1 Kings 22

The final chapter of First Kings contains an account of Ahab's death in a joint military campaign with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. God announced the death of Ahab through His prophet, Micaiah. The prophet gave a word that unveiled the hidden work of the heavenly council in the affairs of the earth. The Lord had placed a “lying spirit” in the mouth of all Ahab's other prophets.

Ahab needed the truth, but he was unwilling to hear it. His other prophets had assured him that he would have victory against his enemies. They were wrong.

The death of Ahab was extraordinary. As men make their plans, Ahab should have lived. Ahab made the king of Judah look like the only king on the field of battle. Yet the king of Judah was spared, and a “random” arrow struck the disguised king of Israel in exactly the wrong spot.

The details of Ahab's death were in accord with an earlier word from the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 21:19. Ahab had gone to great lengths to protect his own life, but now he was gone.

The book ends with a brief account of the king of Judah, and the next king of Israel, the son of Ahab. The former is noted as one who “did what was right in the sight of the Lord,” and the latter “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

What makes a good king good? What makes an evil king evil? One very important factor is his receptivity to the truth. Ahab did not want to hear the truth. It was Jehoshaphat that had to insist that they find a true prophet of the Lord before they went out to battle. Ahab treated the prophet of the Lord with disrespect. He trusted in his own ability to preserve his life.

When Jesus spoke to the Jews so many centuries later, he said this about God's Word: “If you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

The truth must be proclaimed by the Lord's servants. It also must be heard, believed, and confessed by His people.

Jesus came as the true King of the Jews. He spoke the Word of God as a pure prophet, and offered up His life as a righteous priest. If we abide in His Word, we shall know the truth, and the truth shall set us free.