1 Kings 22, is an interesting chapter, Elijah isn’t mentioned, but the Lord does things a little differently from what we might expext.

Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.  He walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord:

Judah and Israel are going to work to recover land lost to the Syrians.  Now Jehosaphat, the King of Judah, was a good and Godly man, it is inexplicable that he joins forces with the wicked Ahab, the King of Israel.

Yet, here he is.

“And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord to day.”

Ahab had about four hundred (false) prophets, who told them:  “Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Jehoshaphat, found this a little odd and said:
“Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?”

Apparently, there was one, Ahab answered:  “Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

Jehoshaphat, wanted to hear his word, so he was called.  Meanwhile, some of the false prophets were acting out the great victory they foresaw.

Micaiah, was warned to speak good things like the false prophets.  He replied:  “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.”

This harkens back to the story of Balaam, in Numbers 22.  Balek wanted Balaam to prophecy evil for Israel.  Balaam said he could only speak the Word of the Lord.

We hear a donkey speak, in todays story we find something unusual once again.

Ahab asks him, shall we go?  The answer surprises him.

Micaiah replied:  “Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” 

The same words as the false prophets… 

Ahab knew something was wrong and said:
“How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?”

Apparently, Ahab knew he was not doing what the Lord desired.  He knew the Lords prophet shouldn’t agree with the others.

Then Micaiah, spoke again:  “I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.”

Ahab said unto Jehoshaphat,  “Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?”

The word of the Lord came to Micaiah once again:  “Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.

And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.”

This story, here and in 2 Chronicles 18 is the only place a lying spirit is mentioned in the Bible  

Saints, we know the Lord can make snakes and donkeys speak.  Now we know He can use  lying spirits, (notice, a small s), to accomplish His goals.

These are evil spirits, used by the Lord to do His bidding.  The Lord uses the use-able. 

If we aren’t allowing Him to use us,  how and by whom are we being used?   Are we a light shining in a dark world, or a black hole, sucking up the light.

A false prophet smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee?”

Micaiah said, “Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.”

Ahab proclaimed:   “Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;   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 come in peace.”

Bread and water of affliction:  We only find this phrase in the story of Micaiah and one other place,

Isaiah 30:20-21
“And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Even in the midst of the worst adversities, the Word of the Lord will be there to guide, direct and protect us.

Micaiah said, “If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me.  Hearken, O people, every one of you.”

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.

Ahab disguised himself while Jehoshaphat had on his royal robes.  The Syrians were ordered to go after Ahab.  

At first they targeted Jehoshaphat, realized their error and by chance hit Ahab.  He bled out and died in his chariot.

And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.”

Micaiahs prophecy fulfilled, and then we find Elijahs prophecy fulfilled.

And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the Lord which he spake.

So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

We have seen men of God, Obediah, hid and fed 100 prophets of God, Micaiah, who brought the Lords truth once again to Ahab.

Then his word coming true, once again Elijah.  All three were vessels used by the Lord to accomplish His purpose.

We need to be available also.

Lord, please open our hearts and minds to be ready to answer Your call.  May we make a difference for Your Kingdom.   Amen