Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Kings 14:1-6

"At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spake concerning me that I should be king over this people. And take with thee ten loaves, and cakes, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he will tell thee what shall become of the child. And Jeroboam`s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age. And Jehovah said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to inquire of thee concerning her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her; for it will be, when she cometh in, that she will feign herself to be another woman. And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings." — 1 Kings 14:1-6 (ASV)

“At that time,” when Jeroboam did evil, his child sickened. When sickness comes into our families, we should inquire whether there may not be some particular sin harboured in our houses, which the affliction is sent to convince us of, and reclaim us from. It would have been more pious if he had desired to know why God contended with him, had begged the prophet's prayers, and cast away his idols from him; but most people would rather be told their fortune, than their faults or their duty.

He sent to Ahijah because he had told him he would be king. Those who by sin disqualify themselves for comfort, yet expect that their ministers, because they are good men, should speak peace and comfort to them, greatly wrong themselves and their ministers. He sent his wife in disguise, that the prophet might only answer her question concerning her son.

Thus some people would limit their ministers to smooth things and do not care for having the whole counsel of God declared to them, lest it should prophesy no good concerning them, but evil. But she will know, at the first word, what she has to trust. Tidings of a portion with hypocrites will be heavy tidings.

God will judge people according to what they are, not by what they seem to be.