Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 1 Kings 13 and Psalm 113

1 Kings 13 is a very tough chapter for disciples of Jesus. We know that God has chosen to deal with us mercifully – not treating us as our sins deserve. Yet, at first glance, it seems as though the man of God from Judah receives severe judgment without mercy. Today, instead of overanalysing, let’s ask God to speak to us clearly. This chapter is, after all, about the “word of the Lord”.

The “word of the Lord” is a frequent refrain in chapter 13. The prophet from Judah went to Bethel because of the word of the Lord to him. There he spoke the word of the Lord against Jeroboam and his idolatrous altar. By the power of the word of the Lord the altar split in two and the king’s hand was shrivelled. After God mercifully healed his hand, King Jeroboam tried to convince the prophet to come home with him, possibly intending to enlist such a powerful prophet into his service. But the prophet refused because he was very specifically “commanded by the word of the Lord” not to remain, not to eat and drink, and not even to return by the same route.

How tragic then that such a fearless and obedient prophet, who could not be led astray from the word of the Lord by fear, food or familiarity should fall instead to falsehood. The local prophet (whose motive in deceiving the prophet from Judah is never revealed) manages to convince him that God has given him an alternative “word” and entices him to go against his previous commitment to the word which the Lord had spoken directly to him.

Two New Testament warnings come to mind. In Galatians 1:8 the apostle Paul warns against those who pervert the revealed gospel of Jesus Christ, writing, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” And the apostle Peter warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8).

God’s word is given for our protection, and to lead us to abundance of life. May 1 Kings 13 serve as a loving warning to us not to be led astray by anything that lures us away from the revealed Word of God and the pure Gospel of Jesus – even if that which tempts us pretends to be a new revelation from an angel or god.

Holy Spirit of Truth, please keep me in step with the Word of the Lord today. Amen.