I Kings 13
Man of God from Judah cried out verse 1- 3
And – behold there came a man of God out of Judah
by the word of the LORD to Bethel
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 said the LORD
Behold – a child shall be born to the house of David
Josiah by name and upon you shall
he offer the priests of the high places that
burn incense upon you
and men’s bones shall be burnt on you
And he gave a sign the same day
saying
This is the sign which the LORD has spoken
Behold – the altar shall be rent
and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out
King Jeroboam told servants to seize man of God verse 4- 5
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
Man of God prayed for Jeroboam’s hand verse 6
And the king answered and said to the man of God
Entreat now the face of the LORD your 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
Jeroboam asked man of God to come to his home verse 7
And the king said to the man of God
Come home with me – and refresh yourself
and I will give you a reward
Man of God of his charge from the LORD verse 8- 10
And the man of God
said to the king
If you will give me half your house – I will not go in with you
neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place
for so was it charge me by the word of the LORD
saying
Eat no bread – nor drink water
nor turn again by the same way that you came
Old prophet went after man of God verse 11- 14
Now there dwell 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 to the king
them they told also to their father
And their father
said to them
What way went he?
for his sons had seen what way the man of God went
which came from Judah
And he said to 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
Are you the man of God that came from Judah?
And he said
I am
Old prophet found man of God verse 15- 17
Then he said to him
Com home with me – and eat bread
And he
said
I may not return with you – nor go in with you
neither will I eat bread nor drink water
with you in this place
for it was said to me by the word of the LORD
You shall eat no bread nor drink water there
nor turn again to go
by the way that you came
Old prophet lied to man of God verse 18- 19
He said to him
I am a prophet also as you are
and an angel spoke unto me
by the word of the LORD
saying
Bring him back with you into your house
that he may eat bread and drink water
But he lied to him
Old prophet hears from the LORD verse 20- 22
And it came to pass – as they sat at the table
that the word of the LORD came to the prophet
that brought him back
And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah
saying
Thus says the LORD
Forasmuch as you have disobeyed the mouth of the LORD
and have not kept the commandment which
the LORD your God command you
But came back
and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place
of the which the LORD did say to you
Eat no bread – and drunk water in this place
Your carcass shall not come unto the sepulcher of your fathers /
Man of God killed by lion verse 23- 25
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 carcass was cast in the way – and the ass stood by it
the lion also stood by the carcass
And – behold – men passed by – saw the carcass cast in the way
and the lion standing by the carcass
and they came and told it in the city
where the old prophet dwelt
Old prophet the LORD fulfilled HIS prophecy verse 26
And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof
he said
It is the man of God – who was disobedient to the word of the LORD
therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion
which has torn him – and slain him
according to the word of the LORD
which he spoke to him
Old prophet buries man of God verse 27- 30
And he spoke to his sons
saying
Saddle me the ass
And they saddled him
and he went and found his carcass cast in the way
and the ass and the lion standing by the carcass
the lion had not eaten the carcass
nor torn the ass
And the prophet took up the carcass 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 carcass n his own grave
and they mourned over him
saying
Alas – my brother
Old prophet wants to be buried with man of God verse 31- 32
And it came to pass – after he had buried him – that he spoke to his sons
saying
When I am dead – then bury me in the sepulcher 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
Jeroboam didn’t turn from his evil ways verse 33- 34
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
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, 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. (3001 “dried up” [yabesh] means withered, confounded, to weaken or degenerate, to make dry, paralyzed, or shriveled up.)
DEVOTION: God sent a true representative to warn King Jeroboam what was going to happen in the future in the nation and to this false place of worship. This man of God spoke the truth and Jeroboam didn’t like it and wanted the man arrested and dealt with but when he pointed at the man of God his hand was stuck in that position.
It was a miracle that caused Jeroboam to be afraid. The altar was rent and the ashes poured on the ground immediately after the man of God said that it would happen. His word proved true right away and it made the people afraid as well. The message of the man of God was confirmed by the actions of the LORD.
Once Jeroboam saw what had happened to his hand and to the altar, he asked the man of God to pray for him. He wanted his hand restored.
One of the amazing things that happened was the he asked for prayer and the LORD granted his request. We are to pray for those who oppose the true worship of the LORD. We are not to just condemn them but we are to pray for them to understand that we represent the only true God in the universe. HE is even willing to deal with false teachers and false leaders in a way that shows HIS power over creation.
We are not here to hate those who oppose our message but to love them into the kingdom of God. We are not to change our message to please them but to tell them the truth and let them decide if they want to change. If they don’t want to change they have to understand that they will be facing a future judgment before the LORD and will have no excuse for spending eternity in the lake of fire for their refusal to listen to the message.
Our message has to be given with an attitude of love. It can be a strong message but one that just gives the facts of the Word of God and the consequences to those who will not follow HIM.
The world wants to make up its own religion which is always a false religion that gives a false hope.
CHALLENGE: We have the responsibility to confront the lie with the truth and let each individual make a choice. They should choose wisely but a majority will not.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 And the king said to the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward. (4991 “reward” [mattath] means gift, something acquired or given without compensation in return, or something given to another as a token of good will and relationship.)
DEVOTION: The world always thinks they can buy their way into heaven. Jeroboam offered the prophet a gift. He wanted him to come back to the palace and spend some time with him. The LORD gave the prophet specify instructions regarding what he could do and could not do while he was in Bethel.
Remember Bethel was the first place where Jacob met with the LORD. It was a place where the LORD met with Jacob to instruct him regarding the future. The name Bethel mean “house of God.” So we have a false god set up in a place that was supposed to be one that honored the LORD alone.
When we enter a place that designated as a place of worship we should never try to worship a false god. Sometimes we can enter into a church building and be there for another purpose other than worshiping God.
We can come to church for a social gathering to meet people we live to see but not even think about what it means to worship the LORD. We can enter the building with the idea of becoming more socially accepted in the community with no thought of genuinely worshiping the LORD. We can enter a church with the idea that we are paying our dues and God should be pleased with us even when we don’t have any true interaction with HIM during our time there.
Our purpose for going to a place of worship should always be to genuinely worship the God of the Bible by confession and repentance and service. It is not a social club but a place for confession of sin and restoration of a proper relationship with God and HIS people.
CHALLENGE: What happens when you go to church? Worship or Social gathering?
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:18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; 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. (3584 “lied” [kahas] means be disappointing, deceive, act deceptively, lie, feigned obedience.)
We have a man of God coming to the altar at Bethel to give the word of the LORD regarding what was going to happen to the altar. Jeroboam, king of Israel, was there to burn incense. Jeroboam didn’t like the man of God saying something against the altar and put forth his hand and ordered the man of God to be held by his servants.
However, once his hand was out, the LORD dried it up. Jeroboam couldn’t return his hand back to his body. At the same time the altar was broken as the man of God had stated. Jeroboam now wanted the man of God to pray for the restoration of his hand, which he did. The LORD restored his hand.
Jeroboam wanted to give him a reward. The man of God refused because he was commanded of the LORD not to eat or drink anything in the land or to return the same way he came into the land. He had his orders from the LORD. They were definite.
Now along comes an old prophet that was still living in Israel. He tells this man of God that an angel came and told him to bring him back to his house and give him food. What was the man of God to do? Here was a prophet saying the LORD told him to do something. Would we think that a prophet would not tell the truth? This man of God didn’t think the prophet would deceive him.
The problem is that he did DECEIVE him. Once they were sitting at his house eating bread the LORD spoke to the prophet and told him what was going to happen to the man of God. The LORD blamed the man of God for disobedience. Is that fair?
Yes, the LORD had given the man of God special instructions and he didn’t listen. He should have not listened to anyone else once the LORD had spoken to him about his mission.
Too often we listen to too many voices when the LORD tells us to do something. We are supposed to have a multitude of Biblical counselors around us but once the LORD has spoken we have to listen to HIM when we make a decision.
Are we listening to the voice of God in our daily walk with HIM? HE speaks through HIS word. Are we quiet enough before HIM to hear HIS voice? Once we hear HIS voice do we do it or still look for other voices?
CHALLENGE: The voice of the LORD will NEVER contradict the WORD OF GOD. The Bible is the WORD OF GOD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 21 And he cried to the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus says the LORD, Forasmuch as you have disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment which the LOD your God commanded you. (4751 “disobeyed” [mar] means to be recalcitrant, rebellious, to behave rebelliously, to defy an authority, be contentious, behave refractory, obstinately or rebel.)
DEVOTION: Here was a man of God who was given special instructions from the LORD. He was to deliver a message from the LORD to the king and then return to his own land a different way from the way he came. He was not to eat anything while in the land. These were easy instructions but they would be somewhat hard to complete as he probably was very hungry after his trip. The LORD had given him these instructions to follow NO MATTER WHAT.
However, another man who said he was given a message from the LORD came to him and told him a LIE. The man believed the lie and went back with the individual and ate and drank something but then the word of the LORD came again to him stating that because he had disobeyed the instructions he was going to die. What a confusing time.
Here we have two men who claim to have a message from the LORD that said something different. The man of God should have known that God didn’t change HIS mind. However, he was convinced that an angel had talked to this man and he listened.
We need to make sure that the LORD is speaking to us regarding a matter and then not change what the LORD told us to do even when others might say the LORD spoke to them regarding what we should do. This is not easy.
However the alternative is not good too. If we genuinely feel the LORD has told us to do something we should do it no matter what others think. HE is the one who knows what is best for us.
CHALLENGE: Listening to the LORD in our daily times with HIM is very important. HE is still speaking to HIS children today.
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: 33 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. (4390 “consecrated” [male] means confirm, satisfy, accomplish, devote, or ordain.
DEVOTION: Here a new religion was started with the ten tribes that followed Jeroboam’s rebellion against Rehoboam. Jerusalem was the center of worship for Jehovah for the children of Israel.
Jeroboam didn’t want anyone from the ten tribes going back to Jerusalem to worship for fear that they would rebel against his reign over them. So he set up two golden calves to be worshiped by the ten tribes.
He had to have priests to offer the sacrifices to the calves so he picked the lowest of the low of the people to serve as priests. They were not of the tribe of Levi. They were not descendants of Aaron who were supposed to be the only family that had priests before the LORD.
Now he ordained the lowest of the low of the people to serve these two calves which were representing a false god in the ten tribes. He didn’t care who served at these locations because it was just an alternative religion to replace the true worship of Jehovah.
He was warned of the prophet concerning this new religion but he didn’t care. He wanted to keep the people feeling religious while they were not worshiping properly. He was leading them away from the LORD and into a false security of thinking that they could worship wherever they wanted in front of whatever god they could make up.
Too often we see this happening today as well. There are many people who are standing in the pulpits in our land who are not true representatives of the only TRUE God of the universe. These false representatives are preaching about a god that is not found in the Bible. They are tickling the ears of those who come to church to make them believe that they have fulfilled their religious duty and could then go out of the building and live as they please.
False religion is alive and well in every nation. There is false hope given from the pulpits that are not preaching the message of salvation by faith in Christ alone. Good works will not get anyone into heaven. There are many people who think they can keep the Ten Commandments and get into heaven when in reality there is not one person who has kept the Ten Commandments except Jesus Christ.
The Ten Commandments were given to show every human being that they will never be able to obey them and therefore need a Savior who is Jesus Christ alone. No amount of church attendance or good works will get anyone into heaven that has not confessed Jesus Christ as the LORD of their life and with the help of the Holy Spirit tried to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD.
Ordination doesn’t mean a person is truly preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jeroboam picked the lowest of the low to represent a false god. This is happening today in many countries of our world.
CHALLENGE: Only attend a church that preaches that Jesus Christ is the only way into heaven. All other churches are leading to the lake of fire for eternity.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Entreat verse 6
Pray verse 6
Besought verse 6
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORD verse 1, 2, 5, 9, 17, 18, 20, 26, 32
Commandment verse 21
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God (Elohim – Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 3, 5- 8, 11, 14, 21, 26, 29, 31
LORD (Jehovah – Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1- 3, 5, 6, 9, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 26, 32
Word of the LORD verse 1, 2, 5, 9, 17, 18, 20, 26, 32
Face of the LORD verse 6
LORD thy God verse 6, 21
Mouth of the LORD verse 21
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel verse 18
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Lied verse 18
Listened to false prophet and return and ate verse 19
Disobeyed verse 21, 26
Kept not command verse 21
Evil way verse 33
Sin verse 34
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Man of God out of Bethel verse 1, 3, 5- 8, 11, 14- 26, 29, 31, 32
Cried out against altar of Bethel
Altar was rent
Prayed for restoration of hand of
Jeroboam
Hand restored.
Told not to eat or drink in land by
the LORD
Tried to leave area but was killed
by lion
Jeroboam verse 1- 9, 33, 34
Altar of incense (false worship)
Hand dried up when he wanted to hurt
man of God
Hand restored after man of God prayed
Offered food and drink to man of God
Returned not from his evil ways
Made lowest of the people priests of
the high places
House of David verse 2
Josiah verse 2
House of David
Old prophet in Bethel verse 11-
Told by sons regarding man of God
Found man of God sitting under tree
LORD spoke through lying prophet
Went and told body of man of God
and buried him
Wanted to be burned with man of God
Cities of Samaria verse 32
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
23–30 As soon as the meal had ended and the man of God had taken his leave, a lion met him on the road, killed him, and stood over his fallen body (vv.23–24). Eventually the news of the tragedy reached the aged prophet (v.25). Surmising that the events were the fulfillment of the Lord’s prophetic judgment, he went and found that all was as it had been reported: the body of the man of God lay on the road with the lion yet standing guard beside it. The body had not been eaten, nor had the prophet’s donkey, which stood beside his fallen master. It could only be the judgment of God (v.26)! Striding past the sentrylike lion, the prophet tenderly picked up the body of the man of God; brought it back to town; and, after proper mourning, laid it to rest in his own tomb (vv.28–30). (Patterson, R. D., & Austel, H. J. (1988). 1, 2 Kings. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job (Vol. 4, pp. 119–120). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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13:23–32. Lions on the road were not common in Israel, but neither were they unknown. Wild animals roamed the land (cf. Jud. 14:5) and occasionally killed people. That this beast was divinely sent to judge the younger prophet is clear in that after the lion killed the man he stood beside the body and neither ate the corpse nor mauled the donkey (1 Kings 13:28). The death of the prophet became public knowledge (v. 25). Out of reverence for the man of God the old prophet … picked up his body, mourned for him, and buried him (v. 29) in his own tomb (v. 30). The old prophet undoubtedly suffered the pains of a guilty conscience for having had a part in the man of God’s death. He was convinced the prophecy about Josiah would come to pass (v. 32; cf. v. 2).
This story clarifies the importance of consistent and complete obedience to the Word of God, the lesson God was seeking to impress on Jeroboam and His people at that time. It also illustrates that added privilege brings increased responsibility; God dealt with the prophet who had the greater responsibility more severely than he did with the man who had less. The effects of spiritual apostasy even on God’s servants can be seen too, especially in the behavior of the older prophet. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Kings. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 515). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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13:24 donkey … lion. Both the donkey and the lion acted unnaturally: The donkey did not run and the lion did not attack the donkey or disturb the man’s body. Unlike the disobedient prophet, the beasts bent their wills to God’s sovereignty. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ki 13:24). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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13:24–28 The way the lion stood by both the man of God and his donkey shows that the lion did not kill for food but was God’s executioner (vv. 25, 26, 28). (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 447). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 28. And he went and found his carcass cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcass, &c.] As before described: the lion had not eaten the carcass, nor torn the ass; both which were very marvellous; as also that the ass should stand so quietly, and without fear, by the carcass along with the lion, and not run away; but here both stayed till the prophet came to take care of the carcass, which shews the singular providence of God in this affair; and that though he chastised the man of God with a temporal judgment for his offence, yet he was dear to him, and even his carcass precious in his sight. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 734). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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In 1996 American political scientist Samuel Huntington wrote a book called The Clash of Civilizations. In it, he proposed a remarkable thesis, that while in the past, especially in the 20th century, global conflicts had been primarily between nations, countries, and kingdoms, in the future, especially in the 21st century, global conflicts would increasingly be between not nation-states but between cultures, between civilizations.
These cultural fault lines, as he called them, sometimes existed within a country or existed across regions. It didn’t take very long within the 21st Century to prove his theory correct. In fact, in The Clash of Civilizations, Huntington went on to predict that the hottest of these conflicts would be between religious and non-religious cultures, specifically, that what you might call the hottest of the hot would be between Islam and the West. In the time since 9/11, his predictions have largely played out.
But there has been another story dealing with Islam that has played out at almost the same time. In fact, just over the last three decades or so, we have seen a remarkable number of Muslims coming to Christ. Individuals from the Islamic world are reporting conversions – sometimes through dreams, sometimes through missions, sometimes through other means. Regardless of the means, it has been what one missiologist called a remarkable movement of the Holy Spirit. The reports are so numerous, in fact, that a foundation recruited a friend of mine, a scholar named Dr. David Garrison, to investigate. They sent him for several months to visit various corners of the Muslim world and to figure out where these stories were coming from. They wanted to know how legitimate these reports were. Garrison put together his findings in a book called A Wind in the House of Islam.
You see in the whole history of the Islamic faith, there have been few reports of large movements of Muslims becoming Christians – very few in fact. But about 80 percent of all the movements recorded in history of large groups of Muslims becoming Christians have taken place in just the last three decades.
There’s something else that’s taken place over the last three decades: Each and every year for the last 28 years, during the season of Ramadan, the most holy period in the Islamic calendar, a group of Christians led by a prayer guide, have together prayed for Christ to draw Muslims to Himself. Ramadan is a very good time to keep our Muslim neighbors and Muslims around the world and prayer. (Break Point)
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Several important themes emerge from this text. First, God opposes idolatry, semi-idolatry, or any form of non-Mosaic religion. Religious pluralism for pluralism’s sake does not impress God. Second, the Lord shares his word with the prophets, who are then responsible for preaching it and keeping it. Third, it is important to discern whether a so-called word from the Lord is true or false prophecy. T. Dozeman thinks a prophecy may be tested by whether it is fulfilled (cf. Deut 18:22; 1 Kgs 13:5, 23–24), confirmed by other words or by signs (cf. 1 Kgs 13:20–22), or lived out with integrity by the prophet. D. W. Van Winkle agrees but adds the criterion of “obedience to the command of Yahweh.” By this he means that God changes circumstances when people repent, a principle the Lord announces from the outset of every promise (cf. 1 Kgs 8; 11:39), but that God is never “portrayed as instructing his prophets to encourage disobedience to his commandments.” The true prophet preaches fidelity to God’s word based on God’s merciful character. False prophets claim new, contradictory revelation and may even claim angelic guidance for doing so.
Fourth, God’s word will come true no matter what the circumstances. Jeroboam, the old prophet, and the man of God all learn this lesson in rather hard ways. In about three hundred years Josiah will be born and fulfill the prophet’s prediction. As Simon concludes, God’s word will come true “in its due time, having transcended the weakness of its bearer and converted its violators into confirmants.” Fifth, God’s word must be obeyed, whether or not it is attended by miracles. Jeroboam failed to believe when he saw wonders. On the other hand, the man of God failed to believe when he trusted the unusual over his personal convictions. It is the Lord’s instructions themselves that matter most. All else may be important yet remains peripheral to the main issue—God’s word. Sixth, Israel continues to march toward disaster. Jeroboam leads them astray, but they follow. By the time the promised Josiah arises, it will be too late for the north to follow his leadership. (House, P. R. (1995). 1, 2 Kings (Vol. 8, pp. 189–190). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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iii. The sin of Jeroboam (13:33–34). This is emphasized by recording his ‘evil manner of life’ (cf. 12:30–33) as continuing despite the significant episodes and warnings (after this). ‘Such conduct made the House of Jeroboam a sinful House’ (jb; ‘sin’ is here ‘sin-offering’, ḥaṭṭā’t). This may be an Old Testament example of the commission of a mortal sin despite warning (cf. 1 John 5:16). Jeroboam’s family did not survive the death of his son (15:29), though the memory of his sinful life was never forgotten. (Wiseman, D. J. (1993). 1 and 2 Kings: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 9, p. 159). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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Ver. 33.—After this thing [calculated though it was to make a deep impression and to furnish a solemn warning] Jeroboam turned not from his evil way. “Some hand was found that durst repair the altar God had rent” (Matthew Henry). According to Josephus, the old prophet now explained away the miracles of the prophet of Judah, alleging that the altar had fallen because it was new and the king’s hand had become powerless from fatigue (Ant., viii. 9, § 1)], but made again [Heb. “returned and made.” The tautology is significant. He returned not from his sin, but returned to it] of the lowest [See on ch. 12:11] of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would [Heb. pleased], he consecrated [Heb. filled his hand. In the consecration of Aaron and his sons, and possibly of their successors also, the portions of the victim which were usually burned upon the altar, together with the right shoulder or leg, which was the priest’s portion, and three cakes of unleavened bread, were put into the hands of the candidates for the priesthood, and waved before the Lord before they were offered on the altar (Exod. 29:22–26; Levit. 8:25–28). To “fill the hand” consequently became a synonym for consecration] him [It would almost appear, from the extreme readiness with which Jeroboam ordained his priests, that few candidates offered themselves for the office. In one respect, however, he exacted more from the candidate than did the law. For whereas the latter required “one bullock and two rams” (Exod. 29:1, &c.), he demanded one bullock and seven rams as the offering on consecration (2 Chron. 13:9], and he became one of the priests [Heb. and he became priests, &c. So the Chaldee. LXX. καὶ ἐγένετο ἱερεύς] of the high places.
Ver. 34.—And this thing [Heb. “in this thing:” בַּדָּבָר. Cf. 1 Chron. 7:23; 9:33] became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth [ch. 15:29. The forfeiture of the crown would bring in its train, almost as a matter of course, the destruction of his family (ch. 14:10–14). And we are taught here that both events are to be regarded, under the dispensation of temporal rewards and punishments, as the recompenses of his impiety; of that daring schismatic policy which, in all its branches, betrayed it complete disregard of the terms of the covenant, and which was persevered in contemptuous defiance of the repeated warnings of God] (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Ed.). (1909). 1 Kings (p. 299). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
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Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman.
INSIGHT
The supreme activity of a Christian is worship. As Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman about a location of worship, He proclaims that God is spirit and that those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.
For worship, God is indifferent to places, nationalities, and methods. We may worship Him on a mound of dirt or in a cathedral. But we must worship Him in truth. When our body sits in a worship service but our mind is elsewhere, we are not worshiping.
Worship is an act of the will. You can decide to worship. Enter into the songs that are sung, the prayers that are prayed, and the Scripture that is read. Offer Him spiritual sacrifices, and you will experience worship. (Quiet Walk)
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THE CROSS AND RECONCILIATION
God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses against them… 2 Corinthians 5:19
On the cross our Lord was reconciling us to God. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.” Christ had to pay this penalty. The law had to have its way, and He has borne the punishment. And because of that, if we believe in Him we are free from the punishment and free of the condemnation.
We are reconciled to God, and the power of God takes over and delivers us from the devil and his cohorts and transfers us into the kingdom of God. That is why the apostle puts it like this in Colossians 1:13: “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” That is how it happens. That is what was happening on the cross. The devil thought he was defeating Christ, but Christ was reconciling us to God, defeating the devil and delivering us out of his clutches. He does it by paying the penalty and putting us right with God. The power of God comes into us, and we are born again, receiving new natures and becoming new people. The Holy Spirit is put within us, and Christ’s presence is ever at hand to help us.
That is why John was able to say, “and the whole world lieth in wickedness,” but “that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18-19). The enemy not only touches the world—he embraces it, and the world cannot get out of his clutches. But Christ takes us out of his clutches and puts us into His own kingdom, and the devil cannot touch us. He can frighten us perhaps, he can shout at us, but he cannot touch us. He thought he was finishing Christ. He was really bringing about his own defeat. Christ has conquered him.
A Thought to Ponder
Christ takes us out of the devil’s clutches and puts us into His own kingdom, and the devil cannot touch us. (From The Cross, pp. 126-127, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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When…Then
“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
Moses knew Israel would tend to succumb to various temptations in the Promised Land and encouraged them not only to obey God’s law but to use temptations as an opportunity for growth in character. Standing on the border, he proposed three “when…then” situations and exhorted the people to decide in advance how they would react.
“When the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land…to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not,…Then beware lest thou forget the LORD” (6:10, 12). Moses knew that a satisfied people, recipients of easy wealth, would forget the Lord. The remedy: “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name” (v. 13), and “ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God” (v. 17).
Next, “when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies…which the LORD our God hath commanded you?” (v. 20), the fathers were to instruct them with: “The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand” (v. 21). “And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive” (v. 24).
God also knows our tendencies to compromise, and “when the LORD thy God…hath cast out many nations before thee,…thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them;…Neither shalt thou make marriages with them;…For they will turn away thy son from following me” (7:1-4).
In these and other situations, we would do well to follow Moses’ exhortation and decide beforehand how we will react. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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