Greetings -
Scriptures from the King James Bible.
I need help please on the scripture content about the lying prophet.
Please share your views on the following:
1 Kings 13:9
For it was charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, or turn again by the same way that thou camest.
1 Kings 13:14-18
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.
Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.
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:
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.
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.
Thank you
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QUESTION
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if this is one of those "power source" issues.... satan can mimic the gifts and does so too often....the person should have listened to what the Holy Spirit was speaking to him and not relied on someone unknown speaking differently into his life. He knew the Holy Spirit and the Lord could and did talk to him. Why would he be swayed by someone he didn't know to make him think he couldn't hear the Lord? Hum.... good lesson for us all, eh? False prophet enters into this discussion also.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteI read this post yesterday and then I felt the Lord lead me into prayer about it before commenting.
These verses need to be read in the full context so I read and re-read them and prayed. There is a lot of information here but the one thing that is standing out for me over and over again is if God gives you a word or command nothing should ever supersede it and should be carried out fully.
Why did the man of God go with the lying prophet? My guess is not that he questioned God and His word but that he was hungry, thirsty and tired. Weak from the ordeal he went through. From what I have learned, Judah is within walking distance from Bethel, but on a hot day that excursion would be hard without water but having said that I think it could have been easily done. I think the man of God questioned God's command not because he didn't believe he heard God but because he wanted to satisfy his physical body and what better than to have a prophet tell him that he heard God as well.
I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but this is what is really standing out to me.
Blessings Sandra, I think I will continue on in studying this.
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Greetings -
ReplyDeleteThank you for your helpful comments.
@Marijo
You expressed, "...the person should have listened to what the Holy Spirit was speaking to him and not relied on someone unknown speaking differently into his life."
That is absolutely true, Marijo. Indeed that is a lesson for us all.
@Child of God
I had never thought of the prophet being enticed by his physical desires. Excellent point. That is certainly something to ponder. Thank you for that new insight.
What stands out to me the most is that the lion was the only one in this story that listened and obeyed God.
ReplyDeletePeace In Jesus,
& remember, we are...
Never Forsaken
Matthew Henry's Commentary says:
ReplyDelete"He that had resolution enough to refuse the invitation of the king, who promised him a reward, could not resist the insinuations of one that pretended to be a prophet. God's people are more in danger of being drawn from their duty by the plausible pretences of divinity and sanctity than by external inducements; we have therefore need to beware of false prophets, and not believe every spirit."
Of as great a questioning is the punishment. Henry continues:
"The proceedings of divine justice hereupon; and here we may well wonder that the wicked prophet, who told the lie and did the mischief, went unpunished, while the holy man of God, that was drawn by him into sin, was suddenly and severely punished for it. What shall we make of this! The judgments of God are unfathomable. The deceived and the deceiver are his, and he giveth not account of any of his matters. Certainly there must be a judgment to come, when these things will be called over again, and when those that sinned most and suffered least, in this world, will receive according to their works."
Some very good questions.
Greetings -
ReplyDelete@Never Forsaken
Excellent point about the lion. I had never thought of that.
@Grammy Blick
You made some valid points indeed! Certainly things to ponder. What you expressed truly helped...
I'm not convinced that the prophet that lied was a wicked prophet. His subsequent actions and other scriptural content in that chapter doesn't convince me that he was wicked.
1 Kings 22:23 - KJV
Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets,...
Isaiah 45:7 - KJV
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
1 Samuel 16:23 - KJV
And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
I have a notion that our Lord used the lying prophet to set up the other prophet to test whether the other prophet would heed the lying prophet or heed what the Lord told him. 1 Kings 13:20, 21 says of the lying prophet:
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. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forsasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee. And 1 Kings 13:30 - KJV says, And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, MY BROTHER!" Those subject scriptures and other content in that chapter leads me to believe that the lying prophet wasn't wicked. I'm more inclined to believe that the Lord used him to test the other prophet.
Relative to the lying prophet - the scripture does say that he lied. Did our Lord place a lying spirit in him as happened in 1 Kings 22:23 - KJV...? I'm still wrestling with understanding the account. Perhaps I won't know until I reach heaven to hear the details from our Lord - if He elects to share them.
I certainly do appreciate all that has been offered here. The different views and comments taught me indeed.
Note: Sometimes other Christians give us words that are well-meaning but not words from GOD. They believe that they are giving us good advice but GOD... That is why I often stress to people that GOD is to be sought when words come from ANYONE.
Greetings -
ReplyDeleteI received this, via e-mail, from PMQ:
June 28, 2011 - 9:47 p.m.
Hi Sandra: ...in response to the post that it spoke to doubt, unbelief, and lying prophets. God reveals and speaks to us so therefore we do not need to discuss what he told us with others nor seek confirmation from them. Just continue to seek his face as I have and he will reveal it to you. People can be dependent on others instead of God and they are prone to err and lie just to gain favor in man's sight....
Hi Patricia -
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments and viewpoints.
I do believe that there are times when our Lord leads us to discuss things with others...
It is vital to try the spirits as stated by our Lord in 1 John 4:1 - KJV.
The most vital aspect, though, is to seek GOD above all else.
Greetings -
ReplyDeleteI received this, via e-mail, from Rick:
June 28, 2011
11:38 p.m.
Hi Sandra
Great post. I do like the things that were spoken by the various people. I tend to agree that the main issue was disobedience. I think of the scripture:
Lu 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
For the man of God to be a prophet I am sure that he went through much. Much was given to him so God required much from Him. Obedience is better than sacrifice. I think of times that we hear the Lord so clearly and know that it is him. Yet, when the heat is on or in this case the man of God could very well of been hungry and thirsty, he may have questioned whether or not it was the Lord telling him to not take food or water. When the heat is on we do waver at times. He may have wavered because his flesh was crying out for food. I do know that the Lord does send evil spirits to people for His own purposes. Look at Judas, one of the disciples that sat with Jesus. Yet, there had to be one that sold Jesus out or the prophecy could not have been fulfilled. To me shows just how much that God is in control of all things. Also, if you know it is the Lord saying something to you, hold on to it regardless of what you go through. I agree with the others in that even if some other person comes and gives you another word, if it does not agree with what the Lord has told you, then reject it. Many follow words so easily and just because they were told that it was from God, they blindly follow it. That is scary to me. The spirit bears witness to truth. There must be a way to know whether of God or not, otherwise we could run all over the place because of so many so-called words from the Lord and be in a real mess. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that does lead and guide us into all truth. We have to trust that he does and will. Listen to the internal witness more than any external voice.
Not sure I gave any new insight, but just tells me to do what the Lord says to do or pay the price.
Blessings
Rick