Foolish King Jehoshophat

By Mary Vee
I Kings 22

From A Messenger's Journal

I am a messenger from king Ahab's court. Sometimes my job involves sneaking to another city, listening for news then reporting it back to the court.

This time I did not need to report my news. 

Despite the warnings of the prophet Micaiah not to go to battle, king Jehoshaphat agreed to help king Ahab fight his battle against the king of Aram. 

When I sneaked into Ramoth-Gilead, I heard the king of Aram order his thirty-two commanders, "Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king of Israel." I was surprised he only wanted to attack king Ahab and not the army.

I reported the news back to king Ahab.

As they prepared for battle, king Ahab said to king Jehoshaphat, "I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal robes."

This seemed strange to me, but Jehoshaphat agreed. Jehoshaphat mounted his royal chariot, dressed in his royal robes, while Ahab marched in disguise with the other soldiers. Jehoshaphat's clothing looked different from Ahab's, but would the king of Aram know the difference?

The battle began. I marched with the soldiers. Ahab road in a chariot to my left. We advanced against Ramoth Gilead. The enemy marched against us, shouting orders. We pressed forward in battle but found chariots dodging our men. 

Their army steered toward Jehoshaphat's chariot. We tried to protect him, but their soldiers moved with such power.  Jehoshaphat shouted, "I am not the king of Israel!" Their army stopped chasing him, following the command of their king.

One of king Aram's soldiers drew his bow and shot into our army anyway, hitting king Ahab. The arrow pierced the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, "Turn around, I have been wounded."

The battle continued throughout the day. I stayed with the king, nursing his wound with a few others. We propped him up inside his chariot and facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died.

As the sun set, we shouted, "Every man to his town. Every one to his own land."

The doctors carried Ahab back to the city. I was told to insure Jehoshaphat returned safely. 

When he arrived at his palace, a prophet named Jehu greeted him with a message. "My king. Why did you help the wicked king, Ahab, the very man who hates the Lord? Because you did, the wrath of the Lord is upon you. The Lord has said there is some good in you, however. You have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God."

I didn't get to hear what his punishment would be before I returned to Samaria. 

King Ahab was buried in Samaria. His chariot was washed in a pool and the dogs licked up his blood, just as the Lord had said.

All of Israel celebrated the crowning of Ahaziah, Ahab's son, as king over Israel.

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photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1. King ___________ and King ___________ went to battle against ___________.
2. King _______________ wore his royal robes into battle.
3. King _______________ did not. He wore a disguise.
4. King _______________ ordered his men to only attack ______________.
5. The enemy chased king ____________ but stopped when they realized he was the wrong man.
6. A stray arrow flew and hit king _______________. He died that night.
7. When king ___________ returned a prophet greeted him with a message from the Lord. 
8. What did King Jehosophat do wrong?

Isn't There One Prophet of the Lord?

By Mary Vee
I Kings 22

From Jehoshaphat's Scrolls

I had asked King Ahab if there was not a prophet of the Lord whom we could ask our question. He had called his prophets of Baal and the answer they gave did not seem right to me. 

Ahab said, "There is still one man through whom we can ask a question of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me. Only bad. His name is Micaiah."

I sighed. "Ahab, you shouldn't say such things."

"Fine." Ahab puffed his chest forward. "I'll show you." He turned to the guards standing nearby. "Guard, bring Micaiah to me at once."

When he arrived, the guards brought Micaiah to us right away.

Ahab slouched back in his chair as if he knew the answer to his question before asking. "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?"

Micaiah didn't wait a moment. Rather he shrugged and said, "Attack and be victorious for the Lord will give it into your hands."

Ahab slammed his fist on the throne. "How many times must I make you promise to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?"

Micaiah drew a deep breath. His face showed he knew the answer before he came to Ahab's chambers. He clearly had spoken with the Lord before he entering the palace. He said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the Lord said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"

Ahab's face turned red with rage. He turned to me and slammed his fist on the throne again. "Didn't I tell you he never prophesies anything good about me, only bad?"

Micaiah continued speaking. "Hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on this right and left side. The Lord said, 'Who will talk Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?'

"One suggested this, and another that. Finally, a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord. It said, 'I will talk him into attacking.'

"The Lord asked, 'How will you do this?'

"'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he answered.

"'You will succeed in doing so,' said the Lord. 'Go and do it.'

"And now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster for you."

Ahab's fist balled tighter. He stood and pointed at Micaiah. "Take this man and send him back to Amon and to Joash, the king's son and say, 'King Ahab decrees you should put this man in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'"

The guards grabbed Micaiah arms. Micaiah turned back to the king and shouted, "If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me. Mark my words, all you people."

The guards hauled him out of the room.

So, which is telling the truth? Come back next week to see.

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Photo courtesy of christianimagesource.com

1. Jehoshaphat asked for ______________________ to answer Ahab's question.
2. King Ahab didn't want to ask Micaiah to come because Ahab __________________
3. What did Ahab ask Micaiah?
4. What did Micaiah answer?
5. Did Ahab listen?
6. What happened to Micaiah?