“I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.” 1 Kings 22:19
Dear Ones:
When Micaiah the prophet uttered these words, he was not in the company of friends, howbeit Jehoshaphat was apparently sympathetic towards him. He is in the company of Ahab, who had sold himself to work wickedness. There were professing fellow prophets present, who not only resented Micaiah, but would even strike him, after he prophesied that Ahab would soon fall in battle. And yet, this man, singular and solitary in his stand, would declare to them all: “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says unto me, that will I speak.” (22:14) He then would follow that statement by saying, “…Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord.” (v.19) How is it that this man can stand before his enemies, and those of God, and fearlessly proclaim the “word of the Lord?” It is because of a vision of God, one which eclipses and envelopes all that is subservient to it. He sees the Lord sitting on His throne. Why is this so significant? Micaiah has ever before him this vision that ALL power and authority belongs to God, and He is the Determiner of what will transpire on this earth. His sovereignty is attached to His word, for He exercises His will in power and authority according to what He declares. The result of Micaiah’s prophecy concerning Ahab was that it was fulfilled. Nothing that Ahab could have done, nor those who were in alliance with him, could have prevented it. God would cause an arrow, shot in a “haphazard” manner, to find its mark between the joints of Ahab’s armor. He would die, according to the word of the Lord.
The vision of God, mentioned and elaborated upon, throughout Scripture is essential to victorious faith. As long as Peter’s vision of Christ as the “Sovereign,” walking on the waves, was clearly before him, he too would walk on the waves. In having the vision of the chariot of fire, and horses of fire, taking Elijah to heaven, Elisha’s faith was such that he could believe God for the double portion of Elijah’s spirit, which had been promised. In seeing the Lord high and lifted up, upon His throne, Isaiah would be so gripped by the vision that he would be transformed. He would see his own need, and sin, but at the same time, hear the Lord’s voice of pardon, and cleansing. Apparently, Isaiah accepted and embraced God’s commission for him that very day. Lastly, in the book of Revelation, we again see God sitting upon a throne, with Christ at the right hand of the Father. (Chapters 4,5) Why is the continual vision of God’s sovereignty and holiness kept before us? It is for the purpose of creating faith in the heart of the believer. If the believer is to be an over-comer in this world, then his vision of God must be greater than all that is in this world. And secondly, he must know that God is with him, and will faithfully meet him in answer to faith.
One of the most essential elements of the vision of God that we must grasp is that it is perpetual, unchanging. God, sitting upon His throne in the day of Micaiah, has not changed. We see this in the book of the Revelation. He is still there, still reigning, still sovereign, today. That which changes is our attitude, and perspective of that vision. If we are to be victorious by faith, then we need to keep ever before us this vision of God in His sovereignty, above “the wars that war below.”
In conclusion, we need to remember, and never let go of the truth, that God is FOR US. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, in the context of overcoming in a hostile world: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (8:31) His great assurance, and certainty, was: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (v.37)
Dear Father, Strengthen our faith by giving us an ever-increasing, clear vision of Thyself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad