1 Kings 13:

The ten tribes under Jeroboam had not only revolted from the authority of the son of Solomon, but had established centers of idolatrous worship at Bethel and Dan. Here was not only rebellion but apostasy, a most shameful return to the abominations of Egypt, from which they had long since been rescued.

God’s faithful love even for such people, and His care for the holiness of His Name, leads Him to send a message, by one of His prophets, from the land of Judah to the idolatrous king of Israel at Bethel. He was to deliver His message of coming judgment. This was accompanied by special manifestations of God’s power; the altar was rent, and the king’s outstretched arm was withered, and only restored by the prophet whom he would have smitten.

Seeing the power of God manifest, the king changed his attitude. He invites the man of God to come to his house for refreshment and a reward. Mark, the king is not broken and penitent; he simply wishes to take the edge off the prophet’s denunciation, and there could be no more effectual way than by getting him to accept his hospitality and a reward. Unquestionably there is much of this kind to-day. The world can endure strong language if it is not accompanied by corresponding conduct. But what must the impenitent think of those who preach most solemnly of the lost condition of men, of their enmity against God, the impossibility of their doing aught to please Him-and then taking up a collection, soliciting help from those whom they have declared to be Christ’s enemies!

The prophet is firm, and refuses the reward and the refreshment, and according to divine instruction betakes himself homeward. "There is a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing." We are sure the king must have felt, even if he did not acknowledge, the solemnity of the prophet’s words, backed by his conduct. Ah! the world may smile at those who walk apart from it, and have nothing to do with it to dull the effect of their warning, but it feels their testimony all the more keenly. Well does Satan know this.

So far the prophet has acted, to outward appearance, in faithful devotedness. He is now to be subjected to another test. There was an aged prophet, with some remains perhaps of past enjoyment of divine things, but utterly out of the current of God’s thoughts, and in a place of disobedience. On hearing of what had occurred, he goes after the prophet of Judah. A false position covets companions. Alas, it is one of the characteristics of disobedience. Doubtless this was the motive-perhaps not fully known-which induced the old prophet to go after the man from Judah.

He finds him "sitting under an oak." For some reason, instead of getting away as rapidly as possible from the ungodly place, the man of Judah has slacked his pace, and is even taking his ease in what Bunyan would call "enchanted ground."

There are no trifles in Scripture, and without forcing the meaning here, it seems evident that the prophet had lowered the tone of his testimony. He had not done this publicly. In fact, when approached by the old man he replies well-nigh as vigorously as he had to the king. But strong words are not always indicative of the true state of soul. In fact, sometimes we may seek to make up in intensity of language what is lacking in fervency of heart. Why is he sitting down in the enemy’s country? Does it not tell more loudly than words that his soul was not shrinking from the defilement of the place?

May we not pause here and ask ourselves a few serious questions? "They are not of the world even as I am not of the world." Do we feel this in our souls, or is it a doctrine with us? Coupled with the doctrine there may be certain lines of behavior understood as consistent. Certain amusements are to be eschewed; certain practices are reprobated. How about the state of the mind? On what is it feeding? Ah brethren, do we not know something of that relaxation of the inner man that answers to sitting under the oak?

Let it be remembered that such times often succeed seasons of special faithfulness. The enemy knows us. Perhaps conscience has stirred us up to a pitch of faithful testimony beyond ordinary; we have stood for God among His enemies, and now alone, with no one to see, there is the casting off the unusual armor, and a little indulgence of self is allowed.

There was nothing wrong in sitting under the oak. It was what it indicated as the state of heart.

Just here comes the attack. But notice that it requires all the ingenuity of falsehood to ensnare the prophet. The old prophet claims that he too has had a word from the Lord, rather from an angel, to allow the man of Judah to retrace his steps. Might he not have answered somewhat in the language of Paul to the Galatians, "Though we or an angel from heaven"? That the man from Judah could be deceived by a word as from God shows how far his soul had drifted. He goes back, to receive from the same lips the sentence of his doom. It is a solemn fact that if we want it we can find,-Satan will help us find-scriptures that can be perverted to suit our wishes.

May we be kept from all temporizing, and guard most closely our hearts. " Keep thine heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."

What a solemn picture is that of the dead prophet, the ass and the lion. The ass could have carried him swiftly, the lion could not have hurt him, had he abode in the path of obedience.