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As we read in 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam’s kingdom was in a terrible state and God had a message for him. There are three different scenarios we see play out in this scene.
From start to finish, Jeroboam never changes his mind. His heart is depraved and he refuses to repent. Even after hearing a true prophecy and then watching the old prophet change his tune, he was content to continue sinning. There are some today who see miracles and experience the Word of God in action, yet, refuse to bend their knee.
This man did so many things right! He just didn’t finish. He spoke a message of boldness and took courage in sticking to his guns when dealing with Jeroboam. However, the turning point was the emotional, spectacular experience (which was a lie) that the old prophet used against him. Instead of trusting the Word of God, he trusted in a word of man. This is a metaphor for the state of the church in our culture today. Many are replacing the certainty of the Word of God with a high-energy emotional experience. This is a compromise today just like it was then.
I get the impression that this old prophet was a sincere follower of God who had made costly compromises under Jeroboam’s leadership. It’s possible that he may have been associated with the ancient school of prophecy under the leadership of Elijah. But his decision to deceive this prophet from Judah was a direct result of his own spiritual life. This is a key point considering the prophet of Judah would face God’s judgment. The old prophet grieved this man of Judah. Why?
Because after everything shakes out, the old prophet realizes the consequences of his own actions. Because he was not spiritually dialed in, and because he chose to deceive this man, a genuine prophet of God was led into disobedience and ultimately death. This is a metaphor for exactly what is happening under Jeroboam’s leadership! This is why the old prophet changes his heart and agrees to the message given by the prophet of Judah.
After the burial the prophet said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in this grave and lay my body next to his. 32 The words that he spoke at the LORD’s command against the altar in Bethel and against all the places of worship in the towns of Samaria will surely come true.”
1 Kings 13:31-32 GNB
He not only agrees with him but wants to be buried next to him. He saw the consequences of sin and compromise with absolute clarity. This was the truth of God. He mourned because he knew that his sin was greater than this man of Judah, yet, he was still alive. This was the grace of God. When we experience the fullness of truth and grace, our hearts change. This old prophet was no longer the same. He would not allow the life of this man of Judah to go in vain. He would set his mind to live according to truth and grace.