A Model, A Moron, and Abundant Mercy
1 Co. 15:33
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (KJV)
33 No os engañéis; las malas conversaciones corrompen las buenas costumbres. (RVG04)
2 Co. 6:14
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (KJV)
14 No os unáis en yugo desigual con los incrédulos; porque ¿qué compañerismo tiene la justicia con la injusticia? ¿Y qué comunión la luz con las tinieblas? (RVG04)
Central text: 2 Chr. 18:1-9:1
In many ways, Jehoshaphat, is remembered as one of the greatest kings of Judah. During his reign, there was a great reform that swept the land. As great as he was in leadership, he was equally as bad in relations and friendships.
He married into the family of Ahab. Ahab and Jezebel were evil, idol worshipping king and queen of Israel. This union was arranged purely out of political convenience.
He united with Ahab to fight against the enemies of Israel. It was only by the mercy of God that he escaped with his life.
On another occasion, he made alliance with King Ahaziah, with a goal of attaining great riches. God intervened and literally wrecked the whole scheme.
I. The Man who was Sure and Secure---Micaiah
II. The Man who was Sinful and Sentenced---Ahab
III. The Man who was Salvaged and Spared---Jehoshaphat
I. Micaiah
We all like to have friends. It is a good thing, right?
Eccl. 4:9
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (KJV)
9 Mejores son dos que uno; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo. (RVG04)
There are times that our faithfulness to the truth of God's Word, will limit our friendships, and even distance us from others. Sometimes following the will of God means that we stand alone.
Micaiah had a testimony. He was known as one who did not follow the majority. He was not a "yes" man.
He spent many an hour alone, without anyone to befriend him.
Many theologians believe that the unnamed prophet mentioned in 1 Kings 20:35-43 is this same Micaiah.
This prophet is not out to "win friends and influence people". He has a message that he is delivering because he knows that it is direct from God and that it will come to pass. After all, that is the test of a prophet.
The pressure is put him to cave in; to compromise. Why not join in agreement with the rest of the crowd, just this one time? Some of the prophets are even using drama and illustration to make it entertaining.
At least Micaiah could "plead the fifth" and then he could make a case for having been nuetral. No, no, no.
James 4:4
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (KJV)
4 Adúlteros y adúlteras, ¿no sabéis que la amistad del mundo es enemistad contra Dios? Cualquiera, pues, que quisiere ser amigo del mundo, se constituye enemigo de Dios. (RVG04)
He uses sarcasm at first. I am sure that it was evident in his voice. Thus, Ahab demands him to quit playing around and give him the truth.
Ahab hates this prophet, yet he respects the message that he gives. Even so, he decides to defy God and go ahead with his plan for war.
For his faithfulness and his fortitude, he is sent to prison. The king is shutting up the messenger, but there is no stopping the message.
Like Micaiah, we are called to speak for God. Not all will listen and take heed, but that is not our concern. We must be faithful to speak what is "thus saith the Lord", and leave the outcome in His hands. That is the secret of being sure and secure in Christ.
II. Ahab
This evil king likes the feeling of 400 prophets telling him what he wants to hear. These guys are all backslid and have no desire to hear from God. They are content to "tickle the ears" of the king.
He makes a willful choice to ignore the message from the prophet of God. He somehow pushes from his mind the prophecy against him made in 1 Kings 20.
Just for good measure, he decides to disguise himself, but tells Jehoshaphat to keep on the kingly robes (How do you like that for a good friendly gesture?) Evidently, in the back of his mind, he thought there may be a chance that Micaiah is right, but I will use a little strategy to avoid any trouble.
Amazingly, a stray, random arrow, found its way into his chest. There is no such thing as luck, so we know that the Lord allowed that arrow to find its target.
It is interesting to note that, as evil as Ahab had been; the Lord reached out to him one more time, to give him an opportunity of repentence.
Heb. 3:7,8
7 ¶ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (KJV)
7 Por lo cual, como dice el Espíritu Santo: Si oyereis hoy su voz, (RVG04)
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (KJV)
8 no endurezcáis vuestros corazones, como en la provocación, en el día de la tentación en el desierto, (RVG04)
Ahab was a sad, sad, loser. God was giving him another opportunity, yet he thought that he could outwit Jehovah.
It is just not going to happen.
III. Jehoshaphat
This man has played the fool.
He has made alliance with a perverted, corrupt king.
Now he finds himself in the middle of a raging war and the enemies have been told to seek out the man in royal garb.
As the enemy was upon him and had him surrounded, Jehoshaphat did what Ahab refused to do; he cried out from the depth of his soul. God, in His mercy, caused the enemy to be dispersed from the presence of this king. It for sure was not something that he deserved. Oh, what a consolation to know that any of us, in any mistake of life, can get help from God, if we simply will call out to Him from a sincere heart.
Ps. 18:6
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. (KJV)
6 En mi angustia invoqué a Jehová, y clamé a mi Dios: Él oyó mi voz desde su templo, y mi clamor llegó delante de Él, a sus oídos. (RVG04)
Ps. 30:2
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. (KJV)
2 Jehová Dios mío, a ti clamé, y me sanaste. (RVG04)
Thank the Lord for His mercy, even when it looks like it is too late.
