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Twin Temptations
The man of God faced two temptations. The first, which he powerfully resisted, came from the king; the second, which he succumbed to, came from the old prophet. What important lesson can we take from this for ourselves? See 2 Tim. 4:3, 2 Pet. 2:1, Jude 4–16.
The greatest threat to our faith is not persecution from the outside by political powers but rather false prophets and teachers who come from within us or who claim to speak in God’s name.
It is important to have a clear word from the Lord. In other words, we need to study God’s Word, the Bible, for ourselves. A true prophet or teacher will not contradict other inspired revelation. Because God never contradicts Himself, any new prophecy or teaching from God will add to established truth and not subtract from it. It also will encourage obedience and never disobedience. Finally, we can judge prophets and teachers by the results of their teaching for their audience and in their own lives.
Read 1 Kings 13:20–34. What happens next, and what lessons are there for us?
What is hard to understand in all this is why the old prophet lies to the man of God to begin with. He starts out in the role of Satan, the deceiver, and then, before the chapter is over, he is the one delivering the “Thus saith the Lord” (vs. 21) to him. Although much is hard to understand, one thing in this story shouldn’t be: the man of God should not have so directly and blatantly disregarded the clear command of the Lord.
The death of the man of God is not without effect. Unlike the king, who witnessed a miracle and continued in his sin (see 1 Kings 13:33, 34), the old prophet believes that God’s Word will be fulfilled. He tells his sons that when he dies they are to lay his bones beside the bones of the man of God. The prophecy made by the man of God from Judah is literally fulfilled by Josiah three centuries later (2 Kings 23:15, 16). As prophesied, Josiah burns bones on the altar; however, he spares the bones of the man of God and also, consequentially, the bones of the old prophet who was buried with him (2 Kings 23:17, 18).
Look at this verse: “It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord” (1 Kings 13:26). What ironic but important message can we take from this for ourselves?
| THURSDAY | December 2 |
The man of God faced two temptations. The first, which he powerfully resisted, came from the king; the second, which he succumbed to, came from the old prophet. What important lesson can we take from this for ourselves? See 2 Tim. 4:3, 2 Pet. 2:1, Jude 4–16.
The greatest threat to our faith is not persecution from the outside by political powers but rather false prophets and teachers who come from within us or who claim to speak in God’s name.
It is important to have a clear word from the Lord. In other words, we need to study God’s Word, the Bible, for ourselves. A true prophet or teacher will not contradict other inspired revelation. Because God never contradicts Himself, any new prophecy or teaching from God will add to established truth and not subtract from it. It also will encourage obedience and never disobedience. Finally, we can judge prophets and teachers by the results of their teaching for their audience and in their own lives.
Read 1 Kings 13:20–34. What happens next, and what lessons are there for us?
What is hard to understand in all this is why the old prophet lies to the man of God to begin with. He starts out in the role of Satan, the deceiver, and then, before the chapter is over, he is the one delivering the “Thus saith the Lord” (vs. 21) to him. Although much is hard to understand, one thing in this story shouldn’t be: the man of God should not have so directly and blatantly disregarded the clear command of the Lord.
The death of the man of God is not without effect. Unlike the king, who witnessed a miracle and continued in his sin (see 1 Kings 13:33, 34), the old prophet believes that God’s Word will be fulfilled. He tells his sons that when he dies they are to lay his bones beside the bones of the man of God. The prophecy made by the man of God from Judah is literally fulfilled by Josiah three centuries later (2 Kings 23:15, 16). As prophesied, Josiah burns bones on the altar; however, he spares the bones of the man of God and also, consequentially, the bones of the old prophet who was buried with him (2 Kings 23:17, 18).
Look at this verse: “It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the Lord” (1 Kings 13:26). What ironic but important message can we take from this for ourselves?
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