Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Uncompromising Word Against Our Itchy Ears!
PART 1 (Self Assessment 82)
Background: The Word of God is sweeter than honey but only to willing hearts, otherwise, to the perverse, it remains a stumbling block. Apostle Paul warned that “…the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Tim 4: 3). Are we in that era as prophesied by the Apostle? Is it possible for some preachers and prophets to twist the Word just to feed the itchy ears of the people? For answers to these and more let us zoom straight into our weekly Bible study using two kings: Ahab & Jehoshaphat; and two prophets Zedekiah & Micaiah as our case study.
Text: 2 Chron 18: 1- 17
1 Now Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honour, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage. 2 Some years later he went down to see Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle for him and the people with him and urged him to attack Ramoth Gilead.
3 Ahab king of Israel asked Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat replied, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will join you in the war.”
4 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the LORD.” 5 So the king of Israel brought together the prophets —four hundred men —and asked them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I not?” “Go,” they answered, “for God will give it into the king’s hand.”
6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?”
7 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied. 8 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.” Amen
Questions:
i. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah feared God. Ahab, the king of Israel did not, yet Jehoshaphat allied himself with Ahab by marriage. What are some of the dangers there might be when we enter into serious alliance with the scornful and ungodly just for our personal interest? Give examples to buttress your view from vrs 1- 3.
ii. In vrs 5, Jehoshaphat suggested they seek the counsel of the Lord concerning the battle first. Why was that necessary? Why is that necessary to every believer in our days too?
iii. 400 prophets confirmed Ahab’s desire to go to war and assured Him victory. That was exactly what he wanted to hear, but Jehoshaphat wouldn’t just accept that. In vrs 6 he still insisted for another prophet. Why do you think this was so?
iv. Acccording to vrs 7, Ahab informed Jehoshaphat that there was still one prophet through whom they could inquire BUT HE (AHAB) HATES THAT PROPHET because the prophet never prophesies anything good about him. Jehoshaphat told him not to say such things. What do you think is wrong with Ahab’s perception about that said prophet (Micaiah)? Why did Jehoshaphat tell him not to say such things?
v. What have you learnt from today’s Bible study?
Kindly reply through this same social media platform (Facebook & WhatsApp). We learn a great deal from the answers you share with us. MAKE A DATE FOR PART TWO NEXT WEEK.
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