Speaking Truth to Power

May 2, 2021 Background Scripture: 1 Kings 22:1 – 40 Lesson Passage: 1 Kings 22:15 – 23, 26 – 28 When we boast today of speaking truth to power, we do so in a very tame environment where those in power have pledged to protect our rights to speak. In essence, in this country today, that expression has very little meaning other than one clearing one’s own conscience. This would not have been the case for minorities prior to the 1970’s in the southern part of this country. Today’s lesson takes us back to a time and a place where the danger of speaking truth to power was always looming. Ironically, it was in Israel, of all places. Israel was established by God as a theocracy, or a God-governed nation. The truth should have been welcomed by all there. The truth should have been spoken by all there. God told Israel that their government was different and warned them that they should not seek to be like the people around them. However, although the nation was founded as a theocracy, and they were warned, Israel had become a monarchy like the other nations around it. The disposition of the nation depended almost solely on the disposition of the king. If the king was god-fearing, then the nation was led to be a god-fearing nation. But when the king was ungodly, then the governed were at the mercy of the king. Such an environment was not a favorable one wherein one could be at ease to speak one’s mind. The latter was the case involving today’s text. At the time, the northern kingdom of Israel was being led by an ungodly king, and the southern kingdom of Judah was being led by a god-fearing king. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, went to visit Ahab, king of Israel. Ahab desired to go to war to take back some land that should have been Israel’s, but he wanted Judah to join with them in battle. Jehoshaphat knew that a decision of that magnitude needed God’s direction. When he was asked about joining in battle with Israel, he quickly asked that inquiry be made for the word of the Lord. In other words, is this battle something that God will sanction. Ahab had a group of prophets who were going to say whatever was favorable to the king. Israel’s four hundred prophets endorsed Ahab’s plan. Jehoshaphat recognized that this was not the word of the Lord. So, he asked if the Lord had any prophets there. The god-fearing king knew he was not hearing the word of the Lord. Four hundred lies were not sufficient to replace the truth. Ahab told him about one prophet there who he hated because he did not prophesy things that were good concerning him. And therein lies the problem: Ahab would rather have four hundred lies that felt good to him rather than the truth of God’s word that warned him of his faults! Jehoshaphat assured Ahab that the word of the Lord is what is desirable. Even the messenger who went to get the prophet told him how the other prophets were all in agreement and suggested that he should speak in accord with the others. What is unanimous might feel good and still be wrong. So, the prophet of the Lord spoke to the king, apparently with sarcasm, what the others were saying. Ahab recognized that the prophet was not being honest. So, Ahab commanded him to give the correct prophecy. He prophesied that Ahab would die in the battle. He also exposed the four hundred prophets as being controlled by a lying spirit. One of those prophets hit him in the face. Then he told him what his fate would be as well. He knew that the truth would cause him to be mistreated by Ahab. However, the only word he had was what God gave him. It was the truth and he spoke that truth to the powers that be. Robert C. Hudson April 16, 2021

The Nation’s Plea

April 25, 2021 Background Scripture: Lamentations 5 Lesson Passage: Lamentations 5 Lamentations is a written account of an eyewitness’ view of the people of God being punished for years of backsliding. The prophet Jeremiah is the author of this writing. There is no wonder Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet”. How could a servant of God who had cried out against the sins of God’s people for such a long time not weep when those warnings went unheeded? Not only did Jeremiah prophesy about God’s displeasure with the actions of Judah, but he also warned them of the consequences of their actions. Once Judah’s punishment started, Jeremiah already knew how far it would go because of the prophetic word he received from God. This was the beginning of a seventy-year exile in foreign lands. The beautiful city of David and the magnificent palace and temple had been destroyed. All that David, Solomon, and the other kings who followed had worked to build now seem to be for naught. The splendor of the nation was gone. Even worse, a once proud and sovereign people had become servants of foreigners. The best and brightest of their young people were being deported to serve as slaves. Lamentations is littered from start to finish with the intercessory prayers of the prophet. In a real sense, they are sincere prayers of repentance. First, the prayers acknowledged that the punishment the nation was enduring was less than the punishment they deserved. Judah had received every conceivable blessing from God. Indeed, God had given her more than she asked in many cases. Yet, she did not draw closer to God but withdrew farther from His presence. Many of her leaders, beginning with several of the kings, did not walk in the precepts of God. They readily embraced foreigners who were not God-fearing. They also embraced some of the ungodly practices of other nations. Throughout that time, God continued to send prophets to call the nation to repentance. This continued for one hundred thirty-six years after the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians. Secondly, the prayers described Judah’s condition and shame because of the punishment. What the prophet saw was horrendous, and he did not try to sugar coat it. He talked about the ugliness of what he witnessed. Thirdly, the prayers acknowledged God’s holiness, righteousness, and patience with His people. Even during punishment, God’s holiness was still recognized and worshiped. God does not change. The people of God will sometimes get out of character. God does not get out of character to correct His people. God remains steadfast in righteousness. Finally, the fourth part of those prayers were words of hope. There is the remembrance of God’s mercy even during punishment. So, the plea went out to God that He would temper His justice with His mercy. God was asked to do for His people what they seemingly could not find it within themselves to do; give them a change of heart so they could return to following Him. A person’s made-up mind is not an effective tool against sin. We can allow our will to make us servants of sin. However, our wills cannot deliver us from the grip of sin. Only God can deliver us from sin. This is never more apparent than when we are being punished for sin and make our plea to God for deliverance. Robert C. Hudson April 3, 2021