Scripture Daily

Context No. 4072 of 4322 · 1 Kings

Context · Reflection

1 Kings 13:1-6: in context

1Behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the LORD’s word to Bethel; and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2He cried against the altar by the LORD’s word, and said, “Altar! Altar! The LORD says: ‘Behold, a son will be born to David’s house, Josiah by name. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and they will burn men’s bones on you.’” 3He gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: Behold, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes that are on it will be poured out.” 4When the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam put out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him!” His hand, which he put out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to himself. 5The altar was also split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the LORD’s word. 6The king answered the man of God, “Now intercede for the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” The man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and became as it was before.

A man of God comes from Judah to denounce King Jeroboam's false altar, and when Jeroboam stretches out his hand and orders him seized, the king's hand withers and freezes, and the altar splits apart as the prophet had foretold. Confronted with this display of God's power, Jeroboam's tone changes instantly; he pleads, entreat the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored.

And the man of God does exactly that: he intercedes with the LORD, and the king's hand is restored. There is something striking in the prophet's response. Jeroboam had just tried to arrest him, to silence God's word by force. The prophet would have had every reason to leave the king with his withered hand as a just punishment. But when the king asked for prayer, the man of God prayed for him, interceding for the healing of the very man who had reached out to seize him. Here is a picture of praying for one's enemy, of returning intercession for hostility, rather than gloating over an opponent brought low.

When those who have opposed me are brought low and ask for help, do I respond, like the man of God, with intercession rather than gloating or vengeance, praying even for the good of my opponents?

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