June 18 – Reading 169

June 18 – Reading 169

by Chris Rainey | June 18

“TWO LOYALTY TESTS”
(1 Kings 21:1-22:53)

And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord. – 1 Kings 22:5

Douglas Clyde Macintosh was a Canadian-born Baptist minister and professor of theology at Yale University in the 1920s who had applied for citizenship to the United States. When asked on his naturalization application if he was willing to take up arms in defense of the United States, he qualified his answer by saying, “Yes, but I should want to be free to judge of the necessity.” In other words, he meant that while he was willing to bear arms in a just war, he was not willing to promise to bear arms unconditionally for just any war. His application was denied. In a case that went all of the way to the Supreme Court, Macintosh’s unwillingness to give unqualified allegiance to the United States was ruled sufficient to deny his citizenship request. Macintosh would not put loyalty to the United States above his loyalty to his conscience.

In 1 Kings 22, Kings Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah had formed a military alliance. Ahab wanted to use the alliance to recapture a city (Ramoth-Gilead) that he felt belonged to Israel but was now under Syrian control. Jehoshaphat wanted to be sure it was God’s will to take this action (22:5). So Ahab gathered 400 prophets of Israel, who unanimously declared that the Lord’s will was to give Ahab victory.  These prophets were loyal to Ahab, speaking what they knew he would want to hear. The Apostle Paul later described these kinds of people as “having itching ears” who surround themselves with teachers to reinforce them in what they already want to pursue (2 Timothy 4:3).  Jehoshaphat was uneasy with their proclamations and asked if there were any other prophets. There was one–Micaiah–but he was never positive toward Ahab and never supported what Ahab wanted to do. 

After initially sarcastically agreeing with the prophets of Ahab, Micaiah finally unloads the truth: the Lord has put a lying spirit in Ahab’s prophets. God has decreed disaster for Ahab. But instead of listening to Micaiah, Ahab goes ahead into the battle. He is shot by an arrow at random (22:34) and over the course of the day, bleeds out and dies. Four hundred prophets told Ahab what he wanted to hear, and one told him the truth and was sent to prison.

By the way, Douglas Macintosh never received his citizenship, but his three-quarter length portrait was painted in 1979 and hangs in the common room of Yale Divinity School. In the picture, his right hand is toward an open Bible showing the commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” 

Application:
The prophet Micaiah and Douglas Macintosh were under a lot of pressure not to say what they actually believed. There are always strong incentives to conform to expectations, and consequences when you don’t. Micaiah was put in prison. Macintosh did not get U.S. citizenship.   

Reflection:
What are some situations in your life where you tend to say what people want to hear rather than what you actually think?

Closing Prayer:
Dear God, Reveal to me the moments when I choose to please others over speaking the truth. Highlight the times I withhold my genuine thoughts for fear of judgment or rejection. Give me the courage to be authentic, even when it’s difficult. Help me to value integrity and honesty above seeking approval. Guide me to speak with kindness and truth, honoring both you and those around me. Soften my heart to receive constructive feedback and strengthen my resolve to stand firm in my convictions. Help me to grow into a person who is honest, both with others and with myself. Amen.