This chapter tells us the events relating to a young prophet who came from Judah to confront Jeroboam.

1 – The Lord Directed Him (vs. 1-3)

Little is known of this young prophet. His name is not even given. Like this young unnamed prophet out of Judah all of us have a purpose. He has called all those that are saved, and has gifted us for a purpose. He was directed by the Lord to Bethel. He was from Judah and his very presence in Bethel would be a dangerous thing. This young prophet shows remarkable courage by going to the place designated by the Lord. He was not sent to “win friends and influence people”. This young prophet was sent by God to confront King Jeroboam with his sin. He is sent to deliver a timely message to a King who is leading the people of Israel to sin against the Lord. The young prophet was further advised by the Lord that he was not to tarry in Bethel. He was not to eat any bread nor drink any water, but he was to proceed from that place as soon as the message was delivered. Why was he not to tarry? The Lord knew the temptations that this young man would be confronted with, and wants him out of town as quickly as possible lest he be corrupted. We have a message that the world desperately needs to hear, and that we are commanded to share. Yet, we must be careful that we not be corrupted by the world in our sharing it.

2 – The Leader Disliked Him (vs. 4-10)

The leader King Jeroboam disliked him because of the message he delivered! It flew in his face, and confronted him with the error of his ways. The King didn’t like the truth.

• He Tried To Detain Him – He stretched out his hand against the prophet, and ordered him to be seized. His attempt to detain the Lord’s anointed was met by the power of God. The arm that he stretched out was withered to the point that he could not draw it back to his own body. The altar was wrecked just as the prophet of God had spoken and the ashes were wasted upon the ground. His relationship is so far removed from God that he has to appeal to the prophet to pray for him. How wonderful is the grace of God! How mightily God uses his servant. The prophet prays to the Lord for Jeroboam and the strength in his hand is restored.
• He Tried To Distract Him – He offered him rest, refreshment and riches. It is hard to believe that the King’s motives are pure. There is no evidence of repentance on his part. Since the King had been unable to stop the prophet by force, he seeks now to win him by friendliness, and fortune. If Satan can’t beat us, he’ll try and buy us. The young prophet demonstrates amazing restraint. Though weary from his journey, thirsty and hungry, he refuses the King’s offer. He will not enter his house; eat of his bread, nor drink of his water, even if the King were to give him half of all that he had. Remember this was part of the command of God to this young man.

3 – The Liar Deceived Him (vs. 11-19)

Satan would here use an “old prophet” to deceive the young prophet. There is a great lesson to be learned from this event. Temptation and deception often comes to us from unusual sources. Here is a man, who had once heard from the Lord, and had once himself delivered the message of God, but now he is a messenger in the hand of another. The old prophet was jealous of the success of the young prophet.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem there were few (if any) Jewish priests there to check out the signs of the coming Messiah. Why? God’s people were living in the comfort zone. This old prophet’s sin is a similar negligence. His sin is the sin of doing nothing. It is the sin of tolerance. It is the sin of neutrality. God had to get a man from Judah to do the job that He could not count on the old prophet in Bethel to do. He was not present at the dedication of the altar but his sons were. He will now follow, find and fool the young prophet. He had been a prophet of God at one time but it is obvious that God could not trust him to deliver His message. The old prophet lies and the young prophet follows him home for refreshment and rest. This old prophet does more damage to the young prophet than King Jeroboam and all his idolatrous priests.

4 – The Lion Destroyed Him (vs. 20-32)

It seems unfair but partial obedience is not enough, and in this case it proved fatal to the young man of God. God has a purpose for his call, and his commands, and it is best to completely follow them. The old prophet is just as surprised as the young prophet as he hears the word of God come from his mouth! It is a wake-up call to him. The young prophet is slain by a lion due to the lie of the old prophet who then brings his dead body back to Bethel. The young prophet is buried in the grave of the old prophet. The old prophet then wants to be buried beside the young prophet.

See 2 Kings 23:18. The request of the old man was accomplished. His body was buried beside those of the young prophet. It is the sad end of two prophets of God who were only partially obedient to the will of God. God doesn’t want us to be in the comfort zone like the old prophet. We can destroy and discourage the young if we do not encourage them. God also expects us to be obedient. It is not enough to only carry through half-way like the young prophet. We should also remember that temptation can come from some uncommon sources, and that to resist temptation once is not enough. We should also always be alert that there is a “roaring lion” that is lurking about seeking who he may devour. Be on guard for liars and lions!

Categories: 1 Kings