Micaiah (fl. 852 B.C.) Speaks God’s Word Though it Means He Will Go to Prison.

[ABOVE—View of Samaria, where Micaiah prophecied Ahab’s doom, by Ori~ (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons]

When Micaiah was placed in temporary custody, it was for making an unpopular prediction; the terms of his incarceration were that he was to be held until that prediction, as was expected, failed, at which time, presumably, he would be executed as a false prophet. The significance of his imprisonment—the benefit that he offered to others through it—was not some great writing or art or music, but a permanent testimony to God’s veracity, for his prediction came true.

1 Kings 22:13-28.

And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look now, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth: let your word, I urge you, be like the word of one of them, and speak what is good.”

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And Micaiah replied, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me is what I will I say.”

So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, “Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth Gilead to battle, or shall we hold off?”

And he answered him, “Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.”

And the king said unto him, “How many times must I warn you that you shall tell me nothing but what is true in the name of the Lord?”

And he said, 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.”

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?”

And Micaiah said, “So hear 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 will persuade Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?” And one said this, and another said that. And there came forward a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, “I will persuade him.

” And the Lord said to him, “How?” And he said, “I will go out, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.” And he said, “You will persuade him, and also succeed: go out, and do so.”

“Now therefore, look, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has spoken evil concerning you.”

But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?”

And Micaiah answered, “Look, you shall see in that day, when you go into an inner room to hide yourself.”

And the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; And say, ‘This is what the king says, “Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with the bread of affliction and with the water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”

And Micaiah said, “If you return at all in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Listen, People, every one of you.”