Text:1 Kings 13:1-6
Topic: God backs His
messengers
This topic will be considered with the following
sub-headings:
The misbehaving king
The man of God from Judah
Reaction from the
unrepentant king
God backing His messengers
Conclusion
The misbehaving king
King
Jeroboam was enthroned by grace to a position he wasn’t naturally qualified for
or never dreamt of, surprisingly he immediately wanted to maintain or secure by
antics/schisms what grace gave to him as if God/grace had disappeared. 1 Kings 11:29-31,1 kings12:26. This a major source of problems and misbehaviors even
in the ministry today, wanting to help God to keep what/whom/those He gave. Do
not be caught in that delusional web or even seek demonic power to do the same, you
can’t outsmart the devil.
He
then moved deeper and deeper into idolatry and apostasy by erecting more high
places 12:30ff, God would not continue to condone sin and sinner, this is a
wakeup call to us all, when/if we err, He expects us to be humble, confess and
forsake our sins to continue to enjoy His grace. Rom.6:1,2 &23.
The man of God from Judah
The army of Judah among the citizens was either bullied into silence, was not courageous but praying for him silently, or were partners in crime with King Jeroboam in his despicable acts but the lord was not deterred, He raised a man from Judah.
There are lots of scholarly postulations around the name and personality of the prophet with one of it saying he was IDDO although others disputed this, a vital lesson to be learnt here is that God doesn’t need a big name/title to carry out a great task, may He find us worthy of His tasks in Jesus mighty name Amen.
The prophet, however:
Cried against the altar vs.2
Prophesied destruction
against the altar and its priest
vs.2
Gave a sign from the Lord vs.3
Irrespective of who is
involved in sin or sinful activity, God expects that we raise our voice in love
(affirming that God loves everyone but only hates sin) against sin and sinners,
underscoring the imminent destruction of the devil, sin and sinners in hell.
John3:16-18
Reaction from the unrepentant
king
The king was not sober at all, he called for the arrest of God’s mouthpiece/messenger and would probably have incarcerated him.
The world we live in is not any different, they have a way of planning psychological/spiritual arrest, slander, stigmatizing, killing, maiming, or plotting the downfall of those who speak for God (people do not like the truth just like Apostle Paul said Gal.4:16,2 Tim.4:4,2Tim.3:1-15, Amos 5:10, Prov. 9:7-9.) but the consolation in the words of Jesus is in John 8:29. As long as we continue to please Him, He is with us all the way hallelujah.
God backing His messengers
Two clear way that God backed His word from this prophet:
(a) The
sign he gave came to pass almost immediately vs.3 &5
(b) God
fought for him when he was about to be attacked vs.4
The hand pointed to harm him became dry so shall all fingers pointed at us even as we continue to stay in and for Him and also stay vigilant in Jesus mighty name Amen.
Conclusion
The prophet was later deceived into disobedience and wasn’t spared at all by God 1 Kings 13: 24. may
God help us to hold unto him and His world in this confusing and perilous times
in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
Shalom.
