1 Kings 22:6-12: a reflection

6Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Should I go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I refrain?” They said, “Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” 7But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of him?” 8The 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 does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” Jehoshaphat said, “Don’t let the king say so.” 9Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, “Quickly get Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made himself horns of iron, and said, “The LORD says, ‘With these you will push the Syrians, until they are consumed.’” 12All the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper; for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

When Ahab wants to go to battle, he gathers four hundred prophets, and they all tell him exactly what he wants to hear: Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into your hand. But when Jehoshaphat asks for a true prophet of the LORD, Ahab admits the problem with his own heart: There is yet one man, Micaiah, but I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Ahab surrounded himself with voices that flattered him and told him what he wanted, and hated the one who would tell him the truth. He preferred the comfortable lie to the unwelcome truth.

Notice Ahab's preference: voices that flattered him over the one that told the truth. He had four hundred prophets who said what he wanted to hear, and he was content with them; but the one prophet who told the truth, he hated, precisely because the truth was unwelcome. He did not want counsel; he wanted affirmation, voices to confirm what he had already decided. The truth-teller was hated, not because he was wrong, but because he would not flatter. Ahab surrounded himself with what pleased him and shut out what he needed, preferring the agreeable lie to the honest word.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can prefer voices that flatter us over those that tell us the truth. We can surround ourselves with people who tell us what we want to hear, who confirm what we have already decided, and avoid or resent those who would tell us hard truths, as Ahab loved his four hundred and hated Micaiah. But the voice we need is often the one we least want to hear, the honest word, not the flattering one. Do not surround yourself only with voices that flatter you and confirm what you want, shutting out those who would tell you the truth; the truth you resist may be the very counsel you need. Seek out and heed the voices that tell you the truth, even when it is unwelcome, rather than surrounding yourself with those who only flatter, as Ahab loved the prophets who told him what he wanted and hated the one who told the truth; for the honest word we resist is often the one we most need, and wisdom seeks the truth rather than mere affirmation.

Lord, when Ahab wants to go to battle, he gathers four hundred prophets, and they all tell him exactly what he wants to hear: go up; for the Lord will deliver it into your hand. But when Jehoshaphat asks for a true prophet of the LORD, Ahab admits the problem with his own heart: there is yet one man, Micaiah, but I hate him, for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. Ahab surrounded himself with voices that flattered him, and hated the one who would tell him the truth. Show me Ahab's preference: voices that flattered him over the one that told the truth. He had four hundred prophets who said what he wanted to hear, and he was content with them; but the one prophet who told the truth, he hated, precisely because the truth was unwelcome. He did not want counsel; he wanted affirmation. The truth-teller was hated, not because he was wrong, but because he would not flatter. Take that to my heart, for I too can prefer voices that flatter me over those that tell me the truth. I can surround myself with people who tell me what I want to hear, who confirm what I have already decided, and avoid or resent those who would tell me hard truths, as Ahab loved his four hundred and hated Micaiah. But the voice I need is often the one I least want to hear. Keep me from surrounding myself only with voices that flatter me and confirm what I want, shutting out those who would tell me the truth; the truth I resist may be the very counsel I need, Lord. Help me seek out and heed the voices that tell me the truth, even when it is unwelcome.