2 Chronicles 18:16-20: a reflection

16He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. The LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let them each return to his house in peace.’” 17The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 18Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the LORD’s word: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the army of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. 19The LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One spoke saying in this way, and another saying in that way. 20A spirit came out, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’ “The LORD said to him, ‘How?’

King Ahab wanted to go to war, and he had four hundred prophets who told him exactly what he wanted to hear: go up and succeed. But one prophet, Micaiah, was different, and Ahab admitted he hated him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil. When finally summoned, Micaiah spoke the unwelcome truth: he saw Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd, and revealed that the encouraging words of the other prophets were a deception. Alone against four hundred, he told the truth the king did not want to hear.

Notice the contrast, and the courage. Four hundred prophets flattered the king, told him what pleased him, confirmed what he wanted to do. One prophet, standing alone, told the truth, knowing it would not be welcome, knowing the king hated him for it. It is far easier to be one of the four hundred, to say what people want to hear, than to be the lone Micaiah who tells the hard truth. But Micaiah spoke God's true word, whatever it cost him.

There are two challenges here. First, the courage to be a Micaiah, to tell the truth even when it is unwelcome, even when everyone else is saying what pleases, even when it costs us favor. And second, the danger of being an Ahab, of surrounding ourselves with voices that only tell us what we want to hear and resenting the ones who tell us the truth. Ask yourself both: Do I have the courage to speak unwelcome truth? And do I welcome it, or only want to be flattered? Surround yourself with truth-tellers, not just a chorus of yes-men, and have the courage to be a truth-teller yourself.

Lord, four hundred prophets flattered Ahab, and one, Micaiah, alone told the unwelcome truth. Give me the courage to be a truth-teller, to speak what is true even when it is unwelcome and costs me favor, rather than saying only what pleases. And guard me from being like Ahab, surrounding myself with voices that flatter me and resenting those who tell me the truth. Help me welcome truth and speak it, whatever it costs.