1 Kings 13:20-34
It is the turn of the man of God from Judah to hear a word of judgment. He has lacked strength of character, and the results are tragic.
To allow oneself to be led astray is a danger specially applicable to young people who are by nature readily influenced. Notice that the devil does not only make use of vulgar enticements to turn a Christian aside from the path of obedience! He knows how to make use of means that appear most respectable so as to convince him. All appearances were in favour of this aged prophet who claimed to have received the word of the LORD through an angel. But could God contradict Himself? So far as we are concerned, let us rely solely on what He says to us in the Bible, then we shall not go astray (see Galatians 1:8-9).
For this man of God, death is the result of his failure. His body is not eaten by the lion, evident proof that he has been smitten by God. And what a punishment for the old prophet! He has been a stumbling-block to the one whom he called his brother (v. 30) but towards whom he had in no way acted as a brother! To lead others into disobedience is no less serious than to disobey oneself, for then we do wrong both to God and to the one we lead astray.