I. The story in this chapter is not about the prophets, but is a lesson for
Jeroboam.
A. God desires Jeroboam to understand that all disobedience will be judged.
1. Whether it is disobedience from Judah or disobedience from Israel.
2. Whether it is willing disobedience (the old prophet), or unwilling
disobedience (the prophet from Judah).
B. The text is I Kings 13:33,34 - 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. 34 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.
II. The promises God gave to Jeroboam.
A. I Kings 11:37-38 – God promised he would take 10 tribes from the
dominion of the descendants of David and give them to Jeroboam.
1. God would afflict the house of David, but not forever.
2. God would build a sure house for Jeroboam as he build for David, if
Jeroboam would obey the commands of God.
B. God proved he would keep his word.
1. I Kings 12:20 – When Jeroboam returned from Egypt, God caused him to
be anointed king over the ten tribes of Israel.
2. I Kings 12:24 – when Rehoboam determined to fight the rebellion of
the ten tribes from his leadership, God sent a prophet to him, instructing
Rehoboam to not fight Jeroboam, for the events were from him.
C. Jeroboam did not believe the promises of God.
1. I Kings 12:25 – Jeroboam built Shechem, beginning to establish his
kingdom.
2. I Kings 12:26 – Jeroboam began to follow his heart instead of the
word of God.
a. Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked: who can know it?
b. It is always wrong to follow your heart, even if this present world
says that is the way to live.
c. Television and movies continually declare that all should follow
their heart, in direct opposition to the command of God.
3. When Jeroboam began to follow his heart, he immediately went away from
God’s commands.
a. Jeroboam felt God would not keep his promises when the people
traveled to Jerusalem.
b. He believed the people would see King Rehoboam and worship God at
Jerusalem, therefore would return to King Rehoboam.
c. Therefore Jeroboam produced two golden calves, declaring these are
the gods which brought Israel out of Egypt.
d. He put one in Dan and the other in Bethel.
1.) The city of Bethel (house of God) is mentioned several times.
a.) I Kings 12:32 – the name Bethel is mentioned two times.
b.) I Kings 12:33 – the name Bethel is mentioned one time.
c.) God wants us to understand that it was at Bethel that the
prophet from Judah appeared, breaking up the false worship of the
golden calf.
2.) God stopped the military of Judah from attacking Jeroboam,
choosing instead to use the stronger might – that of his prophet.
e. I Kings 12:33 – Jeroboam devised from his own heart the date to
worship the false gods he created.
III. Comments on I Kings 13.
A. The prophet came out of Judah, even though there was a prophet of God
already in Bethel. (See I Kings 13:11)
1. Some might rebuke the prophet of Bethel because he did not say
anything about the golden calf of Jeroboam being set up in his home town.
2. It is a very serious matter to speak against any action by a king.
3. It is very bad to say something in the name of the Lord when God did
not give instructions to speak.
B. The prophecy about Josiah.
1. The prophet from Judah mentioned Josiah by name.
a. Josiah would burn the high priests that burn incense on the altar.
b. Josiah would burn the bones of men upon the altar.
2. It would be approximately 334 years before Josiah would be anointed
king of Judah at the age of 8 years.
3. The proof of the prophecy is two fold.
a. The altar will be rent.
b. The ashes of the altar will be poured out.
c. Jeroboam did not rent the alter, or cause the ashes to be poured out
– God did this.
4. Jeroboam did not repent at the prophecy, but gave order to lay hands
on the prophet from Judah.
a. Jeroboam’s hand dried up, and he could not bring it back to
himself.
b. Jeroboam still did not repent, or pray to the golden calf he had
established.
c. He asked the prophet to ask God to heal him.
d. The prophet prayed and God healed Jeroboam’s hand.
5. Jeroboam did not repent.
a. Even though he heard the prophecies of God.
b. Even though he saw the altar that was rent.
c. Even though he saw the ashes poured out.
d. Even though he felt his hand dried up.
e. Even though he felt his hand healed.
f. Even though he knew God had answered his prayer for the healing of
his hand.
C. The prophet from Judah spoke very clearly about God’s commands to him.
1. Jeroboam accepted the prophets restrictions and did not ask him to
disobey.
2. It is remarkable that Jeroboam will easily and quickly disobey God,
but will not require the prophet to disobey.
D. The old prophet that dwelt at Bethel.
1. This is where Jeroboam placed one of the golden calves.
2. Apparently the old prophet said and did nothing to stop or interfere
with the king’s false gods.
3. God did not give the old prophet his word, but brought a prophet all
the way from Judah.
4. The old prophet was not as honorable as Jeroboam and lied to the
prophet from Judah, causing him to return and eat and drink.
5. God used a lying prophet to give words of condemnation to the prophet
from Judah.
a. It may seem strange to us that God would use a liar.
b. The old prophet would be more clear about his sin because of his
lie.
c. Others would also be more clear about the old prophet’s sin of
lying.
E. The judgment of God upon the prophet from Judah.
1. The old prophet gave God’s directive that the prophet from Judah
would die before he returned home.
2. A lion met the prophet from Judah and killed him, but did not eat him,
nor hurt the ass, or passers-by, or the old prophet that came to bring the
carcass of the prophet for burial.
3. Jeroboam should have heard of the judgments of God upon the prophet of
Judah, and should have understood that God will always judge disobedience.
4. It may seem strange to us that the prophet from Judah was chastened
and the old prophet seemed to receive no chastisement.
a. God knew about his sin.
b. The old prophet knew about his sin, which would be condemning memory
to him.
c. The prophet from Judah knew about his lying.
d. The family of the old prophet would know about his lying.
e. The old prophet would live the rest of his life knowing his unbelief
and subsequent lying had caused the death of an innocent prophet.
f. The reputation of the old prophet as a true man of God would forever
be tarnished.
g. In about 350 years his unbelief and lying would still be known to
all.
h. Today, almost 3,000 years after I Kings 13, we know about the
lying of the ol prophet.
F. The burial of the prophet.
1. The old prophet commanded the prophet of Judah to be buried in his
tomb.
2. He wants to be buried in good company, which will keep him out of
trouble.
3. Verse 32 states the old prophet did not want his bones burned on the
altar in about 350 years.
G. The fulfilled prophecy.
1. II Kings 23:17-18 – When Josiah was busy destroying false gods he
saw the "tombstone" of the prophet from Judah and asked what it
meant.
2. It was clearly understood by all present who was buried in the tomb
and the complete story described in I Kings 13.
IV. From the older preachers viewpoint.
A. Verse 18 - Sometimes older preachers lie. Jeroboam believed, but the old
prophet did not. It is a shame that some unbelievers believe God’s word, but
the people of God do not.
B. Verse 32 - They don't believe. Verse 3-5 - They sometimes don't believe
the word of God from younger preachers.
C. God didn't speak to them, so surely He didn't speak to this young
preacher.
D. They're too used to "being in control" and don't want to lost
that control.
E. Verse 21,22 - even though they lie (there is sin in their lives) this
doesn't mean God is through with them.
F. Sometimes older preachers destroy younger preachers.
1. I Peter 5 - There should be a mutual listening to and praying
(respect) for each other (because all are supposed to messengers of God).
2. Example of Brother Parvin Hall letting younger, unknown preachers
preach in his Bible conference at Zoar Baptist Church in Cunningham,
Kentucky.
G. Had the older preacher preached against Jeroboam's new altar? Had he
gotten used to the "status quo"? He was well aware (I am sure) of
the decline of Israel during Solomon's reign. He had seen it during his
lifetime.
V. From the younger preachers viewpoint.
A. Always do all that God says and only what God says.
B. Verse 24 - Blindly following another preacher - and not having
instructions from God could be your downfall.
C. It could mean an end to physical discomforts (verse 20), and an end to
life (verse 24).
D. Don't preach what others preach - preach what God gives you and only
what God gives you. This will come from His Word and not from another man. A
man may teach you what God's Word says, just make sure you are preaching what
God said and not preaching what a man said.
E. Verse 10 - It's possible for a preacher to start out in complete
obedience, yet go astray after he has been obedient.
F. Verse 7-10 compared to verse 15-19 - A preacher may not let one person
influence him into error, yet allow another individual to lead him astray.
G. Verse 6 - It is always good to pray for our enemies, and do good to
those that despitefully use us, Matt, 5:44. Our enemies argument is with the
Lord, not with us. We do not have an argument at all, the battle is the
Lord's.
H. Compare verse 4 with verse 24 - When the preacher is obedient to God's
command, no man can stand against him, but when he is disobedient to God's
command, an animal will destroy him.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were
obedient to the faith.