The King's Defiance Rebuked

The king's bold defiance of God in setting aside divinely appointed institutions was not allowed to pass unrebuked. During the dedication of the strange altar at Bethel, there appeared before him a man of God from Judah, sent to denounce him for presuming to introduce new forms of worship. The prophet “cried against the altar ..., and said, ... Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.”SS 53.2

“And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.” Immediately the altar “was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.” 1 Kings 13:2, 3, 5.SS 53.3

On seeing this, Jeroboam attempted to restrain the one who had delivered the message. In wrath he cried out, “Lay hold on him.” His impetuous act met with swift rebuke. The hand outstretched against the messenger of Jehovah suddenly became withered and could not be withdrawn. Terror-stricken, the king appealed to the prophet: “Entreat now the face of the Lord thy God,” he pleaded, “and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.” Verses 4, 6. The king of Israel should have been led to renounce his wicked purposes, which were turning people away from the true worship of God. But he hardened his heart and determined to follow a way of his own choosing.SS 53.4

The Lord seeks to save, not to destroy. He gives His chosen messengers a holy boldness, that those who hear may be brought to repentance. How firmly the man of God rebuked the king! In no other way could the evils have been rebuked. The messengers of the Lord are to stand unflinchingly for the right. So long as they put their trust in God, they need not fear, for He who gives them their commission gives them also the assurance of His protecting care.SS 54.1