“But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?”” 1 Kings 22:7
Israel and Judah have forged an alliance; one that would prove counterproductive to Judah. King Ahab has asked King Jehoshaphat for help; “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-Gilead?” Judah’s King replies favorably, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses”, but with this caveat “Please inquire first for the word of the Lord.” King Ahab then ushers out 400 of Israel’s Prophets who all proclaim “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
But King Jehoshaphat politely asks again for “a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him” in the event that King Ahab didn’t quite understand. But apparently he did, as he responded “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” If you’re familiar with the rest of the Story, he’s instructed quite vividly by the Prophet Micaiah, who pronounces Ahab’s doom if they go. But go they will, and King Ahab is killed in battle as prophesied.
This raises the Question; why then did King Jehoshaphat go? He asked for a Prophet of the Lord to give God’s Counsel, which He did. “Don’t Go!!!” Pretty clear if you ask me. But he went! Why? Well, we aren’t told: AND, we shouldn’t speculate. It Was Not a Good or Wise Decision!!! How about you? You pray, you ask for God’s Will, you read your Bible, get counsel, and may have a good idea of what God is saying. Do you Obey? I’ll just leave it there!