Why did God judge the prophet so severely in 1 Kings 13?

God had clearly commanded the prophet not to eat or drink in Bethel. Even though he was deceived by another prophet, his disobedience was still held accountable. This shows the seriousness of God's Word and the importance of discernment.

What does 1 Kings 13 teach us about spiritual deception?

It teaches that not all who claim to speak for God are trustworthy. Every message must be tested against the revealed Word of God, not our feelings or someone's spiritual title.

How does this story point to Christ?

Jesus is the perfect Prophet who never disobeyed God. Where human messengers fail, Christ remains faithful. His obedience secured our salvation and sets the example we must follow.

Obeying God’s Word Even When It’s Hard – 1 Kings 13 (August 8, 2025)

⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read

Reading the Bible Daily with Dave

August 8, 2025
1 Kings 13 – A Prophet’s Warning and a Tragic End

Show Summary

In 1 Kings 13, God sends a prophet from Judah to deliver a bold word of judgment against Jeroboam’s false altar. The prophet obeys initially but tragically disobeys God’s direct command and meets his end. This story confronts us with the seriousness of God’s Word, the dangers of deception, and the weight of obedience—even for those in ministry. It reminds us to test every spiritual voice by Scripture and to hold fast to the sufficiency of God’s Word.

Audio Player

Video Player

Scripture Passage

1 Kings 13:1–34 (ESV)

Reading Summary Outline

Verses 1–10 – A man of God prophesies against Jeroboam’s altar
Verses 11–19 – A lying prophet deceives the man of God
Verses 20–25 – The man of God is killed by a lion
Verses 26–32 – The lying prophet mourns and buries him
Verses 33–34 – Jeroboam persists in his false religion

Evening Reflection

Not every spiritual voice is trustworthy. Obedience to God’s Word matters—especially when the cost is high. Let this story draw you closer to the One who never failed to obey: Jesus Christ.

Christ-Centered Application

Jesus is the perfect Prophet who never disobeyed the Father’s will.
He not only spoke God’s Word—He fulfilled it perfectly.
Through His obedience and death, He secures grace for us—but that grace never excuses compromise.

Daily Life Takeaways

Private: Test every voice by the Word of God.
Home: Teach discernment in spiritual matters.
Church: Call leaders and members alike to obedience.
Culture: Be watchful of “spiritual” messages that sound biblical but are not.

Memory Verse

1 Kings 13:18 – “But he lied to him.”

A sobering reminder: not every voice claiming to speak for God truly does.

Outro

Thanks for joining me today on *Reading the Bible Daily with Dave*.
1 Kings 13 shows us that not all spiritual-sounding voices are trustworthy, and that compromise—even when subtle—can cost dearly. Let us hold fast to God’s unchanging Word.

Explore more episodes at: servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave
Subscribe on YouTube | Available on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

Dave Jenkins( Executive Director )

Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.