Bible Studies
A Man of God (1 Kings 13:1-10)
Series: Studies in First KingsIntroduction:
1. “A man of God,” is the phrase that is used to describe him. 2. He came from Judah to deliver a message from the Lord to king Jeroboam. 3. Jeroboam had set up idols, one in Dan and one in Bethel, to discourage the people of Israel from going to Jerusalem to worship. 4. Although scholars debate the exact location of Bethel, it may have been only 10 miles to the north of Jerusalem. 5. Jeroboam is there, probably to dedicate the place of worship, like Solomon had dedicated the temple in Jerusalem. It was a significant day. Little did Jeroboam know just what was about to occur. 6. 1 Kings 13 describes what happened. Reading 1-5.Discussion:
I. The man of God condemned the worship about to be conducted at the altar in Bethel.A. It was the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month.
1. This corresponded to the Feast of Tabernacles that was conducted in Jerusalem in the seventh month and began on the fifteenth day of the month (Lev. 23:34ff). It was a harvest feast after the ingathering of the crops.
2. C. F. Keil observes that the harvest in the north was one month behind the harvest in the south and so offers this as a possible reason for the dates of Jeroboam’s feast.
3. His feast counterfeits the one authorized by God in Jerusalem.
B. God’s word was that one born in David’s house, named Josiah, would kill the priests who burned incense on this altar and burn human bones on it.
1. Josiah (640 B.C.) would not come along until almost 300 (291) years later (Jeroboam, 931 B.C.).
2. 2 Kings 23:15ff describes how Josiah took the bones from the graves of the priests and burned them on the altar of Jeroboam. He demolished the stones and then ground them to dust.
3. He left the tomb of the man of God undisturbed. It stood as testimony to the accuracy of the things that the man of God had said.
C. But it was all a prediction, to be fulfilled some 291 years later. How would Jeroboam know it was true? The altar was immediately split apart and the ashes poured out just as the man of God said.
1. Jeroboam commanded that the man of God be seized.
2. As he stretched out his hand from the altar toward the man of God his hand dried up.
3. He appealed to the man of God and it was restored.
D. The man of God had faithfully delivered his message.
II. Would he allow himself to be influenced by others to disobey the Lord?A. He successfully rejected the invitation of Jeroboam (13:7-10).
1. At first we wonder why did the Lord require that the prophet not eat and drink and not return home by the same route.
2. We do not know for certain that this is the motive, but men of God must not allow influences to distract them from the mission that God has defined.
a. Balaam wanted the “fees for divination” that Balak promised, even though God told him not to prophesy against Israel (Num. 22). Cf. Rev. 2:14.
b. Amos went against Jeroboam II and Amaziah, the priest, when he prophesied about the coming captivity (7:10-17). He would not compromise.
c. False prophets come under the influence of the people to speak what the people want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3).
B. The man of God succumbed to the influence of a lie (13:11-19).
1. He knew the command of the Lord.
2. He came under the influence of someone who lied to him (cf. 2 Thess. 2:9-12).
3. There is no justifiable reason for not doing what the Lord has told you to do. There are many deceivers. But you are responsible. I sometimes hear people say, “Everybody interprets the Bible differently.” That’s a fact. A lawyer once asked Jesus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” (Lk. 10:25ff).
4. “How does it read to you?” There are many influences out there. But what has God said? “How does it read to you?” The question is not “What do other’s say?” But what do I understand God to be telling me?
III. The man of God, like Jeroboam, did not do what he knew God told him to do and it cost him his life (13:20-25).A. The consequence of disobeying the Lord resulted in the death of the man of God.
B. The prophet who lied was clear on what had happened (13:26ff).
C. The man of God, in some ways, was like Jeroboam.
1. Jeroboam continued in his evil way (13:33-34). Even with direct confrontation he persisted in rebellion. Even Ahab, as evil as he was, briefly humbled himself (1 Kings 21:28-29).
2. Death was the result for the man of God and for Jeroboam’s dynasty.
IV. Lessons to be learned.A. God demands complete and radical obedience to His mission.
B. Prophets of God are free from obligation to other people—they freely speak the word of God.
C. False prophets speak what people want to hear (2 Tim. 4:3). They follow ways of sensuality and greed (2 Pet. 2:2).
D. Do not be led off the path that God has defined for you.
Conclusion:
1. This man of God was on the right path but lost his life when he allowed someone else to lead him off the path that God had put him on. 2. And Jeroboam continued on the path of his evil way, even though he was sternly warned. 3. One man was on the right path and left it. One was on the wrong path and continued in it. 4. Is God calling on you to get on the right path? Is He telling you to stay on the right path avoiding the influences that would lead you astray?
