Jeroboam's Persistent Unbelief

October 23rd, 2026
by Jason Rimmer

[ READ ] 1 Kings 13:26–34

26 And when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the Lord; therefore the Lord has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word that the Lord spoke to him.” 27 And he said to his sons, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. 28 And he went and found his body thrown in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey. 29 And the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back to the city to mourn and to bury him. 30 And he laid the body in his own grave. And they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” 31 And after he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. 32 For the saying that he called out by the word of the Lord against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria shall surely come to pass.”
33 After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. 34 And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.

1 Kings 13:26-34 is a puzzling passage. The backslidden prophet, whose deceit precipitated the death of the “man of God,” seems to act out of remorse. He retrieved the body; he mourned for him; he called him brother; and he saw to his burial. But he also knew that the “man of God’s” fate proved that his prophecy of judgment against the idolatrous altars of Bethel was absolutely true: a future king would burn the bones of false priests.
Perhaps part of the motive behind the prophet’s directive to be laid with the man of God was self-preservation. In other words, the burial request was likely motivated at least in part by a practical desire to escape the future desecration of his own remains by King Josiah, a judgment that would not be fulfilled for approximately three centuries (2 Kings 23:4-20). Whatever mixture of remorse and self-interest motivated the old prophet, the larger lessons of the account remain unchanged. Two truths stand out in the passage: the personal responsibility of the individual and the infallibility of God’s word.
- Jason Rimmer

[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ If someone else leads us astray, where does their responsibility end and where does ours begin?
+ How does this story parallel the serpent’s deception in Eden, and what does each account teach about personal responsibility when we have been deceived?

[ 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?
+ Have I ever allowed someone else’s words - even someone I trusted - to override what I already knew God required of me?

[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Lord, help me to keep your Word and commandments above all other influences. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. When I falter, lead me back to you and to fellow believers who can speak truth into my life. In Jesus’ name, 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.