Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

MAJORITY RULES?

January 27, 2010

Democracy is a wonderful thing, and the rule of the majority a blessing. But that the majority rules does not mean it is right.

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The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."
But Micaiah said, "As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me."
- 1 Kings 22:13,14 TNIV
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King Ahab's last chapter. He is ready to go out to battle, and he asks his many prophets whether he should fight his neighbor in battle or not. The majority are in agreement: "Put the beat down on Ramoth Gilead." That's what Ahab wanted to hear. He's reluctant, however, to consult the one prophet of the Lord, Micaiah, because he never tells Ahab what he wants to hear. He even tries to manipulate Micaiah to agree with the majority. To which the faithful prophet of the Lord, Micaiah says, "Ahab, I don't' work for you, I work for the Lord." Ahab follows his "Yes-men," Ahab is killed in the battle, doomed from the start.

Ahab was bad news through and through. Much can be learned and applied from his sorry story. We can be thankful for democracy, for majority rule, but the whim of the majority does not determine truth, not what is right, or the way of the Lord. The latest USA Today opinion poll may be interesting, but it does not determine what is true, or right. Ahab never learned that. It cost him everything.
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson