11 Chronicles Chapter 18

Jehoshaphat Allies with Ahab

2Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2 And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.
3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.

Ahab and his wife Jezebel were very wicked idolaters, to join with them was a big mistake and caused trouble later on. While we are to share the gospel of Jesus with those we are aquainted with we must be careful not to be unequally yoked in the same battles, in marriage and in trading. This type of alliance can come back and be used against us. We need to depend on God and not make alliances with wicked nations. We don't have to dictate to them or cause trouble with them but to join with them might be causing us to endorse their evil.

Notice that Ahab bribed Jehoshaphat and asks him to join with him to battle against common enemies. They could have been distant friends and not be unqually yoked but to join with them and make agreements to work together for a cause can be dangerous for it makes an appearance of agreeing with their wickedness. The northern kingdom had gotten very deep into idolatry, the ultimate insult and abomination against God.

For Believers in Jesus today we can learn from this mistake of Jehoshaphat's.

2Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

There are some things we do not join with unbelievers in or it will cause us trouble later on. We can be kind, help them when they are in trouble, like changing a tire or getting them medical help. We can pray for them; but to join with them in a way that causes us to compromise our faith in God can influence others to do the same and risk becoming under the influence of evil workers. Be kind but be an example of godly living at the same time. Never be ashamed of Jesus in front of anyone.

2Chronicles 18:4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.
6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?
7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

This shows that Ahab was not one to trust. He hated anyone that didn't tell him what he wanted to hear.

This is what so many down through the ages have done. Once they got into some kind of authority in government they would persecute those opposed their own belief system. The ended up persecuting and even putting to death those that believed in the word of God and that listened to God and preached the real truth of the gospel. Just because they don't like what the prophets say, or what the written word says, or what God says, doesn't change God's mind. Some tend to get mad at the preachers that speak truth.

Burning every bible in the world will not change God's word. We can't get rid of God's word and if we try to keep it from people, we will be judged severely by God. Persecuting His prophets will only bring harsh judgment to us and we could lose our souls for eternity. Preaching there is no heaven or hell doesn't make those places disappear for instance. Believing that there is no God and we evolved over billions of years doesn't make it true. God still exists whether one believes in Him or not.

2Chronicles 18:8 And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

Ahab sends for all the prophets including the one he hated. So they set and listen to them. This is a good example of how joining with Ahab was a mistake on Jehoshaphat's part. He was hearing the false prophets as well as just one to tells the truth.

2Chronicles 18:10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.
11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

These prophets spake exactly what the kings wanted to hear.

2Chronicles 18:12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

The messenger for the king advised Micaiah to prophesy what the king wanted to hear and agree with the other prophets.

2Chronicles 18:13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.
14 And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
15 And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?

At first it seems that Micaiah decides to say what the king wanted to hear but for some reason the king asked him again to speak truth but I think Ahab was just trying to get him to say something to make the prophet look bad in front of Jehoshaphat.

2Chronicles 18:16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.
17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?

This shows Ahab's evil intent to make the prophet look like a nut case because the majority of the prophets agreed with going to battle. Micaiah's prophecy meant that Abab would die in battle.

2Chronicles 18:18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.
19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?
21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.
22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

God allows those that are wicked to hear what they want to hear sometimes if they have a strong desire to do what they want and really don't want to hear what God really says. Demonic spirits will volunteer to deceive. We should always have a desire to hear only from God. Many times in history kings will inquire from prophets of the Lord but then get angry if they prophesy something they disagree with.

2Chronicles 18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

The false prophets would end up going to hide themselves when their prophesy proves to be false.

2Chronicles 18:25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;
26 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

He goes back to prison for not speaking what they wanted to hear. They either have to lie and be found out as a false prophet or tell the truth and be thrown in prison or put to death.

2Chronicles 18:27 And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.

So in other words Micaiah says, okay if you come back in peace and the enemies are defeated that means I do not speak truth.

The Defeat and Death of Ahab

2Chronicles 18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.
29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.
31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.
33 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.

Ahab dies but God spares Jehoshaphat. The one lone prophet was the one that told the truth.
Things haven't changed much. Mankind tends to want to hear things that make them feel good in doing what is right in their own eyes but not right with God.

11 Chronicles Chapter 19