‏ 1 Kings 13

* Jeroboam's sin reproved. (1-10) The prophet deceived. (11-22)

The disobedient prophet is slain, Jeroboam's obstinacy. (23-34)

1-10 In threatening the altar, the prophet threatens the

founder and worshippers. Idolatrous worship will not continue,

but the word of the Lord will endure for ever. The prediction

plainly declared that the family of David would continue, and

support true religion, when the ten tribes would not be able to

resist them. If God, in justice, harden the hearts of sinners,

so that the hand they have stretched out in sin they cannot pull

in again by repentance, that is a spiritual judgment,

represented by this, and much more dreadful. Jeroboam looked for

help, not from his calves, but from God only, from his power,

and his favour. The time may come when those that hate the

preaching, would be glad of the prayers of faithful ministers.

Jeroboam does not desire the prophet to pray that his sin might

be pardoned, and his heart changed, but only that his hand might

be restored. He seemed affected for the present with both the

judgment and the mercy, but the impression wore off. God forbade

his messenger to eat or drink in Bethel, to show his detestation

of their idolatry and apostacy from God, and to teach us not to

have fellowship with the works of darkness. Those have not

learned self-denial, who cannot forbear one forbidden meal. 11-22 The old prophet's conduct proves that he was not really a

godly man. When the change took place under Jeroboam, he

preferred his ease and interest to his religion. He took a very

bad method to bring the good prophet back. It was all a lie.

Believers are most in danger of being drawn from their duty by

plausible pretences of holiness. We may wonder that the wicked

prophet went unpunished, while the holy man of God was suddenly

and severely punished. What shall we make of this? The judgments

of God are beyond our power to fathom; and there is a judgment

to come. Nothing can excuse any act of wilful disobedience. This

shows what they must expect who hearken to the great deceiver.

They that yield to him as a tempter, will be terrified by him as

a tormentor. Those whom he now fawns upon, he will afterwards

fly upon; and whom he draws into sin, he will try to drive to

despair. 23-34 God is displeased at the sins of his own people; and no

man shall be protected in disobedience, by his office, his

nearness to God, or any services he has done for him. God warns

all whom he employs, strictly to observe their orders. We cannot

judge of men by their sufferings, nor of sins by present

punishments; with some, the flesh is destroyed, that the spirit

may be saved; with others, the flesh is pampered, that the soul

may ripen for hell. Jeroboam returned not from his evil way. He

promised himself that the calves would secure the crown to his

family, but they lost it, and sunk his family. Those betray

themselves who think to support themselves by any sin whatever.

Let us dread prospering in sinful ways; pray to be kept from

every delusion and temptation, and to be enabled to walk with

self-denying perseverance in the way of God's commands.