Selective Hearing. Sermon by Arlene Lanting. Feb 15,2025
In the time of King Ahab (871 to 850 BC) Syria and Assyria voraciously expanded land. Syria and Assyria were not so friendly neighbours of Israel. Territories changed as countries changed. None-the-less Syria and Israel had agreed on an alliance. Which brought relative peace.
Ahab was king of Israel. Jehosaphat was king of Judah. Judah seeks an alliance with Israel as an opportunity to strengthen both regions. Ahab sees this new alliance as an opportunity. He asks Jehosaphat, "will you join us to Take Ramoth-Gilead back from Syria?"
Jehospahat says "my men and horses are yours, but before you do anything inquire for the word of the Lord today."
So Ahab seeks the Lord. He knew that Jehosophat’s father had rid the land of idols. He also knew that Jehosaphat was more open than his father to other alternatives. This may seem strange to us. Or does it? Do we compromise and walk a line between two worlds in one way or another at times?
Ahab wants to assure Jehosophat so he gathers 400 prophets together. “Shall I go against Ramoth-Gilead to fight or not?” he asks the prophets.
“Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king", the prophets declare.
Jehosaphat understood what was happening. These prophets were yes-prophets, like yes-men. Yes-men are defined as weak people who always agree with their superior. These prophets were yes-prophets, saying yes to what ever King Ahab wanted a yes to. It seems that despite Jehosaphat’s opening the door in Judah to distort faith with pagan worship, he still valued the Lord’s word.
And Jehoshaphat said,
"Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?”
Ahab said "there is one man Micaiah but I hate him!
He does not prophecy good to me, but evil."
Jehosophat says to Ahab, “Let not the King say such things!!”
So Ahab called an officer and asked him to go get Micaiah and bring him.
1 Kings 22:1-8
The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah,
having put on their robes, sat each on his throne,
at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria;
and all the prophets prophesied before them.
Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said,
"Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ”
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying,
“Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper,
for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.”
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying,
“Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king.
Please, let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.”
And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”
vs 10-14
He went before the King and everyone likely held their breath.
King Ahab said “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”
And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”
Micaiah went before the King and everyone likely held their breath.
King Ahab said “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?”
And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”
vs 15
King Ahab knew better.
So the king said to him,
“How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”
Then Micaiah said,
“I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.
And the Lord said,
‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ”
vs 16,17
Now Ahab could no longer blame the messenger for Micaiah’s response. Ahab was the one who demanded a different answer.
Ahab said to Jehosophat,
“Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” vs 18
What does Ahab want? He wants the truth but he doesn’t want the truth!! He is trying to walk two roads in front of King Jehosaphat.
Then Micaiah said,
“Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne,
and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.
And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’
So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’
So he said, ‘I will go out a a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ Therefore look!
The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours,
and the Lord has declared disaster against you.” vs 19-23
Zedekiah struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said,
“Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?” vs 24
Zedekiah claimed as proof that Elijah, a greater prophet, had prophesied in the city of Jezreel that dogs would lick the king’s blood in the field of Naboth. Zedekiah claimed that Micaiah must be a liar, contradicting the better prophet declaring that the king shall die within three days with no mention of Elijah's prediction. Zedekiah gives Micaiah a challenge.
The historian Josephus claims that Zedekiah then stated "Let him, after I have strike him, blast my hand at once, as when Jadon withered the right hand of king Jeroboam, when he desired to arrest him. For you have heard what happened then". In essence this was a dare for Micaiah to prove his authority in this matter. So Zedekiah struck Micaiah, and when no harm came to Zedekiah , Ahab took heart and was encouraged to lead his army against the Syrian.
Micaiah said, “Indeed, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!”
So the king of Israel said,
“Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son;
and say, ‘Thus says the king:
“Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I come in peace.” ’ ”
But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.”
And he said, “Take heed, all you people!” vs 25-28
Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying,
“Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”
So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said,
“Surely it is the king of Israel!”
Therefore they turned aside to fight against him, and Jehoshaphat cried out.
And it happened, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel,
that they turned back from pursuing him. They held back.
Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.
So Ahab said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded.”
The battle increased that day;
and the king was propped up in his chariot, facing the Syrians, and died at evening.
The blood ran out from the wound onto the floor of the chariot.
Then, as the sun was going down, a shout went throughout the army, saying,
“Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!”
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria.
And they buried the king in Samaria.
Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria,
and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed,
according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken. Vs 31-38
Why does the Bible tell us such stories of wars and battles and hard things to read and understand and know? Sometimes these stories are scary and about death. Not things we like to hear? Why are they included in the Bible?
They are included in the Bible to teach us, as hard as it is to hear of theses stories. They warn us about having selective hearing. About focusing on what we want to know, and avoiding the warnings that the Bible has for us that can indeed protect us from making the similar mistakes. Ahab chose to not follow the God of heaven when he set up Baal and Asherah as replacements, yet he went to God when it suited him, though he still held evil in his heart. At times he even showed reverence to God when it suited his purpose such as when he was with King Jehosaphat. His hearing was knowingly selective.
What about the prophet Zedekiah? We might make the claim that Zedekiah was truly convinced that he was following the God of heaven and earth. This is what Josephus, the Israel historian wrote. But wouldn’t Zedekiah have had to turn a blind eye to some of Ahab’s behaviour?
Ahab was intentional and purposeful in his selective hearing. Perhaps our selective hearing is more like Zedekiah’s? Where we choose what we want to believe, and choose to ignore what we don’t want to listen to. We choose to be oblivious. We choose to be blind to truth because of what we were taught, what we are comfortable with, not wanting to change what we have come to accept. Or perhaps like Josephus assertion about Zedekiah, we may mean well, but have selective hearing at the same time. Selective hearing results in intentional disregard of the word of God, and as a consequence creates spiritual distress for those who desire to hear the true word of God. Sometimes we are some where in the middle, picking and choosing what we hear.
Either way both are selective hearing. Hearing what we want to hear. Interpreting what what we want to understand.
The ways we have selective hearing are hopefully not like Ahabs. How do we prevent Ahab’s intentional brand of selective hearing? What about Zedekiahs. Do we become convinced by the sway of others. How do we avoid this trap?
I believe it starts with patience and prayer. Growth does not happen in one leap. We learn in stages. Our Lord has great patience to wait while we learn. He is ready to forgive us our gaps in understanding. There will be a day when we can see with clarity what we previously dd not understand. What a day that will be will. Not just a day, but an eternity. We all have selective hearing. In the meantime, what do we do? What does God say is the greatest commandment of all?
Jesus said to him,
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40
What we know and learn must resonate in what we do. And what we do must be driven by why we do it.
The time of Ahab, Jehosophat, Micaiah, Zedekiah were challenging times. Young prophets called into ministry and influenced by Ahab’s control over elder prophets. Prophets like Zedekiah who, according to Israelite historian Josephus, thought he was doing what was right, and whose thinking was influenced by a wicked king.
How do we know if our understanding in influenced by selective hearing, influenced by those around us? None of us have perfect spiritual insight do we? Our spiritual journey is just that – a journey. Lets be open to constant growing, always learning.
Jesus himself did not always break through to people’s preconceptions of truth, and there were even those then who tried to challenge Jesus, trying to seduce him to making a mistake.
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40
Notice it does not say: Understand in all things at all times what is suredly correct. Wouldn’t it be easier if it could be like that? But then we would not need God would we? It is not what we know, but who we know that shapes us and signifies belief. How we relate to God and others is perhaps a lens to what we actually believe, not just we say we believe. There are many examples in the Bible of people who believe the word of God, but did not do what God expected.
1 Kings 22 was a time when Israel experienced selective hearing that led to spiritual distress.
Another time can be found in 1 Samuel 4. The Philistines had made war with Israel and won. A man ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. He told the men and then told Eli who was sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, The man said
“Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people.
Your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” 1 Samuel 4:17
When he made mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat and he died.
The nation was in shock. It seemed so unbelievable to the Israelites that this could happen, even though many had turned to the idols of their neighbours and brought them into their worship. Eli’s daughter–in-law went into labour. She gave birth to a son and cried out
"The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured". vs 21
Her words captured the public and spiritual loss that lay heavy upon The Israelite spirit, the spirit of the nation itself.
The people were in spiritual distress. Now the Philistines were not faring much better after the war. The ark turned from celebration to a burden, a curse and was eventually returned by remarkable means back to Israel. But the Israelites did not know this yet. Until this happened Israel felt they were no longer blessed with God’s glory, that God had actually withdrawn his glory. This led to a sense of national spiritual distress.
Selective hearing can lead to spiritual distress, both for those who chose to live by selective hearing, and those who suffer the consequences, like Eli who was not in battle at all, or soldiers fighting in a war they did not ask for. Selective hearing can lead to spiritual distress that is not limited to ourselves.
Proverbs talks about decisions we make when dealing with spiritual distress.
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great treasure with trouble.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
Proverbs 15:13 - 18
Proverbs 15 is saying we have a choice to make when we encounter spiritual distress caused by things beyond our control, because of our own selective hearing or even the selective hearing of others we have no control over. We choose God’ s love or not. It is as simple as that.
In the western world, we often misunderstand grief. When we experience grief like this, the closest thing we can compare it to, is the loss of a loved one. Many have experienced this. There are well meaning people who will say "it will pass", "you will get over it". While this is true to some extent, over time, it is not entirely true. What Proverbs actually says – A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance. It does not happen by accident, nor does it happen overnight. It is intentional. New joy in time comes. The hole does not hurt quite as much, but it is still there and always will be a memorial to love shared. A heart is an amazing organ in it's capacity to love and make room for more. But it will not forget love past all together, and thank God for that.
It was the same for Israel. They had a broken heart! God’s glory had left them, or so they thought. The closest thing we can compare to the loss the Israelites felt was the loss we experience through the death of a loved one. They felt God had literally left the, abandoned them. Did God leave them? No, God did not. They just couldn’t see it in their moment of spiritual distress.
Do you not think Micaiah was in spiritual distress when he heard prophets of the Lord prophesying essentially in the name of Ahab?
So my question to you today is - What do you listen to? How are you influenced? Are you influenced by the powerful Ahabs in the world? Are you swayed like the Zedekiah’s of the world? Do you stand firm like the Micaiahs? Do you despair like the people of Israel when the ark was taken from them? And lastly …
You are listening. But I ask you - what do you hear?