Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab

(1 Kings 22)

For three years,
There was no war,
Aram and Israel,
Fought no more

But then came,
Jehoshaphat,
The king of Judah,
Stopped all that

The king of Israel,
Said: 'Now men,
Ramoth Gilead,
Is our den'

'Yet what are we,
Doing to take,
What's truly ours?
A war we'll make'

So he asked,
Jehoshaphat,
'Will you join me,
We'll make a pact?'

Jehoshaphat,
Then said: 'A word:
You must consult,
Our holy Lord'

So the king,
Of Israel then,
Brought some prophets,
To council him

Four hundred men,
Of holy cast,
Were asked to guide,
Him in this task

Jehoshaphat said,
'Wait! Where are,
The Lord's prophets,
Might we inquire?

The king then said:
'Jehoshaphat,
There is one man,
Who matches that'

'But I hate him,
And he hates me,
He never gives,
Good prophecies'

So the king,
And Israel's star,
Called to his man,
'Bring Micaiah'

Dressed in silk,
Of royal robes,
Both the kings,
Sat on their thrones

They were at,
The threshing floor,
At the gate,
Of Samaria

The prophets stood,
In front of them,
And prophesied,
To both men

Now Zedekiah,
Kenaanah's son,
Made iron horns,
Saying: 'These I've done

To gore Arameans,
As God says,
They'll be destroyed,
Till none remain'

All the prophets,
There agreed,
Saying, 'Attack, attack!
Ramoth Gilead'

'The king will win,
The Lord decrees,
His enemies,
Will fall on knees

The messenger,
Told to bring,
Micaiah back,
Said:'Tell the king,'

'What they all say,
The prophet men,
Predict success,
Agree with them'

But Micaiah said,
'As God lives,
I only tell,
What truth He gives'

When he arrived,
The king asked then,
'Shall we war,
Or safe our strength?'

Micaiah said,
'Attack, attack!
For our Lord,
Will have your back'

'How many times,'
The king then spoke,
'Must I ask you,
To tell the truth?'

Micaiah said,
'I see them deep,
On hills — Israel,
Like aimless sheep'

'Their shepherd gone,
Then God said:
No master here,
Go home to bed'

Israel's king,
Said: 'Jehoshaphat,
His prophesies,
Are all like that

Just like I said,
He makes me mad,
For all his signs,
Are dark and bad'

Micaiah went on:
'God's word sounds,
From His throne,
With heaven around'

'From there he said,
Who will lure,
Ahab's attack,
He'll die for sure?'

'One said 'This'
Another 'That'
Then at last,
A spirit spat:'

'I will go,
Lord, send me,
And God said,
By what means?'

'I will go,
And deceive them,
In mouths of prophets,
Enticing him'

'The Lord replied,
You will succeed,
Go do your worst,
And make him bleed'

'So now God's put,
The spirit's lies,
In mouths of men,
Who prophesise'

Then Zedekiah,
Kenaanah's ace,
Slapped Micaiah,
Across his face:

'Which way did,
This spirit go,
When going forth,
From me to you?'

Micaiah replied,
'You will know,
On the day,
You don't show

There you'll hide,
Inside a room,
Deep within,
An inner gloom'

Israel's king,
Said: 'He's dross,
Send him to,
The city's boss'

'Return him to,
Ruler Amon,
And to Joash,
The king's son'

'Say: This is what,
The king discerns,
Imprison him,
Till I return'

'On that day,
When I am back,
Safe and sound,
From the attack'

Micaiah said:
'If that day be,
And you return,
To home safely'

'Then the Lord,
Did not say,
All the words,
That came my way'

Then, to add,
Said: 'Mark me,
What I've said,
I've said truly.'

1 Kings 22:1-28

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