Day 7 - Sabbath - Saturday - (Lord's Day - Sunday) International KJV Sunday school Lesson - Outline for Teacher's/Students Logos

 May 2

Lesson 9 (KJV)

Speaking Truth to Power

Devotional Reading: 1 John 3:23–4:3a; Deuteronomy 18:19–22

Background Scripture: 1 Kings 22:1–40

1 Kings 22:15–23, 26–28

15 So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?

17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.

18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

19 And he said, Hear thou, therefore, the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.

21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.

22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth and do so.

23 Now, therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.

26 And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;

27 And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with the bread of affliction and with water of affliction until I come in peace.

28 And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

Key Verse

Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak.—1 Kings 22:14

Prophets Faithful to God’s Covenant

Unit 3: Courageous Prophets of Change

Lessons 9–13

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Identify the roles of Ahab, Jehoshaphat, and Micaiah.

2. Compare and contrast how each of those three related to God’s truth.

3. Create a plan to pursue and apply God’s knowledge in the week ahead.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. Truth Distorted

B. Lesson Context

I. A Sarcastic Prophecy (1 Kings 22:15–16)

A. Leading Question (v. 15)

“What Do You Want to Hear?”

B. Frustrated Retort (v. 16)

II. A Sincere Prophecy (1 Kings 22:17–23)

A. God’s Truth, Part 1 (v. 17)

B. King’s Irritation (v. 18)

C. God’s Truth, Part 2 (vv. 19–23)

III. A Sure Prophecy (1 Kings 22:26–28)

A. King’s Fury (vv. 26–27)

Quantity over Quality

B. Prophet’s Promise (v. 28)

Conclusion

A. Truth Displayed

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Ahab	Ay-hab.
Ai	Ay-eye.
Amon	Ay-mun.
Arameans	Ar-uh-me-uns.
Athaliah	Ath-uh-lye-uh.
Israel	Iz-ray-el.
Jehoram	Jeh-ho-rum.
Jehoshaphat	Jeh-hosh-uh-fat.
Joash	Jo-ash.
Josephus	Jo-see-fus.
Micaiah	My-kay-uh.
Naboth	Nay-bawth.
Ramothgilead	Ray-muth-gil-ee-ud.

What Do You Think? What guardrails can we erect to avoid giving to others counsel that is actually in our own best interests? Digging Deeper What should you do if you see this problem in another person?

What Do You Think? What are some proper ways to react to those who expect us to tell them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear? Digging Deeper How would your response differ, if at all, to someone who is in authority over you rather than the other way around? Why?

What Do You Think? What can you do, if anything, to prepare in advance for times of affliction? Digging Deeper Which part of Matthew 24:9–13 is most helpful in answering this?

What Do You Think? What can you do, if anything, to prepare in advance for times of affliction? Digging Deeper Which part of Matthew 24:9–13 is most helpful in answering this?

What Do You Think? How should you go about testing the statements of one who claims to speak for the Lord? Digging Deeper What texts in addition to Deuteronomy 13:1–3; 18:21–22; Matthew 7:15–20; Mark 13:21–23; 2 Peter 1:19–2:3; and 1 John 4:1–3 help you frame your answer?

Conclusion

A. Truth Displayed

Today’s passage illustrates the timeless struggle to relate to the truth properly. The individuals in today’s lesson provide us with three stances that people exposed to God’s truth can take.

King Ahab is easily vilified due to his idolatry, miscarriages of justice, and antipathy toward God’s prophets. However, whenever we find ourselves willfully in rebellion to the truth, we see shades of Ahab within our own spirits. When we find ourselves in this precarious state and are then admonished by concerned friends, we should realize that this is a form of God’s mercy, even when their words challenge and inconvenience us (Proverbs 27:5–6). Yet we need to be alert to possible Ahab-like tendencies in others and be prepared to admonish those who clearly ignore God in their choice of unholy paths.

In Jehoshaphat, we have a case study of a person who desired to please God but lacked consistent, faithful follow-through. All believers, from senior ministers to occasional pew-fillers, can find themselves walking in this king’s shoes. That happens when we are hesitant, for whatever reason, to execute a God-given plan. Any of us can find ourselves tempted as Jehoshaphat was. So when we encounter a fellow believer in a similar situation, the correct response is to offer encouragement and wise counsel.

As a prophet, Micaiah was bound by the simple adage that he was only to preach the word that God gave him and not add or subtract from that word (compare Deuteronomy 4:2). We see Micaiah’s ability to think and speak independently in the face of a hostile crowd of 400 false prophets, two powerful leaders, and a prevailing climate of wickedness. The prophet’s outspokenness reminds us that speaking the truth can result in very negative consequences. Micaiah was aware of this but was still obedient to God. We can build a life centered on truth through the regular study of God’s Word. That’s how we discipline ourselves to hear the voice of the Lord and to obey that voice—one opportunity at a time.

Many people today, as in Micaiah’s day, prefer to question God’s truth rather than their own sinful patterns. This isn’t to say that doubt and confusion are never legitimate. But we must be aware of the possibility that sometimes our “confusion” over truth has the function of legitimizing ungodly behavior. We must echo apostle Paul’s words, “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

What Do You Think? Which thought in today’s text do you have the hardest time coming to grips with? Why? Digging Deeper Considering Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:1–4; and 2 Timothy 3:16–17, what extra effort will you expend to resolve this uncertainty?

B. Prayer

God, we thank You for revealing Your truth. Now we ask that Your truth be revealed in our words and actions. Help us not only to be people knowledgeable of Your Word but also be people who make decisions that are consistent with Your Word. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Our commitment to truth is measured in our actions.

 Shallenberger, Larry, Lyndsey Gambrell, et al. “Speaking Truth to Power.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2020–2021. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson, Jane Ann Kenney, and Margaret K. Williams. Vol. 68. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2021. 303. Print.