The account of the Prophet of Judah and the miraculous rending of the altar is a significant event recorded in the Old Testament, specifically in 1 Kings 13. This narrative highlights the power of God working through His chosen servants to affirm His sovereignty and to call His people back to righteousness.

Context and Background

The event takes place during the reign of King Jeroboam I of Israel, who led the northern kingdom after the division of the united monarchy. Jeroboam, in an attempt to consolidate his rule and prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, established alternative centers of worship in Bethel and Dan. He erected golden calves and instituted a non-Levitical priesthood, leading Israel into idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-31).

The Prophet's Mission

In response to this apostasy, God sent a prophet from Judah to Bethel to deliver a message of judgment against the altar Jeroboam had built. The prophet's mission was to confront the king and declare the Lord's displeasure with the idolatrous practices being conducted there.

The Miracle of the Altar Rent

As recorded in 1 Kings 13:1-5 , the prophet of Judah arrived at Bethel while Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. The prophet cried out against the altar, prophesying that a future king named Josiah would be born to the house of David and would desecrate the altar by sacrificing the priests of the high places upon it. As a sign of the prophecy's authenticity, the prophet declared that the altar would be split apart and the ashes upon it would be poured out.

"That day, a man of God came from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, while Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense. And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD: 'O altar, altar, this is what the LORD says: “A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and upon you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones will be burned on you.”’ That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, 'This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.'"

As the prophet spoke, the miraculous sign occurred: the altar was indeed rent, and its ashes were poured out, demonstrating the power and authority of God over the false religious practices instituted by Jeroboam.

Jeroboam's Reaction

King Jeroboam, witnessing the miraculous event, stretched out his hand from the altar, commanding the arrest of the prophet. However, his hand withered, rendering him unable to draw it back. In desperation, Jeroboam pleaded with the prophet to intercede with the Lord to restore his hand. The prophet prayed, and the king's hand was miraculously restored (1 Kings 13:4-6).

Significance

The rending of the altar served as a powerful sign of God's judgment against idolatry and a call to repentance. It underscored the authority of God's word delivered through His prophets and the futility of opposing His divine will. This event also foreshadowed the eventual fulfillment of the prophecy concerning King Josiah, who would indeed reform the religious practices of Judah and destroy the high places (2 Kings 23:15-20).

The account of the Prophet of Judah and the altar rent remains a testament to the enduring truth that God, in His sovereignty, will not tolerate idolatry and will act decisively through His servants to uphold His covenant and call His people back to faithfulness.1 Kings 13:5
The altar also 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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... it dwells in the laws, legends and miracles of Antichrist ... now they are dead: yea,
as they wrought mischiefs, and ... And this will come to pass through the increase ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Secondly, These stones, as they were thus wrought within and ... and immortality is brought
to light through this ... of God; as so, they are but servants, though these ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
... of a bride; such weariness and faintness through their malignant ... that the prophets
or great men of old had wrought. ... of Egypt had imitated the miracles of Moses ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xii the baptism of.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... been laid against them], they have passed through the gate ... the world; and such tender
bowels in God towards them ... lift up his head against his servants, but his ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... While these were passing through the mountains they called ... alarmed at its advent,
and exclaimed, "God is come ... ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican
... his birth, life, death, doctrine, and miracles, in the ... that according to God's
appointment; "for God hath not ... but to obtain salvation by (or through) our Lord ...
/.../bunyan/the pharisee and publican/the pharisee and the publican.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... of his birth, life, death, doctrine, and miracles, in the ... imperfect, not through
man's weakness, but through impediment in ... hope in the mercy of God: When, as ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse upon the pharisee.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... 120,000 combatants, besides the rabble of servants, hucksters, and ... deposited under
the guardianship of the god, and the ... are known to us only through Ctesias. ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

The Doctrine
... horror, and severity of the law discovered to a people by the servants of Jesus ... is,
nor how to come from under the law to meet God in and through that other ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

What does it mean that God is a God of miracles? | GotQuestions.org

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