Prophesying To Please

Prophesying To Please 

I Kings 22:16-18 NKJV

[16] 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?” [17] 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.’ ” [18] And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

The preponderance of false prophets and prophecies in these last days have made it look like its a playground for fakes. Prophecy is a special ministry gift with divinely inspired revelation or interpretation.  Christinity.com says that it: " encapsulates the divine communication of God's will, often foretelling future events or conveying messages of moral and spiritual significance. Prophets, as designated messengers of God, play a pivotal role in this dynamic relationship between the Creator and His creation. The voices of prophets such as Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah echo through the pages of the Old and New Testaments, each prophet uniquely contributing to the unfolding story of salvation, redemption, and the fulfillment of God's promises." When Prophets or people with prophecies begin to use the guft for merchandising or control, it is not different from witchcraft.

   In our reading today, there appear two class of prophets. One set prophesy to please the King, and Micaiah prophesied for his conscience and Jehovah. There are so many lives that have been ruined, marriges scattered, and homes and businesses destroyed because of false prophets and their prophecies. Prophecies must be judged by the word of God. 

  Micaiaih's prophecy was not pleasing to Ahab or Jehosaphat. So they set out together. Even in the Old Testament, there were guidelines and warnings on how to receive prophets and prophecies. Deut.18:20-22,  Jer.23:16-18,22. Prophetic words aren't to please the hearers. They are to communicate insights from the council of heaven. God knows how to defend His words when people disparage the prophecies and the prophets. On no account should a prophet prophesy to please. Whose words do you listen to? Good morning.