Political correctness isn’t anything new. It’s been around since human life existed. Here we have an example of it in 1 Kings chapter 22. Ahab (king of Samaria/Israel) and Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) are talking about restoring a town that was captured by an enemy but now is back in the Israelites hands. Jehoshaphat wanted to consult the Lord before going into battle, but Ahab consults his prophets, but weren’t real prophets. All 400 of them told the king to go into battle for he will be victorious. Jehoshaphat asked if Ahab had any prophets of God to consult, and Ahab told him yes there was one prophet that spoke truth, but he always prophesied bad news for Ahab. So the kings agreed to call the prophet, Micaiah. Micaiah was summoned but he was told to agree with the other 400 prophets. Micaiah swore to only tell what God told him to say. The story continues and builds up in intensity, but the point here is we all have a choice in life. We can either listen to God and follow Him, or we can listen to others and follow them. Fear God or fear man, that’s the dilemma. If we fear man, we become politically correct. If we fear God, we get slapped in the face (like Micaiah did) because being God-centered isn’t politically correct. You will either side with Truth, or stand for what’s popular. God will never be popular in this life, at least not in the righteous sense. So that leaves us standing in the middle having to choose sides. Choose wisely.
Then he turned to Jehoshaphat and asked, “Will you join me in battle to recover Ramoth-gilead?”Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “Why, of course! You and I are as one. My troops are your troops, and my horses are your horses.” 5 Then Jehoshaphat added, “But first let’s find out what the Lord says.”6 So the king of Israel summoned the prophets, about 400 of them, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.”7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”8 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.”9 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.” Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab 10 King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them. 11 One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”12 All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”13 Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”14 But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what the Lord tells me to say.”15 When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we hold back?”Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”16 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?”17 Then Micaiah told him, “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’ ”18 “Didn’t I tell you?” the king of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat. “He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”19 Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on His throne with all the armies of heaven around Him, on His right and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’“There were many suggestions, 21 and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’22 “ ‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked.“And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’“ ‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’23 “So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets. For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”24 Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah walked up to Micaiah and slapped him across the face. “Since when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” he demanded.25 And Micaiah replied, “You will find out soon enough when you are trying to hide in some secret room!”26 “Arrest him!” the king of Israel ordered. “Take him back to Amon, the governor of the city, and to my son Joash. 27 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!’ ”28 But Micaiah replied, “If you return safely, it will mean that the Lord has not spoken through me!” Then he added to those standing around, “Everyone mark my words!”
1 Kings 22:4-28
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