We need friends who care what God thinks. Who are your closest friends? Do they love Jesus? Sooner or later, our companions will affect our decisions. So we must knit our souls to people who are bound and determined to follow God.
King Ahab consistently made poor decisions. He considered Elijah his enemy. But he reached out to Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, who loved God. He asked Jehoshaphat to join him in battling the Arameans to reclaim land. Jehoshaphat was all in, but he told Ahab to inquire of the Lord. We need friends who care what God thinks. Ahab brought out his court prophets who told him what he wanted to hear: “You will win the battle.” When they told him the Lord promised victory, they used the general name Adonai, but did not mention the name of Yahweh.
Still, Jehoshaphat persisted: “Do you have any prophets who know Yahweh, the LORD?” Ahab hedged, “I have one but he always prophesies bad things about me.” Like a good friend, and a good king, Jehoshaphat persisted. So Ahab sent for Micaiah. The attendant asked Micaiah to go along to get along. Micaiah promised to say what the Lord told him to say. At first, Micaiah agreed with the other prophets, in jest. But Ahab knew he shouldn’t go into battle, so he asked for the truth. “You will die,” Micaiah promised. Others said he was lying. One prophet smacked Micaiah in the face. But he would change his story.
Despite his best attempts to trick the enemy into killing Jehoshaphat, Ahab died, proving Micaiah’s testimony to be true. Dogs licked up the king’s blood as Elijah had promised. God told Elijah on the mountain, “I have 7000 who have never bowed to Baal.” Micaiah was one of those. Are we? Can God count on us, to tell the truth? Will we serve him exclusively?
Virtus Gideon told me in seminary: “There is usually one person in the church who will tell you the truth. Listen to what they say.” Be that person today. Then like Samuel, Elijah, and Micaiah, your words will count for eternity. You will be the kind of friend everybody needs.
