1 Kings 22

The Sadducees were prejudiced against the doctrine of the resurrection, (Luke 20:27). (2.) Prejudice against the person preaching, (1 Kings 22:8). There is one Micaiah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him.

2. A second position is this: There are providences that are casual and accidental to us, are predetermined by the Lord: the falling of a tile upon one's head, the breaking out of a fire to us, is casual, but it is ordered by a providence of God. You have a clear instance of thi…

Quest. But why does Satan, in tempting, chiefly set upon our faith? Answer. (1 Kings 22:31) Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king. So faith is as it were the king of the graces; it is a royal, princely grace, and puts forth the most majestic and noble acts,…

Non periclitor dicere (says Tertullian) ipsas Scripturas ita dispositas esse, ut materiam subministrant haereticis: So the Lord himself says (Jeremiah 6:21), Behold I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; that is, suffer them to stumble at their own prejudices. 3. God le…

They must hate and vilify religious persons, as the malefactor does his judge. An eminent instance of this we have in Ahab (1 Kings 22:8), where, being asked by Jehoshaphat, if there was not there a prophet of the Lord, he answers, There is one Micaiah, the son of Imlah, by whom…

⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩ to draw; as the word ⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩ (Canticles 1:4), "Draw me, we will run after you," is first, a word of violence and strength. (1 Kings 22:34) A certain man drew a bow, ⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩. (Job 41:1) Will you draw Leviathan with you…

When they ask counsel then of this father of lies, it is no marvel though they be [reconstructed: deceived] under a color of truth: but in the mean while, it is a just punishment of God upon them for their ingratitude. We read that a lying spirit was let loose by means of the fa…

Being given up by the righteous Judgment of God to all Delusions, for belying his Spirit and holy Inspirations, they were quickly possessed with a Spirit of Lying and unclean Divination. So the false Prophets of Ahab, who encouraged him to go up to Ramoth Gilead, foretelling his…

The thing itself in its existence it is true cannot be made so a sign; but it may in the promise and prediction of it. And many instances we have of things promised for signs, which were not to exist in themselves, until after the accomplishment of the things whereof they were s…

Thus all things in heaven and earth are disposed of by the unerring wisdom, and limited by the Almighty power of God. Such a representation as this we read in (1 Kings 22:19), where Micaiah said to Ahab, Hear you the word of the Lord, I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and…

And besides, the Devil is more assiduous and subtle in his temptations toward them than others: because if they can be perverted by him, they will prove great and most effectual instruments to promote his kingdom. And therefore in Micaiah's parable (1 Kings 22), no sooner had Go…

You never lie, but you speak aloud what the Devil whispered softly to you. The Old Serpent lies folded round in your heart, and we may hear him hissing in your voice: and therefore when God summoned all his heavenly attendance about him; and demanded who would persuade Ahab to g…

3. of glory. But Satan being no Master or Lord of providence, has no real stirring in second causes; his actings upon angel or mens souls are not physical, but only moral or tempting actings, or hellish inspirations inductive to sin; and it's no small mercy that the Prince and G…

It speaks much grace in Josiah (2 Kings 22:19) to feel and suffer, with softness and tenderness of a meekened and a tamed heart, the smart and pain of the influences of the threatening law. And it is prevalency of grace for Hezekiah (Isaiah 39) to stoop to the like and to say, g…

5. His actings are in matter of lots that seem to be ruled by fortune and chance (Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 49; Deuteronomy 33, compared with Joshua 14:1, 2, 3). 6. Especially in bowing the free will, and determining all the actions of evil angels (1 Kings 22:21, 22, 23; Job 1:6,…

The spirit of whoredom (Hosea 4:12; Hosea 5:4) that inclines to idolatry. The spirit of lying (1 Kings 22:22). The spirit of error (1 John 4:6).

Why had Joseph's brethren such a spleen against him, but because he was a witness against them, and brought to his father their evil report (Genesis 37:2)? Why did Ahab hate Micaiah, and call Elijah his enemy but because they were the faithful reprovers of his wickedness, and ne…

Jacob in his journey would neither go to Laban, nor come from him, without a warrant. Jehoshaphat in the business of Ramoth-Gilead, would not stir a foot until he had counsel from God; he sends not only to the captain of the host, but to the prophet of the Lord, Inquire, I pray…

For accordingly shall we be treated with in the day of judgment. It is sad when we can only say of the Scripture as that king of the prophet of the Lord, He witnesses nothing but evil against me (1 Kings 22:8). Let us see what God's testimony speaks, whether it will plead for us…

Because it comes from fear, and it tends to deceit; both which argue baseness of spirit, and are contrary to the gallantry of a man: therefore it is shameful in the eyes of nature, and those that are most guilty of it, cannot endure to be charged with it. When the Prophet Micaia…

Therefore is wrath upon you from before the Lord. Many times they are impatient of truth, as Ahab could not endure Micajah (1 Kings 22:8): And the King of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man (Micajah the son of Imlah) by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate h…

This is the significance of that ample and glorious expression which God uses in the covenant of grace. As when a covenant was made between the king of Israel and the king of Judah, the tenor of it was: my horses are as your horses, my strength as your strength (1 Kings 22). So…

His passion like the palate of his sick soul, relishes it so, to his own inordinate distemper, and so he judges it. The heart of Ahab was inordinately transported with a venomous hatred against Micaiah, and his message, though it was no other counsel than the Lord had revealed,…

Are they not all ministring spirits? The evil: There came forth a spirit and stood before the Lord, and said, I will perswade him, 1 Kings 22:21. that spirit was a devil. How oft is the devil call'd the unclean spirit, foule spirit, lying spirit, &c.

But when it pleased God, to terminate their practices, and give them no further liberty, they could not do that, which in likelihood was the meanest of all the rest, the turning of the dust of the land into lice, and themselves gave the true reason thereof, saying, That this was…

It is because of its enmity to God, whom the soul aims to have communion with in duty. It has as it were that command from Satan, which the Assyrians had from their king, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the King of Israel (1 Kings 22:31). It is neither great n…

When Moses and the Elders of Israel are said to have seen God, and Jacob to have seen him face to face (Exodus 2:9; Genesis 32:30), it is meant of an Angel covered with divine glory and majesty, as we shall see if we compare these with other texts. When Moses is said to have spo…

But now in case the conscience alone had been pricked, why then a man, by his good will, would come no more to such men as have wounded him, and it will be a burden to him, if by his calling he be forced to live under such a ministry: Elijah's ministry wrought upon Ahab, to caus…

Other histories testify as much of other ministers: our times are not without too evident demonstrations of this point. As Christ while he lived a private life, so others live quietly in comparison of the following times, but when they begin faithfully to exercise their ministry…

So though Satan be by nature strong, and his malice great, yet can he do nothing at all, no nor execute his natural power, to the hurt and prejudice of any man, without the will and permission of God. Thus the evil spirit, could not go forth to deceive Ahab, until the Lord had s…

The Devil will put ill men upon being worse. Was it not he, that laid in (1 Kings 22:22), I will go forth, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all the prophets? Even so the Devil becomes an unclean spirit, a drinking spirit, a swearing spirit, a worldly spirit, a passionate sp…

Some places are most remarkable, as that of the Psalmist, He knows my thoughts long before: even before ever they come into our minds, before their first rising; and yet many actions that are most contingent, depend upon those thoughts known to God from eternity. No, which break…

A spirit that rules in the hearts of the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). There is a lying spirit (1 Kings 22:22). And a spirit of error and delusion (1 John 4:6).

The Lord's Prophets that were immediately guided, and inspired by him, must be excepted. (2) Because, councils under the Old Testament, lawfully called, have often-times erred (2 Samuel 6:6; Jeremiah 26:7-9; 1 Kings 22:6); and under the New Testament (John 9:35; John 11:47-52; M…

Q. 4. Does God rule also in and over the sinful actions of wicked men? A. Yes, he willingly (according to his determinate counsel) suffers them to be, for the manifestation of his glory, and by them effects his own righteous ends (2 Samuel 12:11; 2 Samuel 16:10; 1 Kings 11:31; 1…

2. Other judgments come mediately by the mediation or efficiency of instruments, second causes are the next occasion of them, and these are either: 1. Devils, who have a great stroke in many effects of providence, they come by divine permission, God giving them a license, so far…