A Lion Kills The Man of God
April 25, 2019
Commentary
The old prophet announced the fate of the younger prophet (vv. 20-22). He had disobeyed the Lord’s command and God’s judgement would be severe. The severity of this judgement was due to the importance of this young man’s mission. Even though the old prophet had sinned, the word of the Lord came to him again, as it did to many other prophets of the Lord who sinned. The old man announced the fate of his brother prophet then and there.
When the young prophet returned south he was killed by a lion that was obviously prepared by God for this judgement (vv. 23-24). This was obvious because the lion did not eat the carcass of the prophet nor bother his donkey (vv. 25-29). The old prophet brought his body back to Bethel and laid it in his own grave (v. 30). Undoubtedly, this old prophet suffered the pains of guilt for having had a part in the man of God’s death.
This incident was no doubt intended to teach Jeroboam and the Israelites the danger of disregarding the word of the Lord. However, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways. The total disregard for the will of God, as expressed in the Law of Moses, resulted in Jeroboam’s downfall and destruction(vv. 31-33). Even though God used political situations and social conditions to bring about his will, this sin was the root cause of Israel’s fall (v. 34). Because of this sin the house of Jeroboam was cut off and destroyed from the face of the earth.
Application
This passage of scripture clarifies the importance of consistent and complete obedience to the Word of God. It also illustrates that added privilege brings increased responsibility. The more I know the greater responsibility I have to serve and obey Him.
1 Kings 13:20– 34 (NET)
20 While they were sitting at the table, the Lord’s message came to the old prophet who had brought him back. 21 So he cried out to the prophet who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord has said, ‘You have rebelled against the Lord’s instruction and have not obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. 22 You went back. You ate food. And you drank water in the place of which he had said to you, “Eat no food. Drink no water.” Therefore your corpse will not be buried in your ancestral tomb.’”
23 So this is what happened after he had eaten food and drunk water. The old prophet saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 So the prophet from Judah travelled on. Then a lion attacked him on the road and killed him.
25 Then some men came passing by and saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing next to the body. They went and reported what they had seen in the city where the old prophet lived. 26 When the old prophet who had invited him to his house heard the news, he said, “It is the prophet who rebelled against the Lord. The Lord delivered him over to the lion and it tore him up and killed him, in keeping with the Lord’s message that he had spoken to him.” 27 He told his sons, “Saddle my donkey.” So they saddled it. 28 He went and found the body lying in the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside it; the lion had neither eaten the body nor attacked the donkey. 29 The old prophet picked up the prophet’s body, put it on the donkey, and brought it back. The old prophet then entered the city to mourn him and to bury him. 30 He put the body into his own tomb, and they mourned over him, saying, “Ah, my brother!” 31 After he buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the tomb where the prophet is buried; put my bones right beside his bones, 32 because the message that he announced as the Lord’s message against the altar in Bethel and against all the temples on the high places in the cities of the north will certainly be fulfilled.”
33 After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways; he continued to appoint common people as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest. 34 This sin caused Jeroboam’s dynasty to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth.