In the first
part of today’s chapter in Kings we see two kings and their different attitudes
to making decisions. Ahab, king of Israel, is frustrated that the king of Aram
is not being challenged over Ramoth Gilead. So he starts gathering his forces
and asks Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, if he will join the battle. It does not
seem to occur to Ahab to seek the Lord’s council before making the decision to
go to war. Think about the kind of decisions you’ve made so far this week. Have
there been occasions when you have forgotten to seek God’s answer?
At first
glance it might seem that Jehoshaphat has a better attitude. He is the one who
suggests seeking the Lord. But note that he only suggests this after he has
pledged himself, his people and horses to Ahab. A key attitude check for us is
to ask ourselves whether seek the Lord before
we decide in our own mind about what we should do.
After trying
to get away with just summoning the prophets who, it seems, tell him exactly
what he wants to hear, Ahab eventually agrees to send for Micaiah, a prophet of
the Lord. How willing are you to give permission to one or two people to speak
God’s truth into your life? How tempting do you find it to surround yourself
only with those who cheer you on and avoid those who challenge you?
Ahab’s
response to the prophetic word of the Lord is interesting. He obviously doesn’t
trust in it completely as he refuses to submit to it and goes into battle anyway.
There seems to be an element of ‘hedging his bets’, however, as he goes in
disguise so he must put some stock in the word of the Lord. How can we make
sure that we are people who submit to God’s word to us?
(member of the congregation)