There is such a thing as well-intentioned prophets who say what they think from the Lord but have a lying spirit. We are seeing this more and more, so it is with interest we read 2 Chr 18.
The Battle of the Prophets
After the split of the country, the southern king Jehoshaphat marries and creates an alliance with the northern king of Israel who was Ahab. Ahab was not saint. And while Jehoshaphat practiced godliness, he was malleable man.
Ahab wanted to join forces and go to war. Jehoshaphat agreed but asked that they first seek out the prophets. So Ahab called in 400 prophets and without exception they all said there would be great victory.
But Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord. Because one who speak the things of the Lord is worth more than 400 prophets who seek false gods.
Ahab said with great distaste in his mouth that there was one, but that he always prophesied doom. Jehoshaphat asked for him and like expected, the Godly prophet prophesied that not only would they lose the battle, but that Ahab would be killed.
So what do you think Ahab did? Threw the prophet in jail with only bread and water until he was to return. Ahab didn’t return.
Ahab had Jehoshaphat dress up in battle like a king, which was kind of stupid considering they were hunting the kings. But Ahab himself dressed up as a peasant.
They came after Jehoshaphat thinking he was Ahab, but he cried out and they realized he wasn’t Ahab. Disaster averted. And just when it looked like the prophet of God’s words were a failure, an archer shot a random arrow. It pierced Ahab and he later died, never returning from battle.
The Heavenly Perspective
An additional piece of information is that when the prophet of God prophesied, he mentioned that he had a vision of heaven.
“I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and the whole heavenly host was standing at His right hand and at His left hand. And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab king of Israel to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? So one was saying this and another was saying that.
“Then a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will entice him.’
The LORD asked him, ‘How?’
“So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’
“Then he said, “You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’ (2 Chr 18:18-21)
Ahab was a wicked king and God was having enough. So a lying spirit was sent to deceive the prophets of Ahab.
One set of prophets believed a lying spirit. One prophet believed the truth. We see also by the response what was in the heart of the prophets. The one representing the lying prophets struck the Prophet of God out of anger and jealousy when hearing on opposing view. When the prophet of God was rebuked and sent to prison by Ahab, he merely said, let’s wait and see. Their different responses showed what was in their hearts.
There are prophets and people that are of God and some are not. Do they declare Jesus as Lord? What is in our spirits when we hear them? Does what they are saying testify to our spirits? Does it testify with the specifics and the principles of the Word? Are we wanting to listen to it because it agrees with our beliefs and what we want to hear? Or are we open to hear from God even if does not? What is in the heart and response of the prophet in their relationship to others who have differing prophecies? Are they hostile? Prideful? Or humble and patient? Hopeful?