Third Presbyterian Sunday Morning Bible Study - October 31, 2021

Below is the Bible Study written by Jim Rudiger for his Sunday School Class which meets at Third Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia. It's based on 1 Kings 22:15-23, 17-18.

Truth or Consequences. When I was a kid I never missed that show on radio. Ralph Edwards would ask some dumb trick question and the contestant would have to give the right answer. If he didn’t, he had to pay the consequences which was to do something that would be very embarrassing like wear a diaper down Granby Street. In all of the years I listened to that show, I don’t ever remember someone giving the right answer. Generally the prize for making a fool of yourself was a war bond valued at $18.50.

That show brings up and interesting question. Should you always tell the truth? Would you have many friends if your did? A friend asks you how this new winkle cream she is using looks. Now her face still looks like the working surface of Gene Autry’s saddle, but can you tell her? No. We would lie and say it has taken years off her face while thinking, “Yeah. Took the good years and left the bad ones. Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men responds to Tom Cruise when he asks Jack for the truth, Jack responded by saying, “The truth. The truth. You can’t handle the truth!” Unfortunately, a lot of time we can’t handle the truth either because it doesn’t jibe with what we think or it is too painful to accept.

It’s like the man who hadn’t been feeling well and went to the doctor for an examination. The doctor looked into everything - probed and squeezed and took various samples. After getting all the test results, the doctor leaves the examining room and calls the man’s wife into his office. The doctor tells her that her husband is suffering from a rare form of anemia. If he is to survive, he will need to have a better diet and a clean environment. For breakfast she will need two three minute eggs, oven toast and orange juice squeezed by hand. Lunch she will make him vegetable soup with home made bread and four blue berries. For supper, a Caesar salad, baked potato and a medium rare steak. As to the house, it has to be as clean as an operating room. The floors have to be scrubbed every day. Anything she or he touches will have to be cleaned with sanitary wipes . And above all, dishes and cooking ware will be sterilized before use. It will be a lot of work, but if she does all he told her to do, her husband will live..

She goes back into the examining room. The husband looks her in the eye and tells her, “Tell me the truth. What did the doctor say?” She pauses, thinking about what the doctor said, then she says, “The doctor says you are going to die.”

Last week we studied how Elijah confronted King Ahab with his sin. Ahab worshiped Baal and had even built a temple to Baal in Samaria, the capital. Because of his sin, Israel would have a drought. The drought lasts over two years and finally Elijah meets with Ahab and offers a deal. Ahab can have all of his prophets build an alter to Baal and place a sacrifice on it and Elijah will build an alter to God and put a sacrifice on it. The first god who hits the sacrifice with fire will be the sure fire winner.

Ahab gathers the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal along with the four hundred prophets of Asherah, the goddess worshiped by his wife, Jezebel, to beg Baal to throw a fire ball at his sacrifice. Against this army of eight hundred and fifty prophets, God will have one prophet, Elijah. First up were Ahab’s prophets team. For six hours, the prophets of Baal danced, yelled and cut themselves trying to get Baal to start a fire. Finally, at three o’clock in the afternoon, the prophets of Baal fall on the ground completely wore out from so much dancing and yelling.

It’s now Elijah’s turn. He stepped forward commanded that the alter, wood and sacrifice be doused with four large container’s of water. A second time he told the people to pour water on the alter. A third time he said, “More water” and the alter was drenched. In fact, water flowed out forming big puddles on he ground. And then after a quiet prayer to God, a roaring fire seemed to erupt on the alter consuming the sacrifice, the alter, and even the puddles on the ground. The people saw what had happened and acknowledged that the Lord was the true and only god.

Unfortunately, Ahab doesn’t change. The rains come and the land again becomes productive. Things seemed to getting back to normal when Ahab gets word from the king of Syria that he had amassed an army and if Ahab doesn’t give him all of his gold and silver and good looking wives, then he was going to attack. Ahab sends word that he should comply. The king of Syria had a party and gets drunk and gives the command to get ready to invade. Ahab is worried. The army arrayed against him was massive.

A prophet comes to Ahab and tells him to take on and kill the king of Syria, that God is going to back him and he will know that God is the Lord of Israel. God commands that the Israelites attack first.

Now the Syrian king and all of his generals are having this party and getting plastered. A soldier rushes in and tells him that there are a lot of men approaching from Samaria. The king thinks that it is an envoy of peace coming out to offer more goodies so he tells the soldiers to relax and bring the Israelites to him when they get there. The Israel army walks in unopposed and start hacking up the Syrians.

The Syrian king realizes what is happening and gets on a horse to flee. He is captured by the Israelites and brought before Ahab. He offers to give back all of the land he has conquered plus some of his own cities if Ahab will spare his life. Ahab agrees and lets the king go. The prophet of the Lord comes to Ahab and tells him that wasn’t the deal. Ahab was supposed to kill the Syrian king. The prophet tells Ahab that because he hadn’t killed the king of Syria he will be killed. Ahab brushes off the prophet and returns to Samaria.

One day Ahab notices a nice vineyard close to his house and thinks that would be a nice place for a garden. So, he goes to the owner and offers to buy it or to trade it for another vineyard. The owner does want to sell. The land had been in the family for generations and he wanted to pass it on to his children. Ahab pouts and tell Jezebel about this mean guy who won’t give him what he wants. Jezebel tells him not to worry. She will get the vineyard for him. She writes letters in Ahab’s name to the elders telling them to call for a fast and to make sure the owner of the vineyard right in the middle of the people. When everybody is there right in the center of a lot of people. Then have two guys stand and accuse the vineyard owner of cursing God and the king. The elders are to tell the people to take the vineyard owner out of the city and stone him to death for this offence.

As soon as Jezebel got word that the owner was dead, she went to Ahab and told him that the vineyard was his because the owner was dead. Ahab didn’t question how he died, but went right down and started to picking grapes. When the word of what had happened reached Elijah, he came before Ahab and tells him that his days are numbered. Where the owner’s blood soaked the ground, Ahab’s blood would flow and the dogs will lick up his blood. Jezebel and all follower’s of Ahab will be eaten by dogs if they are in the city and eaten by birds if they are outside of the city. Ahab knows that Elijah is speaking the truth and goes into mourning.

Now Israel and the Arameans had been at war for several years. During this time, Israel and Judah joined in a shaky alliance. When Israel had faced a war with another country, the Arameans were having trouble with that country too and joined Israel in defeating that country. As a result, Israel and the Arameans entered into a period of peace. But it was not a peace that Ahab was comfortable with. For one thing, the Arameans still occupied a city named Ramoth-gilead which Israel claimed. The king of Aramea had promised to return this city to Israel but was welshing on the promise.

As time went by, this gnawed at Ahab. Finally he invites Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to come up for a visit. Israel was by far the stronger kingdom and Jehoshaphat didn’t want to anger Ahab and so he came. Ahab then suggested a joint venture where they would liberate Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat is in a tight spot. He isn’t anxious to go to war over a city that means absolutely nothing to Judah but he doesn’t want to tick off Ahab either. He wisely suggests that the prophets of the Lord be asked if this war is a good idea.

Ahab calls four hundred prophets and asks their opinion. He probably started out with, “You guys know that this city really belongs to Israel and that the people there are clamoring for us to free them from bondage to the Arameans. Now, I want your honest answer. Should we invade and get back the land that really belongs to us and make God proud of us or should we lay down like whipped dogs and lick the boots of the oppressors?” Given that choice, what do you think the 400 prophets said? The answer was unanimous. “Man, God is really behind you in this, Ahab. He is already weakening the enemy so your victory will be an easy one.” Now Jehoshaphat isn’t convinced or maybe he was looking for a way out. He asks Ahab, “Are you sure that these are all of the prophets? Maybe you missed one.” Ahab admits that there is another prophet, Micaiah, but he is such a downer. He never thinks that anything that Ahab does is right, but, if that will make you happy, we’ll get Micaiah.

And that is where we pick up the battle for the truth.

1 Kings 22: 15 When he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain? He answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it unto the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

Miciah knows what is going on. The soldier that was sent to get him told him that the four hundred prophets had said that this war would have God’s blessing, but, Micaiah knows that God is opposed to this war. Micaiah is ushered in before the two kings, Ahab and Jehoashphat. They are sitting on thrones dressed in rich robes. The four hundred prophets are standing behind them smiling. Micaiah looks around. He must have felt very lonely as he saw all the supporters of the kings standing there.

Ahab asks the $64.00 dollar question., “Shall we invade Ramoth-gilead or stay here?” A very simple direct question. Micaiah swallows and then says something very strange. “Go up and you will be a winner. God will give you the city.” Now wait, this doesn’t sound like a very honorable moral thing for Micaiah to say knowing full well that God is against this invasion. Why does he agree with what Ahab wants to do when God hasn’t blessed it? (1) fear for his life. Ahab doesn’t want to hear the truth. He wants to hear that he is right. (2) What difference does it make. Ahab is going to do what he wants anyway. (3) maybe I wasn’t getting the real desire of God. After all, four hundred other prophets can’t all be wrong. We don’t really know why Micaiah said this but the next verse gives us a hint.

Ahab reminds Micaiah that he is supposed to tell the truth and Ahab knows that he isn’t telling the truth this time. How would Ahab know that Micaiah is lying? (1) this isn’t the way he acted in the past - too good to be true. (2) maybe it was the way that Micaiah said it. Maybe there was sarcasm and mockery in his voice like, “Sure, king, God really wants you to go up there and win. Right. When elephants stop eating peanuts” Now, Ahab, wants the truth. But, can he handle the truth?

1 Kings 22: 17 Then Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the Lord said, “These have no master; Let each one go home in peace.” 18 The king of Isarel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell that he would not prophet anything favorable about me, but only disaster?”

Micaiah says, “OK, you asked for it. I see your whole army scattered like sheep on a hill. No shepherd to round them up. No king to rally the troops. The army will go running back home and Israel will be defeated” How does Ahab react to this prophesy? He turns to Jehoshaphat and says, “See. Isn’t this what I told you he would say. This guy is against me. He will never say anything that I want to hear. Just doom and gloom. That is why we should listen to the four hundred true prophets who all predict that we will win.”

1 Kings 22: 19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him. 20 And the Lord said, “Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” Then one said one thing, and another said another, 21 until a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord saying, “I will entice him.” 22 ‘How?’ the Lord asked him. He replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ Then the Lord said, “You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.’ 23 So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit on the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has decreed disaster for you.”

Micaiah’s credibility is on the line. How is he going to prove that he is getting the true word of God and all of the others are saying something just the opposite. To discredit the prophesy of the four hundred, Micaiah tells them what has happened in heaven. There is a big meeting and God and the heavenly host are discussing how Ahab will be prevented from getting the true prophesy. They are scratching their heads when a spirit raises his hand and says, “I’ve got an idea. Suppose I go down and whisper lies into the heads of the other prophets. Lies that say that Ahab will win. When he hears all of the prophets that he likes say he is a winner, then he won’t pay any attention to what Micaiah says.” You see. Ahab still has the freedom to pick who he wants to listen to. If he receives two different pieces of advice, he can still choose which to follow. God isn’t forcing Ahab to make the wrong choice. He just knows which advice Ahab will take.

1 Kings 22: 26 The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Jooash the king’s son, 27 and say, “Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I come in peace.’” 28 Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear you peoples,  all of you!”

Ahab does a very human thing. If you don’t like the message, take it out on the messenger. Have you ever had to bring bad news to someone? How were you treated? A lot of times you are blamed for the news. That is why a lot of times we don’t want to be the bearer of bad news. Ahab is no different. He orders that Micaiah be put in jail and be fed only enough to keep him alive. Ahab tells the people that he will release Micaiah when the Israeli army returns in triumph. Micaiah then speaks up and says, “If the king returns in triumph, then I’m not a prophet and the Lord isn’t my source of information. But if the king is defeated, then you heard it here first from me.”

Ahab jumps in and says, “See! What did I tell you. He even admits that the Lord didn’t give him that bad prophesy.”

Ahab drags Jehoshaphat with him into this war with the Arameans. As they approach Ramoth-gilead, Ahab turns to Jehoshaphat and says, “Look. I’m going to change into the clothes of a regular soldier so I can get down and fight with the men. You stay up here on your horse and in your royal robes so the soldiers will see that their king is still with them. Now Ahab isn’t trying to win the Congressional Medal of Honor here. What he is doing is getting into a disguise and setting up Jehoshaphat for assassination. The enemy will see only one king up on his white horse and will think that it is Ahab and will aim their arrows at him. In the meantime, Ahab can hide behind a tree. Now the worst part of this is that Jehoshaphat goes along with this scheme.

Sure enough, a group of enemy soldiers sees Jehoshaphat up on his horse and thinks it is Ahab, the king of Israel, and starts to chase him. Now Jehoshaphat is jumping up and down yelling at the top of his lungs that they are chasing the wrong guy. This is where we get the phrase “Jumping Jehoshaphat.” “Hey guys, I’m the king of Judah and not Israel”. Finally, the soldiers recognize that he isn’t Ahab and return to the battle field. Jehoshaphat has had enough of this war, so he packs up and heads for home.

Things aren’t going good for the Israelis. Ahab climbs into a chariot and tries to rally the troops, but an arrow hits him where his armor doesn’t protect him. He is mortally wounded, but alive. The soldiers prop him up in his chariot, but as the sun sets, Ahab dies. When he dies, the cry goes out, “Every man for himself.” And the army scatters and retreats back home. The bloody chariot carrying Ahab’s body is taken back to Samaria. The chariot is washed off at the same spot where the vineyard owner was stoned to death. As the blood washed down on the ground, dogs licked up the blood. All confirming Elijah’s prophesy.

Truth or consequences. That is what Ahab faced. But it wasn’t Ralph Edwards making him do something foolish, it was God repaying Ahab for a lifetime of sin. This lesson is all about truth and how to handle it. But how do we know when we should tell the truth and when we should tell a little white lie? We should tell the absolute truth when that truth is more than just our opinion. It is when we can base it on God’s word and his will. We should when the truth will build up a person rather than tear them down; and we should when the truth will save another rather than destroy another.

Prayer: Dear Father, may we recognize that when we feel uncomfortable, it is your Spirit whispering in our ear, telling us what is your truth. May we listen to that spirit and act on that truth as you would have us act.