“By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ‘A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’” 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: “This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”
4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. 5 Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the Lord. 6 Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before. 7 The king said to the man of God, “Come home with me for a meal, and I will give you a gift.” 8 But the man of God answered the king, “Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here.” 1 Kings 13:1-8 NIV
God of righteousness and mercy,
I can almost hear Jeroboam saying how dare he! He was a strong ruler but had no fear of the Lord and had let the people into idolatry. He probably didn’t think God would protect His prophets, was not an active God and maybe he thought he was different and had rights as a king?
It was a shock to find God rebuked his hand stretched out in defiance by shrivelling it up! He quickly reassessed God as real and asked the prophet, he was just going to deal with, to pray for him. What an about turn. The man of God did not hesitate but prayed and Jeroboam experienced Your mercy Lord. And the man of God will take nothing because You, God warned him not to. He has just seen what You can do to those who go against Your word.
Do we sometimes forget that You are a God who is jealous and will not tolerate us worshipping any
thing or one other than You. Do we forget that sometimes You do tell us not to do things because You want the best for us and our obedience. Jeroboam shows us Your compassion, and that You do answer the prayers of Your people. Sometimes we need to ensure that what we do is for You and not for any reward.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 14th June 2025
What love could remember no wrongs we have done?
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum.
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!
What patience would wait as we constantly roam?
What Father, so tender, is calling us home?
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!
Praise the Lord! His mercy is more!
Stronger than darkness, new every morn,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!
What riches of kindness He lavished on us,
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost!
We stood ‘neath a debt we could never afford,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!
Praise the Lord! His mercy is more!
Stronger than darkness, new every morn,
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more!
Repeat chorus
Lyrics: Matt Boswell , Matt Papa.