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1 Kings 13 – The Parable of the Young Prophet Who Believed A Lie
Why are we told this story? It does seem to “interrupt” the story of the kings, even the story of the Jeroboam. The rebel king’s story will continue on after this “interruption.” Asking why gets into the motive of the inspired writer, and therefore of God Himself. Such a harsh sentence God imposes upon His own sincere, young prophet. But as we learn from Jeremiah, Hosea, and Ezekiel, prophets parabolically represent by their lives and not just by their words. I believe the young and old prophets become a parable.
If I may wonder why, I see the young prophet representing the young, newly formed nation of the Northern Kingdom. They had the truth about worshipping God – in Jerusalem, Levitical priests, sans the idols. Along comes Jeroboam, the “old prophet” teaching something new, teaching a lie. This lie is one of comfort and convenience, with a hint of authenticity.
1 Kings 12:28 (HCSB) 28) So the king sought advice. Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here is your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
The people believe the lie. Just like the young prophet, they believe what is convenient, pleasing, and easy to believe. Just like the young prophet, they too will receive from God a justifiably harsh sentence. The Assyrians will overtake Israel, sending them into captivity, into exile, sending them into a symbol of national death. One of the main symbols of Assyria is the lion. And of course, the young prophet is divinely executed by a lion.
What makes this interpretation more plausible, at least to me, is after this scene, the divinely inspired writer goes back to Jeroboam’s sin.
1 Kings 13:33-34 (HCSB) 33) After all this Jeroboam did not repent of his evil way but again set up priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained whoever so desired it, and they became priests of the high places. 34) This was the sin that caused the house of Jeroboam to be wiped out and annihilated from the face of the earth.
Israel, the Northern Kingdom, believes a lie. Israel, the Northern Kingdom, will die by a lion.
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