Speaking truth in love

 

READ 1 Kings 18–22

Prophets were the black and white people in the OT. No compromise. Confrontational. Sent with truth to overcome lies and false prophets. In this reading, Elijah confronted Ahab, calling for a meeting with his false prophets in the presence of the people of Israel. He challenged the people: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” They were speechless. (1 Kings 18:21) Then altars were set up. The prophet told the idol worshipers to call on their god to prove himself and mocked them when nothing happened. Then he turned to the altar dedicated to the Lord and prayed:

“O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” (18:36–39)

At that the false prophets were seized and slaughtered. Elijah’s actions were related by the king to Jezebel his wife and she sent a threat to the prophet. He fled in fear, revealing that even those gifted to hear and proclaim truth from God had feet of clay. God didn’t let him stay in hiding for long. He told him to stand on a mountain before Him:

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. (19:11–12)

This is often the way God speaks. This time, He told the prophet to anoint three leaders; Hazael in Syria, Jehu in Israel, and Elisha to be prophet in his place. He took Elisha under his mentor ship and did as he was told.

Later, another prophet urged Ahab to attack the threatening Syrians. He said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord” (20:13) and later, another man of God told him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” (20:28)

Nevertheless, Ahab was like a spoiled child. He wanted a garden and the owner would not sell it. Ahab whined to his wife and Jezebel had the man killed so Ahab would have that vineyard. For this and for their sins, God told them they would pay the ultimate price (21:23–24) .

And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.” (21:27–29)

Some are gifted to discerning God’s Word and confronting any who oppose it. As a Christian, I’m to “speak the truth in love” that God’s people “all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” and grow to maturity and the fullness of Christ, “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:13–16) However, in a world that interprets love as making others feel good about themselves and life in general, this is a challenge.

How does a sin-discerning Christian speak the truth in love when the truth hurts and the words don’t sound as if they are loving? One well-known author says that when God reveals truth, rather than spout it off to others who might need to hear it, take it back to the Lord in prayer, talking to God before saying anything. If He wants a confrontation, He will prepare the words and the way because He is the Author of both truth and love! I just need to see His mind and not take matters into my own hands.