1 Kings

1 Kings 13: The LORD's word comes true

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the man of God who came from Judah, let us bow before the Lord together. Ask Him to make us listen to His word and to obey it, and to show us the One who always obeyed the Father.

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth.

Psalm 119:142

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your word always comes true, and help us to trust You and Your Son, Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

A man of God comes from Judah by the LORD's word and cries against the altar at Bethel. He gives a sign that the altar will split and the ashes will be poured out, and it happens. The king offers him a reward, but he refuses, because the LORD had told him to eat no bread and drink no water there. An old prophet in Bethel lies that an angel spoke to him, and the man of God goes back with him. On the road home a lion kills him, but the lion and the donkey stand by the body until the old prophet buries it.

As you read 1 Kings 13, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's word always comes true, and no king can stop it.

A man of God came from Judah to Bethel by the LORD's word, while Jeroboam stood at the altar to burn incense (verse 1). He cried against the altar and named Josiah, a son of David, who would sacrifice the priests of the high places there (verse 2). The king's hand dried up when he reached to seize the man, and the altar split apart (verses 3 to 5). The king offered a reward, but the LORD had told the man of God to eat nothing there (verses 7 to 9). An old prophet in Bethel lied that an angel had told him to bring the man back to eat (verses 11 to 19). He went back and ate, and a lion killed him on the road (verses 19 to 24). The LORD's word came true against the altar, and against the man who disobeyed it (verses 5 and 26). Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way (verse 33). Jesus obeyed His Father perfectly, and through His obedience many are made righteous (Romans 5 verse 19).

How does 1 Kings 13 show us that the LORD's word always comes true, and that no king can stop it?

The LORD's word comes true.

The man of God cried against the altar by the LORD's word (verse 2). The sign came true, and the altar split apart and the ashes were poured out (verses 3 and 5). The king's hand dried up when he reached out to seize him (verse 4). The word about Josiah was kept long afterward (2 Kings 23 verses 15 and 16).

The man of God listens to a lie and disobeys.

The man of God had been told not to eat or drink in that place (verse 9). The old prophet said an angel told him otherwise, but he was lying (verse 18). The man of God was disobedient to the LORD's mouth, and he died (verses 21 and 24).

Christ obeyed His Father's word.

The man of God disobeyed the word he had been given, and his life ended under judgment (verses 21 to 24). Paul wrote that Jesus became obedient, even to death on a cross (Philippians 2 verse 8). Through the obedience of that one man, the many are made righteous (Romans 5 verse 19).

Memorise

The 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 Yahweh’s word.

1 Kings 13:5

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I obey God's word when it is hard, and do I trust Jesus?

The man of God was told to obey one word, and a lie from another man's mouth drew him away from it. Jesus is the Son who obeyed His Father's word in everything, even when it led to a cross.

On the cross He bore the punishment of His people's disobedience, and through His obedience many are made righteous. They buried Him, and the Father raised Him on the third day. His work is finished, and nothing is left for His people to pay.

So come to Him, turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Listen to His word, and do not follow a voice that leads you away. He will not cast off the sinner who trusts Him, and He gives that sinner His own righteousness.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God's word always comes true, and that Jesus always obeyed His Father. Parents, this chapter is hard, so explain verses 11 to 26 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His word never fails, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

Isaiah 55:11

Father, thank You that Your word always comes true. Thank You for Jesus, who obeyed You perfectly. Please help each of us to turn from our sin and trust Him, and to obey Your word when it is hard. Strengthen our hearts this week. Amen.