Withered Hand Prayer
Background: Solomon made Jeroboam superintendent of a building project in Jerusalem. He started listening to conspiracies and after the ten northern tribes withdraw he becomes their first king. 1 Kings 13 continues the overall theme of proper worship. It starts a discussion on true and false prophetic words; Bad counsel vs. the word of the Lord.
13:1-3 “He cried against the altar by the word of the Lord…”
Cries against the altar
Predicts Josiah’s reign (three centuries early)
Offers a sign
13:4-10 “But his hand which he stretched out against him dried up…”
13:11-19 “Come home with me and eat bread.”
Offers a truth
Offers 2 Lies
No sign
13:20-34 “‘Because you have disobeyed…”
Mark 3:1-6 “He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered.”