Topical Bible: The Lion: Disobedient Prophet Slain By

◄ The Lion: Disobedient Prophet Slain By ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The account of the disobedient prophet slain by a lion is a sobering narrative found in 1 Kings 13. This account serves as a poignant reminder of the seriousness of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of deviating from His instructions.

Biblical Context

The narrative unfolds during the reign of King Jeroboam of Israel, a time marked by idolatry and spiritual decline. Jeroboam had established alternative worship centers in Bethel and Dan, leading the people away from the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem. In response, God sent a man of God from Judah to Bethel to deliver a prophetic message against the altar Jeroboam had erected.

The Prophetic Mission

The man of God, whose name is not recorded, arrived in Bethel and boldly proclaimed God's judgment against the altar. He declared, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: 'Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and upon you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you'" (1 Kings 13:2). As a sign of the prophecy's authenticity, the altar was miraculously split apart, and its ashes poured out.

Divine Instructions and Disobedience

God had given the prophet specific instructions: he was not to eat bread, drink water, or return by the way he came. After delivering the message, the prophet began his journey home, adhering to these commands. However, an old prophet living in Bethel deceived him. The old prophet claimed that an angel had spoken to him by the word of the LORD, instructing the man of God to return to his house and eat and drink. Trusting the old prophet's words, the man of God disobeyed the divine command.

The Consequence

As the man of God departed from the old prophet's house, a lion met him on the road and killed him. The lion did not eat the body nor harm the donkey on which the prophet had ridden, a clear indication that this was a divine act rather than a natural occurrence. The presence of the lion and the untouched donkey served as a sign to all who passed by, underscoring the gravity of the prophet's disobedience.

Theological Implications

This account highlights several key theological themes:

1. The Authority of God's Word: The narrative underscores the supreme authority of God's word and the importance of adhering to His commands without deviation. The man of God's failure to obey resulted in immediate and severe consequences.

2. The Danger of Deception: The account illustrates the peril of being led astray by false messages, even those that appear to come from credible sources. Discernment and fidelity to God's original instructions are paramount.

3. Divine Justice and Mercy: While the prophet faced judgment for his disobedience, the narrative also reflects God's justice. The miraculous nature of the lion's behavior served as a testament to God's involvement and the truth of the prophetic word delivered at Bethel.

4. Prophetic Integrity: The account serves as a cautionary tale for those called to prophetic ministry, emphasizing the need for integrity and unwavering commitment to God's directives.

In summary, the account of the disobedient prophet slain by a lion is a powerful reminder of the necessity of obedience to God and the potential consequences of straying from His path. It calls believers to a deeper commitment to God's word and a vigilant awareness of the dangers of deception.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 13:24,26
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcass was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcass.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

And Yet, by Reason of that Affection of the Human Heart...
... saith the Lord, Because thou hast been disobedient to the ... that over his very body
the same lion which had ... he spared that tomb in which lay the prophet who more ...
/.../augustine/on care to be had for the dead /9 and yet by reason.htm

Book 8 Footnotes
... is here remarkable, that in Josephus's copy this prophet, whose severe denunciation
of a disobedient person's slaughter by a lion had lately ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 8 footnotes.htm

September 27 Evening
... He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art ... was disobedient unto the word of
the Lord: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/september 27 evening.htm

Acts xiii. 16, 17
... for them being obedient, and great the evils being disobedient. ... 1 Timothy 6:10);
and the Prophet, "If riches ... such tameness"but, should the lion suddenly take ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxix acts xiii 16.htm

Daniel's Band
... No lion shall destroy you; you are perfectly safe. ... Remember his word by the prophet
Jeremiah, "I have ... thou wast a drunkard, a swearer, disobedient to parents ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/daniels band.htm

Sovereignty of God in Administration
... The lion of the jungle, the elephant of the forest, the ... later, He causes them to
devour the prophet's accusers ... a great fish to swallow the disobedient Jonah and ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter three sovereignty of god.htm

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... "Dan," he says, "is a lion's whelp;" and ... of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient to the ... their course and their testimony," what saith the prophet? ...
/.../treatise on christ and antichrist.htm

Auxentius on the Giving up of the Basilicas.
... and his hymns, he declares that he is not disobedient, that the ... the devil goeth about,
as a roaring lion, seeking whom ... For we read in the prophet that he saw a ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/sermon against auxentius on the.htm

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
... already seized in the claws of the lion; yea, that they ... plagues should be executed
upon the wicked and disobedient. ... that all these words of the prophet, in the ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /a sermon on isaiah xxvi.htm

A Sermon of the Reverend Father Master Hugh Latimer, Preached in ...
... sent against Amaleck, was refused of God for being disobedient to God's ... So that that
place of the prophet was spoken of them that ... Sicut leo," as a lion, that is ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon of the reverend.htm