Thoughts on 1 Kings 13

[MrShorty]

I read 1 Kings 13 last night, and I don't think I've ever noticed this story before. In short: God sends an unnamed prophet from Judah to Beth-el to speak against Jereboams new God's and worship system. While there, god smites Jereboam's arm, and this prophet heals him. Jereboam invites him to come home for dinner, to which the prophet replies that God specifically forbade him from eating/drinking while in Beth-el. The prophet leaves to return to his home in Judah. Another prophet who lives in Beth-el hears of prophet A's preaching, and decides to find him and meet him before he can get home. On finding him, prophet B invites prophet A back to his house for dinner. Prophet A turns him down, citing his command from God. Propeth B presses the issue, and prophet A finally agrees. At dinner, prophet B scolds prophet A for his disobedience. Prophet A is killed by a lion on his way home.

I thought of some interesting points that might make good discussion points if anyone is interested.

1) Thoughts on peer pressure: Prophet A refused both dinner invitations. As given in the scripture, Jereboam didn't press him on the issue. Prophet B, on the other hand, pressed him, telling A that an angel had told B to invite A to B's house for dinner. Isn't it easier to refuse peer pressure when it is coming from "the enemy" (like Jereboam), than when the pressure to sin is coming from a fellow believer? Another interesting aspect is that the "sin" in question was not a general command for everyone. It was specificially given to prophet A for prophet A only. In many ways the command to not eat was kind of arbitrary, without specific reasons. So prophet A is expected to obey a command that others around him in Beth-el are not expected to obey.

2) It's an old debate, but there is the question of whether God tempts man. In the KJV, verse 18 indicates that prophet B tempts A through deception and God is left out. In the JST, it appears that Joseph Smith puts God, through an angel, as the instigator of this test/temptation. As old as this debate is, I certainly wouldn't expect us to resolve the issue. I guess it is just interesting that Joseph Smith isn't uncomfortable (is comfortable?) with the idea that God would tempt/test man.

3) Occasionally I've seen discussions about turning down callings. On a personal note, this story kind of addressed this issue for me. Earlier this year, I felt I was inspired to recognize that a "big" calling would take to much away from my personal life right now, and I would have to turn down such a calling down. Fast forward a few months, and one of those callings was extended to me, and I did turn it down. FWIW, I don't feel guilty because I believe God inspired me to turn it down. Perhaps what this story can address is why "impossible" callings are extended in the first place. Leaning on the KJV version, is it possible for bishops to make mistakes (intentional or not) when issuing callings? Leaning on the JST version, is it possible that God sometimes inspires bishops to issue a calling we can't accept as a test to see how we will respond?

4) Ultimately, the story illustrates the importance of obedience. In Abraham, we learn that a major part of our purpose in life is to "do all things that the Lord commands us." While the vast majority of the time, the consequences of our disobedience are not as severe or as immediate as for prophet A, in the end we need to be firm in our committment to obey God's commandments.

[Martain]

There appears to me to be a rather large distinction between the definitions of the words test and temptation.

While God does not entice or tempt men to sin, he does indeed test them.

D&C 98:14 Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.

John Taylor, the third President of the Church, said: “I heard the Prophet Joseph say, in speaking to the Twelve on one occasion: ‘You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of God, and (said he) God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God.’ … Joseph Smith never had many months of peace after he received the truth, and finally he was murdered in Carthage jail.” (Reference)

[MrShorty]

There appears to me to be a rather large distinction between the definitions of the words test and temptation.

What are the distinctions you draw between the two concepts?

For myself, I usually think of a "test" as a general state (like persecution, illness, etc.) that makes me "uncomfortable." My choices being an overall keeping of my faith or a rejecting of my faith.

"Temptation" brings up an idea regarding a specific commandment. My choices being centered around obedience/disobedience.

If I think about them hard enough, there tends to be a region of overlap, because "obedience" depends to some commandments (like tithing) depends on my faith in God and His church. If I lose my faith because of my response to a test, I will be tempted to disobey a commandment.

In the case of these two prophets, A was given a specific commandment, and B encouraged him to break that commandment. To me, that is temptation, and, according to the JST, that temptation came about because of God's command to B.

[Martain]

I drew such conclusions after comparing their definitions and the words considered synonymous with them.

Test and it's synonyms : try, examine, prove, try out, assay, essay

Tempt and it's synonyms: lure, seduce, allure, inveigle, attract.

To me they are different and so are their currently accepted definitions.

(courtesy of googling "definition of ___")

I guess I'll approach it a different way.

James 1:13

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Based on James 1:13, your take on 1 Kings 13 must be incorrect or incomplete.

God does not tempt man and thus he would not command one of his prophets to tempt someone.

God does test man and thus he could command one of his prophets to test someone.

Therefore, Prophet B did not tempt Propeht A but tested him.