I Kings 13: A Study in Obedience and Deception
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth–el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth–el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.
And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth–el.
Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth–el; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth–el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.
And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,
And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.
Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:
And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,
But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.
And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.
And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Beth–el, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
I Kings 13 presents a dramatic series of events centered around a prophet from Judah, King Jeroboam, and an old prophet from Bethel. This chapter serves as a powerful lesson on obedience, the consequences of disobedience, and the pervasive nature of deception, relevant for all believers. Let's delve into the details of this crucial chapter.
God's Judgment Foretold (I Kings 13:1-3)
The chapter opens with a stark declaration of God's impending judgment against Jeroboam's idolatry. A "man of God" arrives in Bethel from Judah (I Kings 13:1), a clear indication that he operates under God's authority, not Jeroboam's. His message is stunning: he prophesies the rise of King Josiah, a descendant of David, who, centuries later, would desecrate the altar in Bethel by sacrificing the idolatrous priests and burning human bones upon it (I Kings 13:2). This prophecy, fulfilled in II Kings 23:15-20, highlights God's sovereign control over history and His meticulous plan. To confirm the prophecy, the man of God provides an immediate sign: the altar would be split apart, and its ashes scattered (I Kings 13:3).
Jeroboam's Defiance and God's Response (I Kings 13:4-6)
Jeroboam, enraged by the prophecy, attempts to arrest the man of God, stretching out his hand in a royal gesture of authority (I Kings 13:4). However, God swiftly intervenes, causing the king's hand to wither and the altar to break apart, just as prophesied (I Kings 13:4-5). This undeniable demonstration of divine power leaves Jeroboam humbled and fearful. He pleads with the prophet to intercede with God for the restoration of his hand. The man of God, demonstrating compassion, prays for Jeroboam, and God mercifully heals him (I Kings 13:6). This illustrates God's power and willingness to show mercy, even to those who oppose Him.
The Unbribable Prophet (I Kings 13:7-10)
Jeroboam, perhaps relieved and strategically minded, offers the man of God a reward and invites him to dine. He may have thought he could get the prophet on his side. However, the man of God refuses, stating that he has been explicitly commanded by the Lord not to eat or drink in Bethel, nor to return by the same way he came (I Kings 13:8-10). This underscores the importance of unwavering obedience to God's specific instructions. True prophets of God are not for sale; their reward is in doing the King's work.
The Deception of the Old Prophet (I Kings 13:11-19)
This is where the narrative takes a tragic turn. An old prophet living in Bethel hears of the man of God's actions and prophecy. Driven by unknown motives – perhaps jealousy or a desire for recognition – he pursues the man of God and finds him resting (I Kings 13:11-14). The old prophet invites him back to his house for food, but the man of God refuses, citing God's direct command. The old prophet then lies, claiming that an angel has spoken to him, reversing God's instructions (I Kings 13:18). Tragically, the man of God from Judah believes the deception and returns to Bethel with the old prophet (I Kings 13:19). He should have known better than to trust a prophet from Bethel, a place steeped in Jeroboam's idolatry.
Judgment Pronounced and Executed (I Kings 13:20-32)
While they are eating, the word of the Lord comes to the old prophet, and he pronounces judgment upon the disobedient man of God (I Kings 13:20-22). The judgment is severe: because he disobeyed God's command and returned to eat and drink in the forbidden place, his body would not be buried in the tomb of his fathers. This unusual story continues as the man of God is killed by a lion on his way home (I Kings 13:23-24). The fact that the lion and the donkey stand beside the body is a clear indication of divine intervention, signifying that this was not an accidental death but a consequence of disobedience.
The old prophet, despite his deception, retrieves the body, buries it in his own tomb, mourns for him, and affirms the truth of the prophecy against Jeroboam (I Kings 13:30, 32). This act might be interpreted as a form of repentance or a recognition of the gravity of his actions.
Jeroboam's Unrepentant Heart (I Kings 13:33-34)
Despite witnessing these extraordinary events, Jeroboam remains unrepentant (I Kings 13:33). He continues to appoint priests from among the people, regardless of their qualifications, to serve at the high places (I Kings 13:33). This persistent idolatry ultimately leads to the destruction of Jeroboam's dynasty (I Kings 13:34). This serves as a warning against hardening one's heart to God's warnings and choosing a path of rebellion.
Lessons and Applications from I Kings 13
I Kings 13 offers several important lessons for believers today:
- Obedience is paramount: God expects complete obedience to His commands. Even seemingly small acts of disobedience can have serious consequences.
- Discernment is crucial: We must be discerning and test all things, even messages that appear to be from God. We should compare them with Scripture and seek wise counsel.
- Deception is real: Satan often uses deception to lead us astray. We must be on guard against false teachings and those who would lead us away from the truth.
- God's judgment is just: God will ultimately judge all sin. We must repent of our sins and turn to Him for forgiveness.
- The consequences of sin are far-reaching: Jeroboam's sin not only affected him but also his entire kingdom. Our choices have consequences that can extend beyond ourselves.
This chapter challenges us to examine our own lives and ensure that we are living in obedience to God's Word. It reminds us to be vigilant against deception and to remain steadfast in our commitment to following Christ, no matter the cost. The story of the prophet from Judah serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of unwavering obedience and the devastating consequences of being led astray.
And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth–el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth–el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.
The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.
And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:
For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth–el.
Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth–el; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth–el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.
And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,
And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.
Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:
For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.
He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.
So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.
And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back:
And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee,
But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.
And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.
And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.
And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.
And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!
And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:
For the saying which he cried by the word of the Lord against the altar in Beth–el, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
I Kings 13 presents a dramatic series of events centered around a prophet from Judah, King Jeroboam, and an old prophet from Bethel. This chapter serves as a powerful lesson on obedience, the consequences of disobedience, and the pervasive nature of deception, relevant for all believers. Let's delve into the details of this crucial chapter.
God's Judgment Foretold (I Kings 13:1-3)
The chapter opens with a stark declaration of God's impending judgment against Jeroboam's idolatry. A "man of God" arrives in Bethel from Judah (I Kings 13:1), a clear indication that he operates under God's authority, not Jeroboam's. His message is stunning: he prophesies the rise of King Josiah, a descendant of David, who, centuries later, would desecrate the altar in Bethel by sacrificing the idolatrous priests and burning human bones upon it (I Kings 13:2). This prophecy, fulfilled in II Kings 23:15-20, highlights God's sovereign control over history and His meticulous plan. To confirm the prophecy, the man of God provides an immediate sign: the altar would be split apart, and its ashes scattered (I Kings 13:3).
Jeroboam's Defiance and God's Response (I Kings 13:4-6)
Jeroboam, enraged by the prophecy, attempts to arrest the man of God, stretching out his hand in a royal gesture of authority (I Kings 13:4). However, God swiftly intervenes, causing the king's hand to wither and the altar to break apart, just as prophesied (I Kings 13:4-5). This undeniable demonstration of divine power leaves Jeroboam humbled and fearful. He pleads with the prophet to intercede with God for the restoration of his hand. The man of God, demonstrating compassion, prays for Jeroboam, and God mercifully heals him (I Kings 13:6). This illustrates God's power and willingness to show mercy, even to those who oppose Him.
The Unbribable Prophet (I Kings 13:7-10)
Jeroboam, perhaps relieved and strategically minded, offers the man of God a reward and invites him to dine. He may have thought he could get the prophet on his side. However, the man of God refuses, stating that he has been explicitly commanded by the Lord not to eat or drink in Bethel, nor to return by the same way he came (I Kings 13:8-10). This underscores the importance of unwavering obedience to God's specific instructions. True prophets of God are not for sale; their reward is in doing the King's work.
The Deception of the Old Prophet (I Kings 13:11-19)
This is where the narrative takes a tragic turn. An old prophet living in Bethel hears of the man of God's actions and prophecy. Driven by unknown motives – perhaps jealousy or a desire for recognition – he pursues the man of God and finds him resting (I Kings 13:11-14). The old prophet invites him back to his house for food, but the man of God refuses, citing God's direct command. The old prophet then lies, claiming that an angel has spoken to him, reversing God's instructions (I Kings 13:18). Tragically, the man of God from Judah believes the deception and returns to Bethel with the old prophet (I Kings 13:19). He should have known better than to trust a prophet from Bethel, a place steeped in Jeroboam's idolatry.
Judgment Pronounced and Executed (I Kings 13:20-32)
While they are eating, the word of the Lord comes to the old prophet, and he pronounces judgment upon the disobedient man of God (I Kings 13:20-22). The judgment is severe: because he disobeyed God's command and returned to eat and drink in the forbidden place, his body would not be buried in the tomb of his fathers. This unusual story continues as the man of God is killed by a lion on his way home (I Kings 13:23-24). The fact that the lion and the donkey stand beside the body is a clear indication of divine intervention, signifying that this was not an accidental death but a consequence of disobedience.
The old prophet, despite his deception, retrieves the body, buries it in his own tomb, mourns for him, and affirms the truth of the prophecy against Jeroboam (I Kings 13:30, 32). This act might be interpreted as a form of repentance or a recognition of the gravity of his actions.
Jeroboam's Unrepentant Heart (I Kings 13:33-34)
Despite witnessing these extraordinary events, Jeroboam remains unrepentant (I Kings 13:33). He continues to appoint priests from among the people, regardless of their qualifications, to serve at the high places (I Kings 13:33). This persistent idolatry ultimately leads to the destruction of Jeroboam's dynasty (I Kings 13:34). This serves as a warning against hardening one's heart to God's warnings and choosing a path of rebellion.
Lessons and Applications from I Kings 13
I Kings 13 offers several important lessons for believers today:
- Obedience is paramount: God expects complete obedience to His commands. Even seemingly small acts of disobedience can have serious consequences.
- Discernment is crucial: We must be discerning and test all things, even messages that appear to be from God. We should compare them with Scripture and seek wise counsel.
- Deception is real: Satan often uses deception to lead us astray. We must be on guard against false teachings and those who would lead us away from the truth.
- God's judgment is just: God will ultimately judge all sin. We must repent of our sins and turn to Him for forgiveness.
- The consequences of sin are far-reaching: Jeroboam's sin not only affected him but also his entire kingdom. Our choices have consequences that can extend beyond ourselves.
This chapter challenges us to examine our own lives and ensure that we are living in obedience to God's Word. It reminds us to be vigilant against deception and to remain steadfast in our commitment to following Christ, no matter the cost. The story of the prophet from Judah serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of unwavering obedience and the devastating consequences of being led astray.