VIGILANCE THE PRICE OF PEACE (PART 3) – BEWARE OF THE MOMENTARY SLUMBER (1 KINGS 13:22-32)

Dear Members in Christ,                                                                                                                   

Vigilance the price of peace (Part 3) – Beware of the momentary slumber (1 Kings 13:22-32)

In the previous article, we read of the servant of God who was courageous and proclaim judgement against the wicked King Jeroboam. When the proclamation was made, the man of God prophesied that graves of Jeroboam’s prophets will spill open in an overt show of desecration, a show of God’s wrath against the apostasy of Jeroboam’s kingdom. King Jeroboam was fuming mad! He cried out to his attendants to arrest this unnamed prophet.

“And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.” 1 Kings 13:4

However, God intervened and Jeroboam’s hand shriveled up. His hand was described as having “dried up”, it probably looked like a shriveled mass of dead tissue, and the king was struck with instant paralysis. What a shock to this idolatrous king. Suddenly, the altar broke and the ashes spilled before the king. It was a shocking display of God’s judgement, which humbled the king momentarily and he cried out to the prophet to pray for his restoration. God dealt graciously, and healed Jeroboam when the prophet prayed. 

A. Death of the unnamed prophet – for disobeying God

Despite the offer of free access to refreshment, comfort and amenities and a generous reward the prophet refused and turned down the king’s invitation.

“And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.” 1 Kings 13:8, 9

But the prophet was so easily taken in by an old prophet who lied and said, “I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water.” The result for the unnamed prophet is disastrous! The prophet was struck down for disobeying God! His punishment was swift and deadly, he was killed by a lion on his way home. Those who saw the gruesome scene told it to the old prophet who said,

“And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.” 1 Kings 13:26

One might ask, why was the prophet’s punishment so severe? The answer is simple, it was pronounced by the old prophet who said, “Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee… thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.” The prophet of all people should know the severe consequence of disregarding God’s command. He was the messenger to Jeroboam for having disobeyed God and instituted a false religion in Israel, against God’s commandments for His people. The prophet paid the price for disobedience and disregard for God’s commandments.

B. We should never let down our guard!

There is a lesson for us in this account from the Bible. In our spiritual walk, we must never let our guard down in our devotion and obedience to God. When the prophet was invited by King Jeroboam, he immediately refused. It is easy to spot falsehood when it is open and blatant. It is the same with us, for example, when we see pagan or new-age cult worshippers, we can immediately spot the god-denying philosophies behind the false religions. 

However, when the prophet encountered the old prophet, he fell for the trick so quickly. He was like a sleepy driver at the wheel taking a “micro-snooze”. One instant of slumber, and a disastrous crash results. It is the same with us. Having been taught the scriptures, we are cautious of invitations to doubtful events like “healing rallies” or meetings for “holy spirit anointing”. But if some invitation by friends or old acquaintances to visit a “conservative church” or a “fundamental church” some of us may become temporarily disarmed. Some may not be aware that many so-called fundamental churches have permitted worldly music in their worship

services. Or that many so-called conservative churches do not believe in an inerrant and perfectly preserved Bible. As the Bible says, “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,” and the lowering of the guard, the short snooze of forty winks, disaster may strike us.

What is the prevention to this calamity? The answer is in God’s Word.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

Dearly beloved, let us be diligent in the study of God’s Word. Let us not be caught unawares when faced with falsehood, especially when it is cleverly disguised. Let us be discerning in knowing the truth and in standing for the truth. May God be glorified! Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor