isaiah and Ezekiel and here also Micaiah. Micaiah tells Ahab and his prophets what he has seen and heard. This will have encouraged him enormously in his lonesome performance opposite the mass of false prophets. He has seen angels around God on His throne. He describes how the LORD entered into dialogue with His court (cf. Job 1:6 ; Job 2:1).

There is no dividing line here between good and evil angels. Angels can be sent out for good, but also for evil. With Saul there is an evil spirit of the LORD who terrorizes him (1Sam 16:14). It teaches us that God disposes of all powers, good and evil. This spirit is used in God’s hand to mislead the prophets.

The prophets of Ahab are driven by demons, while behind them is a spirit appointed by the LORD to let the demons do their work in those prophets. After all, it is not a battle between two armies, an army of God and an army of satan, as if it were two equal forces. God is above all and uses everything for His purpose. The false spirits in the mouths of false prophets cannot go beyond God’s permission.

Zedekiah is furious and strikes Micaiah on the cheek (2Chr 18:23). He feels his honor is affected. Micaiah is not going to argue to prove that he spoke the words of God (2Chr 18:24). Its truth will be evident in its fulfillment. For Zedekiah there is a special prophecy. He will flee from room to room and also see from this that Micaiah has spoken the truth (cf. Deu 18:22).

Micaiah is taken away (2Chr 18:25). What will have gone through Jehoshaphat’s mind when he sees what happens to a faithful prophet of the LORD?