Altar, altar

"Altar, altar" - 1 Kings 13:1-20 The messenger speaks on behalf of God, tells him of God's displeasure at Jeroboam's idolatry. The army of Judah was plotting Jeroboam's ruin and was now commanded not to fight him (12:24). God wants to speak directly to him; He, by the voice of the prophet of Judah, to turn him away from the evil way, he was dedicating his altar. It was to keep his heart from hardening.

I. The message God sends is not quiet.

A. It is shouted in public, with the bravery of the prophet and zeal.

1. (2) Altar, altar, thus saith the Lord: that altar is under the curse of sorrow of the people.

2. If God threatens that inert (lifeless) altar, how will man escape?

3. Later (2 Kings 21:24) a king by the name of Josiah will come out of David's house and he will profane it, sacrifice the idolatrous priests, and burn human bones on it.

4. This prediction was made some 356 years before it came true.

5. The prophet gives a sign: "The altar will be broken, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out, which happened immediately (1 Kings 13:5).

6. What was to happen when the prophecy was fulfilled by Josiah's hands: the brokenness now was a sign of the total ruin that followed (what follows the next time).

7. Jeroboam stretches out his hand to command the arrest of the prophet, but the hand shriveled up (1 Kings 13:4).

8. (6) The word of God that should have touched Jeroboam's conscience did not humble him, but the word that touched him in the flesh and bone brought down his proud spirit (he believes himself superior to those around him).

9. He did not seek succor in his golden calves, but in God's favor.

10. He did not get hold of sacrifice or incense, but through the intercession of the prophet, whom he had sent to be arrested.

11. It was not forgiveness for his sins, but "that his hand might be restored."

12. The prophet prayed for him, and God added a new honor to the prophet, heard his prayer, and withdrew, by a new miracle, the judgment that had been brought about by the other miracle, so that, moved by the goodness of God, Jeroboam might be led to repentance, so that, if he was not crushed by chastisement, let him be melted through mercy.

13. These experiences upset him (changed) now, but these impressions soon vanished.

14. He offered food and gifts, but the man of God said to the king, "Even if you gave me half of your house, I would not go with you."

15. God had forbidden neither bread nor drinking water, "or return by the way you came".

16. To show God's displeasure with the idolatry of the people of Israel.

17. He obeyed God's command and got nothing from the king.

B. Beware of the Deceiver: An Old Prophet.

1. Do not eat bread or drink water there, nor return the way you go.

2. The angel (11) was his son who told him about the prophet.

3. The perversity of the old prophet.

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Perhaps he wanted to sympathize with Jeroboam. He won him over and took him back to Bethel to eat and drink. "Then he came back to him." He who had had sufficient resolution to refuse the invitation of the king who promised him a reward, had no resolution to resist the suggestion of one who deceitfully pretended to speak to him on behalf of God.

8. (1 Kings 13:20) Now the "true" word "of God" had come to the very prophet who had brought him back.

9. But while they were at the table (20), the “true" word of God came to the very prophet who had brought him back, with the announcement of the imminent death of the true, "but disobedient," prophet.

10. It seems strange, at first sight, that this message should come through the wicked old man, but it was expedient, (1) In order that the truth might be declared by him who had invented the deception, and that the man of God might realize his tremendous error, (2) In order that the old man might be affected by the message, as the clamor shows.

11. He thought that the house of the deceitful old prophet was safer to eat.

12. That was foolhardy, wiser than God.

13. There is nothing that provokes God so much as disobedience to an express command from Him.

14. No one should feel protected in his disobedience "by the sanctity of his profession," the dignity (decency) of his ministry, his closeness to the things of God, or by the good service he has rendered to Him in the past.

15. You have to take care of yourself and obey God! Amen.