In First Kings, chapter twenty-two, verse fifteen, Micaiah mimicked the prediction of the false prophet that Ahab knew he was not serious, as in the following verse. Micaiah then knew the true prophetic vision he had received in verse seventeen. The meaning was clear: Ahab would die, and Israel would retreat home.
The kindness we can do to one who is going dangerously is to tell them of their danger. Leaving the hardened criminal without an excuse to give a lesson to others, Micaiah related his vision. This matter represents the manner of men: We are not to imagine that God is upon new counsels or that He needs to consult with angels or any creature about the methods He should take. Or that He is the author of sin or the cause of any man’s telling or believing a lie. Micaiah returned not the blow of Zedekiah, yet, since he boasted of the Spirit, as those commonly do that know of the Holy Spirit’s operations, the true prophet left him to be convinced of his error by the event.
Those who will not have their mistakes set right in time, by the word of God, will be undeceived. When it is too late, by the judgments of God, we should be ashamed of what we call trials, were we to consider what the servants of God have endured. Yet it will be well if freedom from trouble proves not more hurtful to us; we are more easily allured and bribed into unfaithfulness and conformity to the world than driven to them.
No doubt, Micaiah’s mocking tone showed that his words were ironic. However, Ahab’s hollow tone had already proved to Micaiah that he was insincere. King Ahab did not care to know the will of the Lord and wanted prophets who would speak to him to smooth things and prophesy deceits.