The Majority Does Not Determine Truth

Note from today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18

Before King Ahab went to battle against Ramoth-gilead, he asked Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to join him in battle (2 Chronicles 18:3). Before agreeing to do so, Jehoshaphat said, “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 18:4).

The king of Israel gathered four hundred prophets and asked if they should “go against Ramoth-gilead to battle,” and they told him, “God will give it into the hand of the king” (2 Chronicles 18:5). Yet this was not good enough for Jehoshaphat. He was not interested in the answer of the king’s four hundred prophets; he wanted to hear from “a prophet of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 18:6).

So they called Micaiah. After a brief exchange, the prophet of God said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no shepherd; and the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace’” (2 Chronicles 18:16). The prophet then told the king of Israel, “The Lord has proclaimed disaster against you” (2 Chronicles 18:22).

In the end, Micaiah’s prophecy was true. King Ahab died in battle (2 Chronicles 18:34). The word of the king’s four hundred prophets proved to be worthless.

So remember that the majority does not determine truth. Even when there is an overwhelming consensus on a particular issue or course of action, that does not mean it is right or wise. We must consult the word of God to see what He has revealed in order to know what is true.