The Death Of A Disobedient Prophet
1 Kings 13
INTRODUCTION
A.At the death of Solomon, the 10 northern tribes of Israel revolted against Rehoboam, Solomon’s heir.
1.Jeroboam, the king of the northern tribes, soon inaugurated religious practices which were not authorized by God (Deut 4:2; 12:32).
1)Idolatrous golden calves at Dan and Bethel(Ex 20:6).
2)Illegitimates places of worship (Deut 12:1-14).
3)Unlawful priests (Ex 28:1; Num 3:5-13; 2 Chron 26:18; Heb 7:13-14).
4)Unauthorized religious observances (Ex 23:14-17; Deut 16:1-17).
B.1 Kings12:33: Practicing in religion that “which he had devised in his own heart”, Jeroboam was engaged in what could truly be called “will- worship”(Col2:23).
1.The events which unfold when God sent a prophet to rebuke Jeroboam teach us much about the attitude of God toward sin.
I.A MESSAGE FROM GOD (1-10)
A.Pronounced God’s judgment upon Jeroboam’s altar.
1.1: A “man of God” was sent “by the word of the Lord.”
1)Minister, servant, messenger of God (Jud 13:6-8).
2)Sometimes a “man of God” was a prophet, but no false prophet was ever described as a “man of God.”
2.“Bethel” was about 10 miles from Jerusalem.
1)Jeroboam was acting in open defiance of the temple.
2)Jeroboam himself officiated in the burning of “incense.”
3)2 Chron26:16-21: Such was presumptuous, yet it was, after all, HISRELIGION.
* Uzziah (Azariah) ruled Judah for 52 years (818-768 BC).
3.2-3: Doom was decreed and a sign was given.
1)The altar built by Jeroboam would be utterly defiled and dishonored.
2)The idolatrous priests would themselves be sacrificed on it and men’s bones burned on it.
3)This prophecy would be fulfilled 300 years later by an heir of David named Josiah (2 Kings22:2-23:25).
4.This prophecy amounted to a prediction that Jeroboam’s dynasty would fall, his religious system would end, and the southern kingdom would gain predominance.
1)No thwarting of God’s will can be permanent (Matt 5:13; Acts 5:38).
5.A “sign” was offered as proof the message was from God and not just an idle threat.
1)It is unlikely the man of God would have been believed without such a sign.
B.4-5: When Jeroboam heard the words of the young prophet, he“stretched out his hand from the altar” ordering that he be seized.
1.Jeroboam’s hand withered so that he could not pull it back.
1)In protesting against God, Jeroboam himself became a further“sign.”
2)How powerless is the hand of man when arrested by the hand of God!
2.The altar was split open and the ashes ran out, just as the young prophet predicted.
1)This altar symbolized the worship of substitutions so impiously devised by Jeroboam (Deut 4:2).
2)Substitutions in worship is still contrary to God’s law today
(2 John 9).
C.6-7: Jeroboam then begged the prophet to ask God to heal his hand, which was done.
1.The king was humbled and frightened. Was he also stricken in conscience?
1)Appears to be a fervent appeal (Ex 32.11; 2 Kings13:4; 2 Chron33:12).
2)Jeroboam evidently was more interested in having his hand restored than his sin forgiven.
3)Jeroboam’s offer of hospitality may have been out of gratitude or courtesy to a prophet (2 Kings5:15; 8:8).
2.Instead of repenting of his substitutions at this demonstration of God’s wrath, merely invited the prophet home with him and promised him a reward.
1)Perhaps he may also hope to win over the man of God or soften his denunciation.
2)Its more difficult to reprove a benefactor.
D.8-10: The man of God refused Jeroboam’s offer and told him why(Num 22:18).
1.The young prophet withstood king Jeroboam with great courage.
1)He would not forsake God’s command for the king’s offer.
2)I’m sure an invitation by the king himself would have been a tempting offer, and one would be forced to weigh it very carefully before refusing, lest the king become even more upset (Pharaoh).
3)It could have cost him his life, being imprisoned, or some other tragedy.
4)God in effect promised that these things would not happen to him there when he was told to return home by taking another route.
5)His message was plain, forceful and unmistakable.
6)Truly, he had accomplished a great mission!
2.But, we must also remember the devil is not one to give up easily.
1)Even though the man of God had resisted this big temptation, Satan had a matter he also wanted to settle.
2)He wanted to destroy this young prophet of God who had so devastated his foothold!
3.Why was he not to return home the same way he came?
1)Was it to avoid being followed?
2)With a great victory behind him, the man of God began his journey home.
II.THE DEATH OF GOD’S MESSENGER (11-32)
A.11-14: An old prophet, who dwelt at Bethel, heard from his sons of what happened, and sought the man of God.
1.We wonder what was the character and motivation of the old prophet.
1)Did he hope, by succeeding where the king had failed, to diminish the force of the prophetic rebuke and gain the favor of Jeroboam and others?
2)Was he altogether a false prophet?
3)Was he a morally weak person?
2.If this older prophet had been obedient to the Lord, he would have been preaching against the idolatry and worship innovations that Jeroboam had introduced.
1)Evidently he had long before sold out to idolatry (12:25-33).
B.15-19: The man of God was deceived into returning to Bethel to be refreshed.
1.While the two prophets were eating, the word of God came to the older prophet.
1)20-22: God predicted the punishment of His servant for disobedience.
2)Believing the false prophet cost the young prophet his life.
C.23-25: The death of the man of God.
1.The prophet left for home, but was killed on the way by a lion.
1)The details imply a direct visitation of God, not a chance event.
2)To some, the punishment seems unjustly severe considering:
3)He was deceived by a fellow prophet whom it appeared his duty to obey.
2.Why is this most unusual story recorded in the OT?
1)Evidently, by Ro.15:4, this was “written for our learning.”
2)But what are we to learn from it?
3)Well, here we have a prophet of God who had his orders and was carrying them out, until the old false prophet came and led him astray by telling him a lie.
4)Was the young prophet of God honest and sincere?
5)Did he really believe that God had spoken to the old prophet?
6)Certainly, for there is nothing in the story to indicate otherwise.
3.Why was God so severe on the prophet of God, especially when it was simply an honest mistake, and his conscience was clear?
1)Simply because he was responsible for being not only sincere, but also right.
2)He should have consulted God when an outsider came claiming a different teaching.
3)Though he was sincere and honest, that did not excuse him.
4)He believed a lie, and lost his life.
5)God wants us to understand that we will not get by with Him just because we are sincere.
6)This outstanding OT story is proof that it is possible for men to believe a lie and be condemned (2 Thes 2:10-12; Prov 14:12; John 4:24).
7)Every false prophet claims the truth (Tit 1:16; Matt 7:20).
4.The man of God’s disobedience was inexcusable.
1)He outright disobeyed the plain voice of God at the word of a mere stranger with not authentication of his alleged revelation from God.
2)It is never wise to disobey what we know God has already revealed, no matter who says to do so (Gal 1:6-9).
3)When God gives a command He expects it to be obeyed.
4)The man of God had compromised his earlier rebuke.
5)Having denounced disobedience, he himself now became an example of disobedience!
6)Had God allowed such disobedience to pass unpunished, what would have been the conclusion of Jeroboam and the others?
7)On the other hand, the striking death of the man of God reinforced his earlier denunciation.
D.26-32: The burial of the man of God by the old prophet.
1.The old prophet, hearing of it, took the body and buried it in his own grave.
1)The really guilty party apparently escaped punishment and by his lie even secured respect for his remains.
2.But even in this tragedy, the purpose of God is accomplished!
1)Realizing the evil he had caused, and still seeking justification by association in his plans for his own death, he also reconfirmed God’s promise against Israel spoken by the man of God.
2)How sad that it sometimes take the death of one we admire to finally enable us to speak against the evil about us.
3)Has it suddenly changed? No, it was always evil!
4)But by then it may fall on deaf ears, as it did in this case.
3.No amount of longing, association, or mourning without true repentance is going to make us right in the eyes of God.
1)He may use us as a warning to others of the consequences of sin, but we will also answer for our own sins (Rom 14:12).
2)Don’t wait until you shed tears of remorse for those you have hurt to decide to change your way of living!
3)Now is the only time you have—use it wisely in God’s behalf!
CONCLUSION
1.The consequences of our sins may undo much good that has previously been accomplished by ourselves and others (Num 20:1-13; 27:14).
2.The commands of God must be kept in their entirety (1 Sam 15:1-23; Jas 2:10-11).
3.No departure from God’s instructions is trivial—important principles are involved in seemingly small transgressions (Lev 10:1-3; 2 Sam 6:6-7).
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