1 Kings 22 closes out the book and the life of Ahab but not without another weird story. After three years of peace with Aram, King Ahab of Israel joins with King Jehoshaphat of Judah to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead. But before going into battle, they want counsel.

The king of Israel got the prophets together—all four hundred of them—and put the question to them: “Should I attack Ramoth Gilead? Or should I hold back?” “Go for it,” they said. “GOD will hand it over to the king.” But Jehoshaphat dragged his heels: “Is there still another prophet of GOD around here we can consult?” (1 Kings 22.6, 7, MSG)

There is, Micaiah, and he gives the true word from God:

“Not so fast,” said the king. “How many times have I made you promise under oath to tell me the truth and nothing but the truth?” “All right,” said Micaiah, “since you insist. I saw all of Israel scattered over the hills, sheep with no shepherd. Then GOD spoke: ‘These poor people have no one to tell them what to do. Let them go home and do the best they can for themselves.’ ” (1 Kings 22.16, 17, MSG)

Another instance of the majority being wrong (the vote was 400 – 1!), and Micaiah explains that the reason they’re wrong is they listened to a lying spirit from God. (See 1 Kings 22.19 – 24) That’s a tough one although there are reasonable explanations of why God might use a lying spirit. The Apostle Paul was clear that just because an angel says something, doesn’t mean it’s true:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1.6 – 8, ESV)

We digress… Ahab does go into battle, along with King Jehoshaphat of Judah although Ahab goes in disguise:

The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead. The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Wear my kingly robe; I’m going into battle disguised.” So the king of Israel entered the battle in disguise. (1 Kings 22.29 – 30, MSG)

No matter. If God wants you, he’ll find you:

Just then someone, without aiming, shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and hit the king of Israel in the chink of his armor. The king told his charioteer, “Turn back! Get me out of here—I’m wounded.” (1 Kings 22.34, MSG)

And Elijah’s prophecy came true right down to the dogs:

All day the fighting continued, hot and heavy. Propped up in his chariot, the king watched from the sidelines. He died that evening. Blood from his wound pooled in the chariot. As the sun went down, shouts reverberated through the ranks, “Abandon camp! Head for home! The king is dead!” The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. They washed down the chariot at the pool of Samaria where the town whores bathed, and the dogs lapped up the blood, just as GOD’s word had said. (1 Kings 22.35 – 38, MSG)

A lot of ink devoted to bad King Ahab (1 Kings 17 – 22). Jezebel doesn’t meet her end until 2 King 9. But God’s word, positive or negative, will come to pass, and God will use anything from a lying spirit to a randomly shot arrow to make it happen.

Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19.10, NKJV)

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1.21, NIV)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4.1, ESV)