Week of Monday October 21 – October 27
Truth Triumphs - Man as Defender
But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.”
- 1 Kings 22:7-8b ESV
The king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, had unwisely allied himself with the wicked king of Israel, Ahab. They were teaming up to defeat a common enemy, and the false prophets who surrounded King Ahab were notorious for saying things he liked to hear rather than what God was saying. King Jehoshaphat, however, was hesitant to risk his neck without clearly hearing from God.
Ahab has a fascinating response to Jehoshaphat’s request: “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” That’s not surprising, especially in light of God’s assessment of Ahab in 1 Kings 16:30: “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.”
Ahab did not want to hear the truth of God. In fact, when Micaiah the prophet declared God’s judgment, which would take the form of defeat for their armies and death for Ahab, the king basically looked over at his ally Jehoshaphat and remarked, “I told you so!” Then, Ahab had the prophet jailed until his hoped-for victory and safe return. Yet, just as the prophet predicted, Ahab was mortally wounded by an enemy archer’s arrow and died. Israel and Judah’s armies were defeated, but God’s truth triumphed.
Unfortunately, most Americans today have about the same low view of God’s truth as Ahab did. Worse, this disregard for God’s truth has infected our churches. In June of 2023, FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview commissioned a national survey conducted by George Barna regarding public opinion related to a variety of social issues, as well as responses regarding their worldview. The survey incorporated responses from 1,009 adults, age 18 or older, who attend a worship service at a Christian church at least once a month, either in-person or online. In this study, a plurality of churchgoing adults (48 percent) agreed that “there are no moral absolutes that apply to everyone, all the time; moral truth is up to each individual.” In contrast, just 43 percent of churchgoers disagreed with that notion, while nine percent said they did not know.
As America is rapidly becoming a post-Christian culture like that of England and Europe, now comes the revelation that millions of American churchgoers do not believe there is absolute truth! Yet this is no time to become the culture’s “yes men,” nodding in agreement like the prophets serving Ahab. No, now is the time for us to be like Micaiah, a fearless man of God who spoke the truth even in the face of physical assault, prison, and death. Men, there has never been a more important moment for us to speak and defend the truth of God!
But even if we are unsuccessful in our efforts to restore God’s truth to the place of honor it once held in America, know this: God’s truth will triumph! Jesus Himself guaranteed it: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will not pass away (Matthew 24:25). Let’s stand for God’s triumphant truth!
- When surrounded by those who have bought into the lies of the prevailing godless culture, are you tempted to go along so as to avoid conflict, or do you boldly defend truth regardless of the consequences?
- How are you intentionally pouring the truth of God’s Word into your family and those you lead and influence?
- Pray and ask God to give you the courage of the prophet Micaiah to speak and defend the truth, even if it means suffering for it.
Truth Triumphs - Man as Defender
But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.”
- 1 Kings 22:7-8b ESV
The king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, had unwisely allied himself with the wicked king of Israel, Ahab. They were teaming up to defeat a common enemy, and the false prophets who surrounded King Ahab were notorious for saying things he liked to hear rather than what God was saying. King Jehoshaphat, however, was hesitant to risk his neck without clearly hearing from God.
Ahab has a fascinating response to Jehoshaphat’s request: “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” That’s not surprising, especially in light of God’s assessment of Ahab in 1 Kings 16:30: “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.”
Ahab did not want to hear the truth of God. In fact, when Micaiah the prophet declared God’s judgment, which would take the form of defeat for their armies and death for Ahab, the king basically looked over at his ally Jehoshaphat and remarked, “I told you so!” Then, Ahab had the prophet jailed until his hoped-for victory and safe return. Yet, just as the prophet predicted, Ahab was mortally wounded by an enemy archer’s arrow and died. Israel and Judah’s armies were defeated, but God’s truth triumphed.
Unfortunately, most Americans today have about the same low view of God’s truth as Ahab did. Worse, this disregard for God’s truth has infected our churches. In June of 2023, FRC’s Center for Biblical Worldview commissioned a national survey conducted by George Barna regarding public opinion related to a variety of social issues, as well as responses regarding their worldview. The survey incorporated responses from 1,009 adults, age 18 or older, who attend a worship service at a Christian church at least once a month, either in-person or online. In this study, a plurality of churchgoing adults (48 percent) agreed that “there are no moral absolutes that apply to everyone, all the time; moral truth is up to each individual.” In contrast, just 43 percent of churchgoers disagreed with that notion, while nine percent said they did not know.
As America is rapidly becoming a post-Christian culture like that of England and Europe, now comes the revelation that millions of American churchgoers do not believe there is absolute truth! Yet this is no time to become the culture’s “yes men,” nodding in agreement like the prophets serving Ahab. No, now is the time for us to be like Micaiah, a fearless man of God who spoke the truth even in the face of physical assault, prison, and death. Men, there has never been a more important moment for us to speak and defend the truth of God!
But even if we are unsuccessful in our efforts to restore God’s truth to the place of honor it once held in America, know this: God’s truth will triumph! Jesus Himself guaranteed it: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will not pass away (Matthew 24:25). Let’s stand for God’s triumphant truth!
- When surrounded by those who have bought into the lies of the prevailing godless culture, are you tempted to go along so as to avoid conflict, or do you boldly defend truth regardless of the consequences?
- How are you intentionally pouring the truth of God’s Word into your family and those you lead and influence?
- Pray and ask God to give you the courage of the prophet Micaiah to speak and defend the truth, even if it means suffering for it.