Daily Manna 7 November
KEY VERSE: ““And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.” – (2 Chronicles 18:13)
TEXT: 2 Chronicles 18:13-27 (KJV)
13 And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.”
14 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”
And he said, “Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!”
15 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
16 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ”
17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left. 19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ 21 So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.’ 22 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”
23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?”
24 And Micaiah said, “Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”
25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace.” ’ ”
27 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
You may have heard the saying that “eagles fly alone; crows fly in groups”. The eagle is regarded as the king of birds for its sheer strength, farsightedness, courage and soaring power compared to other birds. The eagle flies above the clouds and can see up to three kilometres ahead. It does not need a crowd of supporters to amass relevance or confidence. Just like the eagle among birds, so is the truly godly person in the midst of other people.
Micaiah’s peculiar nature could not be hidden when he stood among a multitude of false and popular prophets of his time at the king’s court. Jehoshaphat, the god-fearing king of Judah, had unfortunately joined affinity with Ahab, the wicked king of Israel who invited him for assistance in the war against the Syrians. When they consulted the prophets to know the outcome of the war, all, except Micaiah, prophesied victory for Ahab. King Ahab already knew that Micaiah was uncompromising but had to bring him in on the insistence of Jehoshaphat. In keeping with his character, Micaiah spoke the truth about the impending defeat of Ahab and the resultant distress of Israel. For this, he was punished.
These days, those who dare to uphold the truth and godly values are labelled as idiots and bigots. They are derided and intimidated. Unfortunately, there are many professing Christians whose conviction is so shallow that they easily get swayed by popular opinion and prevailing socio-cultural tide. Some preachers’ ministrations are even shaped by the dictates of the masses. But Micaiah neither craved any of such nor did he flinch from the anger of the king. He resolved that “As the LORD liveth, even what my God, saith, that will I speak.”
Every day presents Christians the opportunity to show their Christlike nature. Our overriding desire must be to please God, not men.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It takes courage to be different.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 49-50
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Road Less Travelled – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 7 November 2021
