Day 207

2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34; Romans 9:22-10:13; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 20:2-3

Listening to the Other Voice

One of the benefits of our technology-enabled “information society” is that we have so many choices about where we will get information. But that doesn’t mean that all sources of information are equally valuable – usually because, despite their insistence that they are “balanced,” they are actually biased in one way or another. So it is our responsibility to provide that balance for ourselves by intentionally listening to a variety of voices – including those with which we disagree.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah perceives that the court prophets of Israel’s King Ahab are simply telling their “boss” what he wants to hear and asks if there isn’t another view which should be considered. Ahab is quick to point out that Micaiah is biased against him. And sure enough, when the “other” prophet is consulted, he prophesies not only that the battle is ill-advised, but that Ahab will do whatever he wants anyway and will suffer disastrous consequences – which is exactly what happens.

But was Micaiah biased? If he had been determined to say the opposite of whatever the king’s prophets said no matter what, that would be one thing. But his attitude was, “Whatever my God says, that I will speak.”

When those around us seem to be all of one mind on a course of action, we should listen carefully for that “other voice” – it just may be the voice of the one speaking God’s truth, the voice which draws us closer to the Lord and to each other in compassion, justice, and peace.

Rev. Dr. Steve Clifton