Week of Monday October 12 - Saturday October 17
Speak the Truth — Man as Defender
“But Micaiah said, ‘As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.’” —2 Chronicles 18:13 ESV
Bad information on a battlefield can get people killed. A commander doesn't need men around him who simply tell him what he wants to hear. He needs people who will give him an accurate assessment of the situation, even when the news isn't good. It takes courage to deliver an unwelcome report to a powerful commander, but telling him what he wants to hear instead of what he needs to know can have disastrous consequences.
King Ahab desperately needed a man willing to tell him the truth and only one man was courageous enough to do it. In 2 Chronicles 18, Ahab formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat, the God-fearing king of Judah, for a joint military operation against Ramoth-gilead. Four hundred prophets assured Ahab that the campaign would succeed, but Jehoshaphat sensed something was wrong and asked whether there was a genuine prophet of the LORD they could consult. Ahab reluctantly admitted, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (v. 7). His name was Micaiah.
Before Micaiah entered the king's presence, the messenger bringing him delivered a not-so-subtle warning. All the other prophets were predicting victory, so he urged Micaiah, “Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably” (v. 12). In other words, Get with the program. Everybody else is saying the same thing. Don't be the one man who causes trouble.
Micaiah's response should be the conviction of every man of God: “As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak” (v. 13).
Telling Ahab what he wanted to hear could have made Micaiah's life considerably easier. Instead, Micaiah sought the approval of the one true King. He warned that Israel would be scattered and Ahab would fall. For telling the truth, Micaiah was struck in the face and thrown into prison. Yet when Ahab was killed in battle despite disguising himself, God's Word—and God's prophet—were vindicated.
Men, we still need that kind of courage. We live in a culture that increasingly pressures us to affirm what Scripture calls sin and remain silent about truths that make people uncomfortable. We're told that truth is personal and morality is negotiable. Biblical convictions about the sanctity of human life, God's creation of male and female, marriage, sexuality, and the public exercise of our faith can bring ridicule or rejection. But truth doesn't change because the culture does.
That doesn't give us permission to become arrogant, angry, or unnecessarily offensive. Scripture commands us to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Micaiah's courage wasn't rooted in a desire to win an argument. His responsibility was simply to say what God had said. That's our responsibility too. We don't have to shout louder than everyone else, but neither can we remain silent simply because speaking may cost us something.
I've learned through experience that some people won't like you when you stand for truth. You may lose friends, opportunities, influence, or approval. But a Defender doesn't determine truth by counting how many people agree with him. Four hundred prophets can still be wrong, and one man standing on God's Word can still be right. Like Micaiah, have the courage to speak the truth.
Speak the Truth — Man as Defender
“But Micaiah said, ‘As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.’” —2 Chronicles 18:13 ESV
Bad information on a battlefield can get people killed. A commander doesn't need men around him who simply tell him what he wants to hear. He needs people who will give him an accurate assessment of the situation, even when the news isn't good. It takes courage to deliver an unwelcome report to a powerful commander, but telling him what he wants to hear instead of what he needs to know can have disastrous consequences.
King Ahab desperately needed a man willing to tell him the truth and only one man was courageous enough to do it. In 2 Chronicles 18, Ahab formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat, the God-fearing king of Judah, for a joint military operation against Ramoth-gilead. Four hundred prophets assured Ahab that the campaign would succeed, but Jehoshaphat sensed something was wrong and asked whether there was a genuine prophet of the LORD they could consult. Ahab reluctantly admitted, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (v. 7). His name was Micaiah.
Before Micaiah entered the king's presence, the messenger bringing him delivered a not-so-subtle warning. All the other prophets were predicting victory, so he urged Micaiah, “Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably” (v. 12). In other words, Get with the program. Everybody else is saying the same thing. Don't be the one man who causes trouble.
Micaiah's response should be the conviction of every man of God: “As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak” (v. 13).
Telling Ahab what he wanted to hear could have made Micaiah's life considerably easier. Instead, Micaiah sought the approval of the one true King. He warned that Israel would be scattered and Ahab would fall. For telling the truth, Micaiah was struck in the face and thrown into prison. Yet when Ahab was killed in battle despite disguising himself, God's Word—and God's prophet—were vindicated.
Men, we still need that kind of courage. We live in a culture that increasingly pressures us to affirm what Scripture calls sin and remain silent about truths that make people uncomfortable. We're told that truth is personal and morality is negotiable. Biblical convictions about the sanctity of human life, God's creation of male and female, marriage, sexuality, and the public exercise of our faith can bring ridicule or rejection. But truth doesn't change because the culture does.
That doesn't give us permission to become arrogant, angry, or unnecessarily offensive. Scripture commands us to speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Micaiah's courage wasn't rooted in a desire to win an argument. His responsibility was simply to say what God had said. That's our responsibility too. We don't have to shout louder than everyone else, but neither can we remain silent simply because speaking may cost us something.
I've learned through experience that some people won't like you when you stand for truth. You may lose friends, opportunities, influence, or approval. But a Defender doesn't determine truth by counting how many people agree with him. Four hundred prophets can still be wrong, and one man standing on God's Word can still be right. Like Micaiah, have the courage to speak the truth.
- When biblical truth becomes unpopular, are you tempted to “go along to get along,” or will you stand on what God has said?
- In today’s “live your own truth” culture, how can you better communicate biblical truth in a loving but firm way with some men in your circle of relationships who are living contrary to God’s word?
- Pray that, like Micaiah, you will boldly speak God’s truth no matter what - even if you have to stand alone and even if you have to suffer for it.