Four-Hundred and One Fools
What happens when you surround yourself with only people that agree with you? What happens when your crowd never checks you, challenges you, or holds you accountable? What would you call it if a man surrounded himself with four hundred or so people that only said what he wanted to hear? I would call it “four-hundred and one fools”, hence the title of this blogpost.
2 Timothy 4:3-4a says, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth…”
King Ahab from the old testament is a perfect example of what happens when you surround yourself with people that suit your own passions.
In 1 Kings 22, king’s Ahab (Israel) and Jehoshaphat (Judah) were tired of the Syrians controlling Ramoth-Gilead, a city east of the Jordan that was crucial in defending Israel and Judah. Ahab, a chronically rebellious and wicked king, had his sights set on combining forces with king Jehoshaphat to retake the city.
As the two kings discussed the plan, Jehoshaphat told Ahab to “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” (1 Ki. 22:5)
Ahab obliged and gathered the prophets; “about four hundred men” (1 Ki. 22:6)
The question Ahab posed was simple and straight-forward. “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” (1 Ki. 22:6)
The four hundred prophets were in one accord; “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” (1 Ki. 22:6)
Maybe it was the look in the prophets’ eyes, or a spiritual discernment of some kind, or maybe even the realization that a group of four hundred men should have some kind of disagreement, but Jehoshaphat wasn’t sold. He asked if there was anyone else that could inquire of the Lord before they went to war.
Ahab’s response was very telling and even humorous.
“There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Michaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” (1 Ki. 22:8)
Ahab’s hatred of Michaiah wasn’t because Michaiah had it out for Ahab, it was because Ahab was a wicked king and Michaiah always spoke the word of the Lord. When you live at odds with God’s word, His word will not make you feel assured and at peace. It will challenge, convict, and even grieve you if your heart is open to correction.
Paul illustrates this very point in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11. It is too pertinent not to include in its entirety.
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
Unfortunately, Ahab felt a worldly grief. He was not moved by godly grief that moved him to repent. He had listened to God’s conviction in the past as Elijah spoke correction to him, but not now. He was altogether defiant and stubborn. He had not invited Michaiah with the other prophets because he knew that the word of the Lord was against him, and Michaiah would bring that very word.
Ahab was grieved that God didn’t agree with him, but he was not grieved that he didn’t agree with God. This is the distinction between repentance and rebellion; between godly grief and worldly grief; a softened heart and a hardened one; salvation and damnation.
After illustrations and continued “prophesying” by the four hundred prophets to go take Ramoth-gilead, Michaiah entered the king’s court. As he was ushered in, peer pressure and passive threats were thrown at him. The messenger sent to fetch him even said, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” (1 Ki. 22:13)
The stage had been set and the actors knew their scripts, but Michaiah wasn’t one of them. There before him sat Ahab and Jehoshaphat, robed and on their thrones. This was the last place on earth that Michaiah wanted to be. He had been the verbal whipping post and a son of shame. He was the only prophet to not be invited to prophesy the first time. He was hated and reviled by not only Ahab, but also his fellow prophets. At first, knowing the danger of sharing a dissenting view, Michaiah lies to Ahab, telling him the exact thing the deceitful prophets had told him — that he should attack Ramoth-gilead. Fear might have played a part, or maybe part of Michaiah wanted Ahab to meet his death. We can only speculate.
Ahab, just clever enough, immediately said, “How many times shall I make you swear to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” (1 Ki. 22:16)
What Michaiah then prophesied was nothing short of damning. He began by explaining that he saw Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep with no shepherd. Ahab settled in for what was next, but not before telling Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” (1 Ki. 22:18)
Michaiah continued, blistering the heart of Ahab with a prophecy about how his prophets were deceived and used by a lying spirit that the Lord Himself sent to bring disaster to Ahab. This accusation didn’t sit well with the prophets.
Zedekiah, one of the leading prophets, came near and struck Michaiah on the cheek. In mockery and anger he said, “How did the spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” (1 Ki. 22:24)
Ahab then commanded that Michaiah be seized, imprisoned, and fed meager rations until he returned in peace. Michaiah responded, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me…Hear all you peoples!” (1 Ki. 22:28)
As the story goes, Ahab would not return in peace. In fact, he would not return at all. Ahab was slain in a battle that he should have never started.
We do not know for sure what became of Michaiah, but many assume he was released after his prophecy was proven to be from God.
The real focus here is this — The tribe you choose dictates the choices you make. With no dissenting view, you travel the path constructed by only one mind — your own. Staffing your ‘kingdom’ with agreement and ‘yes-men’ is not wise.
Be careful who you allow into your court. Every man is the priest of his home. He is the ruler if his house and the spiritual leader of his God-given family. If you are a man reading this, I am speaking directly to you.
Ahab married a wicked and vile woman, surrounded himself with false prophets, sought pleasure over purpose, and rejected God’s grace upon his life. He was a murderous, rebellious, lustful, prideful, and arrogant king.
When you don’t subject yourself to accountability and correction, you sabotage your integrity and direction.
So, what does accountability, correction, and living as a godly man look like today? Much like it did thousands of years ago.
Find a spiritual authority figure and give them permission to call you out.
Refrain from consuming compromising content.
Surround yourself with men that love you enough to hold you to the biblical standard of manhood.
Learn to be led by God first, and then elders in the faith (spiritually mature).
Study the character of God and reproduce the Fruit of His Spirit.
Love your wife as Christ loves the Church - being willing to lay down your life for her.
Stand “on business”, like Michaiah. He didn’t cower in the face of opposition and being outnumbered.
As a man, you have not been created to sit and watch; you’ve been created to stand and lead. Lead well by heeding wise counsel.