1 Kings 20 - 22

We learn a great deal about prophets and false prophets as Jehosaphat joins forces with Ahab to fight the Syrians. Elder John A Widstoe defined -

“...a prophet is a teacher. That is the essential meaning of the word. He teaches the body of truth, the gospel, revealed by the Lord to man; and under inspiration explains it to the understanding of the people. He is an expounder of truth. Moreover, he shows that the way to human happiness is through obedience to God’s law. He calls to repentance those who wander away from the truth. He becomes a warrior for the consummation of the Lord’s purposes with respect to the human family. The purpose of his life is to uphold the Lord’s plan of salvation. All this he does by close communion with the Lord, until he is ‘full of power by the spirit of the Lord." (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 257–58.)

In one way, Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained -

“...Prophets are simply members of a true Church who have testimonies of the truth and divinity of the work. They are the saints of God who have learned by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God..." (The Promised Messiah, pp. 23)

For John the Revelator said -

"...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy...." (New Testament Revelation 19:10)

Paul also admonished the saints -

"...Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy..." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 14:39)

Even Moses desired -

"...would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Old Testament Numbers 11:29)

Ahab had prophets, but they were false prophets as Elijah said -

"...I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men." (Old Testament 1 Kings 18:22)

Ahab again had false prophets when Jehosaphat came to make an alliance -

"...And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:5 - 6)

Jehoshaphat knew these were false prophets and asked -

"...Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:7)

Ahab knew the difference between a true prophet and false prophet answering -

"...There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:8)

How many times do we reject the teachings of the prophets because those teachings do not fit our desired lifestyle. So they brought in Micaiah and with authority again reminds the king -

"...As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:14)

Then Ahab, trying to persuade Micaiah, tells him -

"...all the [false] prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:12)

Even the messenger that brought Micaiah pleaded -

"...I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:13)

I think Micaiah had had enough, knowing the king had no desire for the truth, so when the king asked "shall we forbear", Micaiah sarcastically responded -

"...Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:15)

You can sense Ahab got the sarcasm as he answers -

"...How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?" (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:16)

Which was a lie in itself. Then Micaiah does prophecy the truth -

"...I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:17)

In frustration, Ahab tells Jehosaphat, see -

"...Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?" (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:18)

Ahab chooses to follow his false prophets and -

"...lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:23)

As prophecied by Michaiah -

"...and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:35)

And later, as prophecied by Elijah -

"...the dogs licked up his blood..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:38)

A final quote by Elder Widstoe -

“A prophet is a teacher of known truth; a seer is a perceiver of hidden truth, a revelator is a bearer of new truth. In the widest sense, the one most commonly used, the title, prophet, includes the other titles and makes of the prophet, a teacher, perceiver, and bearer of truth." (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 258–59.)