1 Kings 13:23-34: a reflection

23After he had eaten bread and after he drank, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. 24When he had gone, a lion met him by the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the path, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body. 25Behold, men passed by and saw the body thrown on the path, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived. 26When the prophet who brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the LORD’s word. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has mauled him and slain him, according to the LORD’s word which he spoke to him.” 27He said to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me,” and they saddled it. 28He went and found his body thrown on the path, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body nor mauled the donkey. 29The prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to the city of the old prophet to mourn, and to bury him. 30He laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” 31After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I am dead, bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. 32For the saying which he cried by the LORD’s word against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely happen.” 33After this thing, Jeroboam didn’t turn from his evil way, but again made priests of the high places from among all the people. Whoever wanted to, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places. 34This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the surface of the earth.

This is a sobering story. A man of God had been given clear instructions from the LORD: to deliver his message and then return home a certain way, without eating or drinking. But an old prophet met him and, claiming a message from an angel, persuaded him to come back and eat, contradicting what God had plainly told him. The man of God believed the claim, disobeyed the clear word he had received, and on his way home was killed. He had a clear command from God, and let another person's contrary claim talk him out of it.

Notice where the man of God went wrong: he let someone else's claim override the clear word God had personally given him. God's instruction to him had been plain; but when another came claiming a newer, contrary message, even claiming angelic authority, the man abandoned what he clearly knew for what he was told. He trusted a contrary voice over the clear command he had already received, and it cost him.

That is a warning worth heeding. Others will sometimes urge us, even sincerely, even claiming spiritual authority, to abandon what God has plainly shown us, to compromise a clear conviction, to disobey a clear command. The man of God's mistake was to let such a voice override what he clearly knew. When God has shown you something plainly, do not let another's contrary claim, however confidently or piously asserted, talk you out of clear obedience. Test what others urge against what God has clearly said, and hold to his word. Do not abandon a clear command from God for the contrary voice of someone who claims to know better.

Lord, the man of God had a clear command from you, but let an old prophet's contrary claim talk him out of obeying it, and it cost him dearly. Guard me from that mistake. Others will sometimes urge me, even sincerely, even claiming spiritual authority, to abandon what you have plainly shown me, to compromise a clear conviction or disobey a clear command. Help me test what others urge against what you have clearly said, and to hold fast to your word. When you have shown me something plainly, keep me from letting a contrary voice, however confidently or piously it speaks, talk me out of obedience. Give me the discernment and the resolve to hold to your clear word above every contrary claim.