Bible Studies

Courting Wounds And Death

by Olawale Ogunsola
06/16/23
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Since creation, humanity has been left with choices. This is a choice between what is good and what is evil. Whatever a man chooses determines what he will experience, good or bad.

Sadly, mankind many times pretends to love what is good whereas he loves evil.

This was the case with King Ahab. He is a representative of a great number of people on the surface of the Earth today.
When he wanted to go to a battlefield to claim Ramothglead from the hand of the enemy, he was advised by his friend and King of Judah, King Jehosaphat, to inquire from the Lord before embarking on the expedition.
(2 Chronicles 18:6-7,15,26,33-34)

A multitude of liars says good and smooth things.

It was then that King Ahab assembled four hundred Prophets who confirmed that he should go to the battlefield to overcome his enemies. They are a set of Prophets who prophesy good things that the King wants to hear. Every deceit is acceptable to him, so long it is well wrapped up to look good. The smooth prophecy did not satisfy King Jehosaphat who was on the Lord's side.

[6]"But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the lord here? We should ask him the same question.”
His observations of the multitudes of prophecies from the numerous Prophets of the King did not convince him that they spoke the heart of the Lord.

Hating the truth.
[7]The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”

King Ahab did not fail to tell his friend the truth. He disclosed that he hated the fellow who has the truth with him. He hated the Prophet who could tell him the truth from the heart of the Lord. He kept him at a distance from the rest who were very close to the palace. He was recognized but not valued. He hated Micaiah, the true Prophet of God.

Seeking the truth.
Finally, King Ahab sent for Micaiah and he came. The King in pretense responded,
[15]But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the lord?”

Was he interested in the truth? Was he ready to hear and do what is the heart of the Lord? He only pretended to love the truth. He hated it. The truth as revealed by the true Prophet was that everyone should go back to his house because there was no victory in sight but the destruction of the King. On hearing the truth, he was provoked to act against Prophet Micaiah to punish him.

Punishment.
As the person in authority, he could do anything to anyone at any time. After all, he did not fear God. He exercised his authority over the Prophet who told him the truth.
[26]Give them this order from the king: ‘Put this man in prison, and feed him nothing but bread and water until I return safely from the battle!’”

The King James Version (KJV) calls it the" bread of affliction". Is that the right reward for a person who tells the truth? Did he deserve it? Note that it was the King who sent for him. He did not want the truth but pretended to because of his ally who suggested consulting a true Prophet.

Wounds.
It is one thing to know the truth. It is another thing to accept the truth and act accordingly. It is always a matter of choice. The reward is available. In disobedience, King Ahab went to the battlefield only to receive the right reward.
[33]An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops and hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. “Turn the horses and get me out of here!” Ahab groaned to the driver of the chariot. “I’m badly wounded!”

Those are the words of the King who flouted the commandment of God. Although according to the true prophecy of God by the mouth of Micaiah, King Ahab was designed to be destroyed on the battlefield that was the reason he loved and embraced the lies from his Prophets. He was wounded.

Death.
[34]The battle raged all that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans. In the evening, just as the sun was setting, he died.

King Ahab was not only wounded, he finally lost his life. That was the supreme price for disobedience.

Embrace the truth.
Beloved, do you love the truth or do you pretend to love it? Do you embrace the truth or love to persecute the person who tells you the truth? Please, have a change of attitude. embrace the truth so that you will not be wounded and pay the supreme price of disobedience. That is death. Stay blessed and prepared for the imminent coming of the Lord.