In this solemn chapter we read of the death of one of the most wicked kings of Israel; King Ahab. If you read chapter 21 you will see that his wife was just as wicked and she had an innocent man named Naboth killed to satisfy her husband’s covetous heart for Naboth’s land (verses 1-16). Because of this treacherous act of murder, God had His prophet Elijah tell Ahab that he and his wife would meet with a terrible death and all their sons would be cut off as well (verses 17-24).

In chapter 22 we find Ahab planning to attack his enemies in Syria and he asked Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah to join him in the battle. Jehoshaphat agreed to this, but he asked Ahab to inquire for the word of the LORD to get His consent (verses 1-5). Ahab then gathered 400 prophets together and asked them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” and they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it unto the hand of the king” (verse 6). Jehoshaphat did not believe they were true prophets and asked for Ahab to inquire from “a prophet of the Lord” (verse 7). Ahab told him “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah…. But I hate him, because HE DOES NOT PROPHESY GOOD CONCERNING ME, but evil” (verse 8). This again reveals how wicked a man Ahab was; he knew the 400 prophets would “tell him what he wanted to hear” and that Miciah would “tell him what the Lord wanted him to hear,” which would be words of judgment on account of his wickedness.

When a messenger came to summon Micaiah he told him, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king. Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement,” but Micaiah said, “As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak” (verses 13-14). When Micaiah came to Ahab he initially said, “Go and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king” but Ahab knew he was saying this in sarcasm and he replied, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD” (verses 15-16). Micaiah then 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.” The “shepherd” and the “master” spoke of Ahab and “his death!” Micaiah then told Ahab the VISION he received. He said, “I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ 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.’ Therefore look! The LORD has put A LYING SPIRIT IN THE MOUTH OF ALL THESE PROPHETS OF YOURS, and the LORD has declared disaster against you’” (verses 19-23). Though God is NOT “the author of evil” He sometimes allows “lying spirits” (fallen angels/demons) to be used to achieve His purposes, and in this case His purpose was to convince Ahab to go to battle, where he would then lose his life as a punishment from God.

So, we see that Micaiah had a real VISION where he saw God’s throne and hosts of angels standing in His presence. There were not only God’s “holy angels” there, but also “fallen angels” (see Job 1:6) who had no problem telling lies. They agreed to be “lying spirits” who would deceive the false prophets into telling Ahab what he wanted to hear. God is sovereign and He can and does allow Satan and his angels to be used of Him to further His purposes. In a future day, when the Antichrist will be revealed, he will use all kinds of “power, signs, and LYING WONDERS” to deceive those who have rejected Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). Verse 11 goes on to say, “And for this reason God will send them STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE THE LIE, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Like Ahab, Christ-rejectors hate the truth and live wicked lives, and they will easily be persuaded by THE LIE of the Antichrist.  (DO)  (734.5)