A Man of God Confronts Jeroboam
[ READ ] 1 Kings 13:1–10
A Man of God Confronts Jeroboam
1 And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” 4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. 7 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8 And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.
1 And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” 4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. 7 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8 And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.
What stands out to me the most in this passage is that despite the sin and idol-making that King Jeroboam has committed, the Lord still shows mercy on him and restores his hand. God did not have to do that, and yet this is just another way we can see His perfect love and perfect justice displayed. A sin was committed, so the judgment, or consequence, was a dried up hand. Yet by asking another man to intercede in prayer before the Lord on his behalf, his request was fulfilled.
Oh Lord, how undeserving we are. Daily we sin, daily we stray, and daily we are restored. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. My prayer for us as the body of Christ is that we remember His mercy, have trust in the fact that His promises are good. May we intercede on behalf of those around us who are spiritually dried up, and trust in God to respond.
- Danielle Parker
Oh Lord, how undeserving we are. Daily we sin, daily we stray, and daily we are restored. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. My prayer for us as the body of Christ is that we remember His mercy, have trust in the fact that His promises are good. May we intercede on behalf of those around us who are spiritually dried up, and trust in God to respond.
- Danielle Parker
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ Read verse 6 again. What does it mean to entreat the Lord for favor?
+ Read verse 6 again. What does it mean to entreat the Lord for favor?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you trust that God wants to restore you when you are dried up? What is one way He might be trying to water what has withered within you?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Do you trust that God wants to restore you when you are dried up? What is one way He might be trying to water what has withered within you?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Thank You for your mercy and restoration Lord. Nothing and no one is too far gone to receive Your goodness. Though I am undeserving, You clothe me in love in ways I couldn’t even think to ask for. Help me to love those around me today and to intercede for the people who need You most. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
+ Pray with me:
Thank You for your mercy and restoration Lord. Nothing and no one is too far gone to receive Your goodness. Though I am undeserving, You clothe me in love in ways I couldn’t even think to ask for. Help me to love those around me today and to intercede for the people who need You most. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
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