• Home
  • Studies
  • Study of the Book of Kings – 1Ki 13:1-34 “…Let Him be Accursed” (Gal 1:8)

Study of the Book of Kings – 1Ki 13:1-34 “…Let Him be Accursed” (Gal 1:8)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

1Ki 13:1-34 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8)

[Study Aired April 7, 2022]

1Ki 13:1  And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 
1Ki 13:2  And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. 
1Ki 13:3  And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. 
1Ki 13:4  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. 
1Ki 13:5  The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. 
1Ki 13:6  And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 
1Ki 13:7  And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 
1Ki 13:8  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: 
1Ki 13:9  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. 
1Ki 13:10  So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. 
1Ki 13:11  Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. 
1Ki 13:12  And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 
1Ki 13:13  And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 
1Ki 13:14  And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. 
1Ki 13:15  Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 
1Ki 13:16  And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 
1Ki 13:17  For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. 
1Ki 13:18  He said unto him, 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. But he lied unto him. 
1Ki 13:19  So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. 
1Ki 13:20  And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 
1Ki 13:21  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 
1Ki 13:22  But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 
1Ki 13:23  And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 
1Ki 13:24  And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. 
1Ki 13:25  And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 
1Ki 13:26  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. 
1Ki 13:27  And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him. 
1Ki 13:28  And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. 
1Ki 13:29  And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. 
1Ki 13:30  And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! 
1Ki 13:31  And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: 
1Ki 13:32  For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. 
1Ki 13:33  After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 
1Ki 13:34  And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth. 

This section of Kings is an example of how we must be steadfastly about our Father’s business (Luk 2:49, 1Jn 4:17) which requires that we try every spirit whether it is of God or not, unlike the prophet in this story who fell away from his own steadfast spirit that was initially intent on obeying God’s command and was later deceived by a lying spirit (Psa 51:10, Col 2:5, 2Pe 3:17, 1Jn 4:1). Clearly it is God who has to create this steadfast spirit within us, otherwise we would not be about our Father’s business and moving with fear as Noah did to build the ark, which symbolizes the building of the body of Christ that is being “fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Heb 11:7, Eph 4:16).

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a rightH3559 spirit within me. 

Col 2:5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

We must examine ourselves, judge ourselves (1Co 11:31) and be given to grow in our ability to bring every thought into subjection to Christ if we are going to properly try the spirits outside ourselves, and this is the dying daily process God’s elect have been called to mature into (1Co 11:31, 1Co 15:31). Neither the young nor the old prophet in this story has his name mentioned as a symbol to us that God is doing away with our first adamic name and nature through judgment via the word of God that comes from the prophet, and then he gives us a new name in Christ (Rev 2:17).

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 

Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

The fiery experience of being brought to repentance is not something we are to despise in our spirits and grow weary. Although our flesh does not enjoy the process (Joh 21:18), God has promised to shepherd us unto salvation via the good shepherd (Joh 10:11) who is “able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” and knows how to “confirm you unto the end” through the precious trial of our faith (1Co 1:8, Act 14:22, 1Pe 1:7) so that we may receive the reward of eternal life through Christ, the blessing to which we have been called (Rom 2:4, Heb 12:11, Heb 7:25, 1Pe 3:9).

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby [The elect are exercised through chastening, which is how we are received by the Lord (Heb 12:6)].

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them [Rom 5:10].

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

If not for that judgment upon the body of Christ today, which is consistent from a loving Father who does not change (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17, Mal 3:6), we could not have our senses exercised to discern good and evil as we are dragged to Christ (Heb 5:14, Joh 6:44). Neither could we receive the strong meat which is the result of God’s forbearance and goodness which has been extended to those who are being received by Him today as His children. We are having both the beast and the false prophet burned out of us first in this life and not in the lake of fire as the rest of humanity will experience (Heb 12:6, Rev 20:10).

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

Twice we are told in Galatians 1:8-9 “let him be accursed”G331 regarding those who “would pervert the gospel of Christ”. The prophet in this story, in type and shadow, is the one who perverts the gospel of Christ by ultimately disobeying God’s command, being deceived and turned away by a lying spirit from the older prophet, which was all according to the counsel of God’s own will and written for our admonition upon whom the end of the ages is come (Eze 14:9, Eph 1:11, 1Co 10:11).

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

It’s not another gospel being preached (Gal 1:7) that is being perverted but rather a gospel message that is not being spoken in love which is obedience to God’s commands. What naturally precedes from our hearts is a self-righteous spirit that naturally procures the wisdom of men and not the power of God about which we are the first in this life to come to learn as we grow in our ability to trust Christ through our fiery trials. These trials we are able to endure through God’s love that is shed abroad in our hearts as we preach the gospel to all men in this sinful world (Isa 3:1, 1Co 2:5-6, Eph 1:12, Rom 1:16, Rom 5:5, 1Jn 5:19).

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [1Co 2:6].

Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed [Col 1:27]; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1Jn 5:19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world [1Jn 2:16] lieth in wickedness [Both within and without – there is none good but the Father and so knowing this, our hope has to be in Christ alone! (Mar 10:18, Col 1:27)].

It is “My people” in (Isa 1:3) who “do not consider” telling us that it is the body of Christ who doesn’t consider (until we do). However, if God is working with us in this age, we are going to learn to discern spirits (1Jn 4:1-2) whether they are of the Lord or not, as we learn obedience through the things that we suffer (2Ti 2:12, Heb 5:8). That exercise of discerning spirits is of the utmost importance in order to become mature kings and priests. It will come at the expense of our life being lost and being hated by all men (Luk 21:17), which is how we will find the life of Christ and the peace of Christ which can give us the ability to endure unto the end to be saved (Mat 10:39, Mat 24:13).

Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

The verses we are looking at in this study apply to the elect today as we near the end of our age and overcome the spirit of antichrist through Christ “whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world”. That spirit which wants to rule over our hearts and minds is being destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (2Th 2:3-4). “Let no man deceive you by any means” is a lifelong battle we are called to fight against together as the body of Christ. Through Him and through the wise counsel within Christ’s body, the manifold wisdom of God (Eph 3:10), we will be more than conquerors in this age as we continue in the truth that will set us free through patient continuance in well doing (Rom 8:36-39, Joh 8:32).

1Ki 13:1  And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. 
1Ki 13:2  And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. 
1Ki 13:3  And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. 
1Ki 13:4  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. 

At the end of the story, we read a statement from the old prophet who deceived the younger prophet which reads: “And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.” (1Ki 13:31-32)

The positive meaning of this statement for God’s elect from the older prophet regarding the death and burial of the younger prophet symbolizes the initial death of our old man. So the desire to be buried with our bones beside the younger prophet while we are alive symbolizes our understanding that we must lay down our life and die daily, and endure until the end to see the prophecies fulfilled in our lives which prophecies forecast that God is “against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria,“ within us. His judgment in time “shall surely come to pass” in destroying all these idols.

Without getting too ahead of ourselves, let’s notice that after all these signs and wonders were performed for the unbelieving (Joh 4:48, Joh 20:29) that we will read of throughout this story, in the end “Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth“, showing us that no matter what miraculous signs happen in the earth, the greatest miracle remains the conversion of our hearts and minds which enables us to try the spirits whether they are of the Lord. The inability of the young prophet and Jeroboam to not be affected by those outward signs inwardly was a testimony of the unbelieving hearts that they and all of mankind have until we’re granted the grace through faith experience God’s elect have in this life which makes it possible for us to believe and do the work of God (Eph 2:8, Joh 6:28, Mat 13:16).

With this background in mind, it becomes more obvious why Jeroboam was reluctant to hear the prophecy which the young prophet brought, as it meant that he was going to be destroyed because of the idolatrous way he was conducting himself. Jeroboam was holding fast to his own righteousness, and this is symbolized by this verse: “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“. He could not lay hold on the things of God via the withered and cursed hand; the weapon formed that was against the prophet of God “he put forth his hand” was not going to prosper (Isa 54:17). The hand drying up is symbolic of the fruitless attempt of Jeroboam who was trying to control the nation of Israel through the idolatrous actions that were taking place at “the altar in Bethel“.

Jeroboam’s rejection of “a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel” was conclusive at the end of the story, just as Israel’s earlier rejection and rebellion against Moses, whose rebellious hearts were confirmed via their rejection of the signs and wonders God used Moses to bring to the people (Exo 4:6-9).

Exo 4:6  And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 
Exo 4:7  And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 
Exo 4:8  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 
Exo 4:9  And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.

The young prophet “cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee“. Josiah was a good king of Israel who typified Christ who would come and outwardly destroy the false prophets and idol worship as Christ does within the temple which we are today (Joh 2:14-15, 1Co 3:16). Josiah’s sign, which was of the LORD, was a dire prophecy that called for the altar to be rent, and the ashes upon it to be poured out, symbolizing the false worship within us that worships God at first at an altar made with men’s hands, men’s efforts and not by the power of God. His power can only manifest after Christ – symbolized by Josiah – offers “the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.“

1Ki 13:5  The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

As we noted, “the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD” represents our old way of thinking, our former conversation or way of life, at an altar that represents the self-righteous works of our flesh which must be destroyed. Even the ashes are an abomination to God telling us that no part of our past is accepted by Him. Only that which we give back to God through Christ is accepted (Jud 1:23-25, Eph 1:6, 1Ch 29:14).

Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 
Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 
Jud 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. 

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

1Ch 29:14  But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 

1Ki 13:6  And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. 
1Ki 13:7  And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. 

The restoring of Jeroboam’s hand is like the beast with the deadly wound that is healed in (Rev 13:3, Rev 13:12), and the first thing Jeroboam requests of the man of God after his wound is healed is to “Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.” Jeroboam represents our yet carnal old man who does not savor the things of God (Mat 16:23) but is like Satan offering creature comforts to “refresh thyself” and wanting to “give you a reward” in the earth (Mat 4:3, Mat 4:8), which in this case if followed through, with would be an act of disobedience to God on the part of the prophet.

Rev 13:3  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 

Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 

Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 

Mat 4:8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 

1Ki 13:8  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: 
1Ki 13:9  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. 
1Ki 13:10  So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

The now obedient prophet explains to Jeroboam that even up to “half thine house“, half your creature comforts, is not going to entice me to go into your house and partake of your bread and drink. So far so good, this prophet sees in type and shadow there really is no stay of bread and water in this place (Isa 3:1), and whether it is a half or a whole amount that he receives, he recognizes the blessing he is after can only come through complete obedience to God’s word which commanded him to neither “eat bread nor drink water in this place.“

It was “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” is a reminder that God’s word is a book of addition, and that the sum of His word is truth and not the half (Psa 119:160), therefore we don’t backtrack once we have proven something via the council of elders (1Th 5:21). This is the positive symbolic meaning behind these words “he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.“

1Ki 13:11  Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

God is the father of spirits to whom we are subject (Eze 14:9, Job 1:7), and He causes us to be subject to our old man in a positive sense at an appointed time as typified in Hebrews 12:9, although most of our life we are subject to our old man in a negative sense within, being in bondage to sin (Joh 8:34).

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 

Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? [Joh 19:11]

In this section of kings the prophet’s “sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel.” It is reminiscent of Satan coming to God to give a report of what was going on in the earth, just as these sons of the “old prophet in Bethel” are going to the prophet seeing they have been “going to and fro in the earth” and have been “walking up and down in it”.

1Ki 13:12  And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah. 
1Ki 13:13  And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon, 
1Ki 13:14  And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.

This section of scripture is a negative and reverse example of what Christ did when he came into Jerusalem on the “foal of an ass” (Zec 9:9). First of all, the father inquires where the prophet is, showing that he did not know where he was going unlike Christ who knew where He was going (Joh 8:14). He is leaving Judah on an ass going where his sons are telling him to go, taking his direction, in other words, from false doctrines represented by his sons. His sons are subject to him and provide the saddled beast needed, unlike the foal that was obtained for Christ and was loosed by two disciples who witness to us that this particular beast represents God’s elect who are going to be directed and freed by Christ. Putting our clothes upon the colt symbolizes our subjection to Christ and understanding our need to have Him wash our clothes from our own self-righteousness through His strength which guides us and leads us to repentance (Mat 21:1-7, Rev 7:14, Rom 2:4).

Joh 8:14  Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

Mat 21:1  And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 
Mat 21:2  Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 
Mat 21:3  And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 
Mat 21:4  All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 
Mat 21:5  Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 
Mat 21:6  And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 
Mat 21:7  And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 

Rev 7:14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

1Ki 13:15  Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. 
1Ki 13:16  And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: 
1Ki 13:17  For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest. 
1Ki 13:18  He said unto him, 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. But he lied unto him. 

It’s hard to miss the symbolism here, as the young prophet is asked by the older prophet to “Come home with me, and eat bread” and it is the younger prophet being the one who is being enticed to yield himself to this older servant to obey him, specifically in matters of doctrine, which is what eating bread symbolizes (Rom 6:16). This is twice now he has told the older prophet “I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place,” but the spirit of a harlot is persistent and contrary to his witnessing twice that he must obey God, it is revealed that his yet carnal spirit is not able to discern the test which is before him (Pro 7:21), It is being illustrated for us here as the older prophet goes on to lie with these words that persuaded the younger prophet to go and eat with him against God’s commandment: “He said unto him, 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. But he lied unto him” (Gal 1:8, 2Co 11:4, 2Jn 1:10). All of this is instructive for us as it shows us how God knows what is in our hearts, and it takes a miracle to be obedient as well as it takes a miracle to be deceived, both of which God is able to manifest according to the counsel of His own will. We are admonished to be obedient, but in the end it is God who gives us that power through Christ to discern and obey our Father through Christ, our hope of glory (Col 1:27).

1Ki 13:19  So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

What it took for these actions of the younger prophet to transpire was a series of events which is explained for us in this proverb (Pro 7:21-23), that demonstrates how God’s sword can be wielded through the seductive lies of the devil via the prophet of God whom He can use to deceive another prophet (Eze 14:9-11, Psa 17:13).

Pro 7:21  With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. 
Pro 7:22  He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 
Pro 7:23  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. 

Eze 14:9  And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. 
Eze 14:10  And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; 
Eze 14:11  That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.

Psa 17:12  Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. 
Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword  [The young prophet was not delivered from the lion who represents Satan who already had devoured the young prophet via the lie of the old prophet, and so we cry out to God through our Lord the stronger Lion of the tribe of Judah (Heb 5:7) “deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword“, in this case the old prophet was God’s sword that did His bidding]

1Ki 13:20  And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 
1Ki 13:21  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, 
1Ki 13:22  But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. 

It’s important to notice that “the prophet that brought him back” was not the one who was seeking the occasion against the flesh of the young prophet. Rather “it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet” and then “he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD“. This section of the word of God declares it was the Lord who was coming to the prophet, and the same is true of the first part of the process where the Lord came unto the prophet by way of sending a lying spirit: “He said unto him, 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. But he lied unto him” (Eze 14:9). In both instances it was of the Lord and all according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). Because of these actions of the prophet who “camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water“, his punishment would be that “thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers“, meaning our old man of sin – symbolized by this prophet – cannot be buried in “the sepulchre of thy fathers” which represents our baptism into Christ lineage. Eating the true bread of life, Jesus Christ, and drinking the true living waters of God’s truth is what is required to be baptized into Christ’s death (Rom 6:1-3).

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

1Ki 13:23  And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. 
1Ki 13:24  And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. 

Our own iniquity, which is self-righteousness (Eze 33:13), brings us to eat at an altar that is not the one where God’s elect will ultimately be dragged (Heb 13:10, Joh 6:44, Joh 21:18). In this story, it is another man, the older prophet, who saddled the ass for the younger prophet who he brought back, showing us that the younger prophet is not working out his own salvation, in type and shadow, but is being directed by the old prophet who represents the lying spirits of Babylon out of which we come. This path that the Nicolaitan spirit ruling over the laity within us has is “a lion in the way” who represents Satan who is going to keep us in the bondage of sin until Christ sets us free.

The lion slaying the young prophet on the way is a shadow of the period of time in our lives when the deadly wound is not yet healed (Rev 13:12). Then “the ass stood by it” and “the lion also stood by the carcase” as a witness that this event represents the first deadly wound. If the prophet would have been eaten by the lion, his destruction would have been like Goliath being beheaded with the sword after he was initially killed by the stone that David slew him with (1Sa 17:49-51). The ass is just standing there, meaning there is no more direction to be given by this beast, unlike the beast that took Christ into Jerusalem triumphantly. It was there Christ would die for the sins of the world, so that God’s elect can now go without the camp “bearing his reproach” through Christ who gives us the strength to take this path (Heb 13:13, Php 4:13).

1Ki 13:25  And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. 
1Ki 13:26  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. 
1Ki 13:27  And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him. 
1Ki 13:28  And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. 
1Ki 13:29  And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him. 
1Ki 13:30  And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother! 

Except by the grace of God go we (1Co 15:10), otherwise Babylon will have control of us from birth to death as typified for us in this section of scripture we’re studying. At first, after we were illuminated, we endured a great fight of afflictions (Heb 10:32) and “were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used” (Heb 10:33), which is what this typical statement is telling us: “And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt“. The young prophet is typical of our initial lying dead in the streets of Jerusalem, but when the old prophet gets word of this, “And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard“, he reiterates his sins and reminds everyone as a type of the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10) who this man was: “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.“

He then reveals his desire to continue to take control of this dead man’s body as explained with these words: “And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.” Symbolically the young prophet had started to die daily but was taken back by the old prophet to be buried the way he wanted, under his terms and conditions, showing us that both men were ‘the dead burying the dead’ (Luk 9:60).

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

It wasn’t enough to just bury him anywhere: “he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!” He was his brother in spirit, being prophets who were subject to one another in the negative sense of prophets being subject to one another, and he mourned over him. However, he mourned as others and not as we do for the dying daily process we are blessed to endure together in Christ (1Co 14:32, 1Th 4:13).

1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Ki 13:31  And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones: 
1Ki 13:32  For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass. 

What a strange homage coming from the mouth of the old false prophet who wants to be just like his deceived brother and asks his sons, who represent his false doctrine, “When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.” The old prophet is still discerning that the words the young prophet spoke were of the Lord, but does not see how they apply to his own life. We can have all knowledge of God’s word and plenty of wisdom but no love, which is obedience to the commandments of the Lord (1Co 13:1-10). He is inspired to say that these prophecies are true and right and will come to pass and marvels at that and wants his body to be buried next to the young prophet for this reason alone. He is not considering that the man was devoured by a lion which represents Satan and ultimately was deceived by the devil just as this old prophet is and is witnessing to that fact by wanting to be buried alongside his kindred-spirited younger prophet.

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 
1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1Ki 13:33  After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. 
1Ki 13:34  And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

All things are ours and are written for us (1Co 3:21-23, 1Co 10:11), and so when we read of how the old prophet acted toward the young prophet and how the younger prophet responded to the old prophet, we are looking at a progression in their lives that mirrors the progression of the false prophet within ourselves who is deceived and used by God to accomplish this deception that reveals what is in our hearts. What is there is rebellion and stubbornness and sin witnessing to us that we cannot turn from our evil ways, as we let our base nature rule over us, typified by consecrating “the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him“ and with all that evil communication around him, “he became one of the priests of the high places” (1Co 15:33-34).

1Co 15:33  Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 
1Co 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

When Christ is not ruling and reigning on the throne of our hearts, we will remain in bondage to sin, the powers and principalities that are ruling over our heavens stated this way: “After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.” It is through that inability to try spirits by someone who is deceived  that God seeks an occasion against our flesh. These things that happened with Jeroboam and the two prophets were written for our sakes upon whom the end of the ages are come (1Co 10:11), and admonishes us to do this going forward, with the mind of Christ that keeps us unified in Him: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” These words cannot be fulfilled in our life unless God gives us to operate as a healthy body that continually tries the spirits within us whether they are of the Lord as we look well to the flock of God by looking well to ourselves first (Act 20:28-31).

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 
Act 20:30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 
Act 20:31  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

The end result of Jeroboam not being given to discern spirits correctly was “And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam“, and what those events we’ve read about demonstrate to us is how our old man is deceived by God, “even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth”, as was literally going to happen to “the house of Jeroboam” as a type of our old man that cannot inherit eternal life.

Other related posts