1 Kings 14
Today's Passage: 1 Kings 14
Idol worship was the downfall of Israel. It’s exactly what we see in our passage today.
At this moment in Israel’s history, the kingdom had been divided. There is the Northern Kingdom called Israel and the Southern Kingdom called Judah. Judah was the rightful kingdom because the kings were from the line of David. Judah also contained Jerusalem.
From our passage, Jeroboam is reigning in Israel, while Rehoboam reigned in Judah. Here is what is interesting: Israel had no king who did what was right in the eyes of God. The king always led people away from God. That is not always the case for Judah, but it happens to be what takes place for Rehoboam.
In both cases, Jeroboam and Rehoboam face hardship, and are met with consequences for their actions.
Jeroboam had a sick son. God uses the prophet Ahijah to tell Jeroboam that everyone in his family is going to die, because “they have made their Asherim (false god), provoking the Lord to anger” (v. 15). Jeroboam had not followed God and Israel listened to Jeroboam’s ways.
Rehoboam lost everything to Egypt, because “they also built high places and pillars and Asherim on every hill” (v. 23).
Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam lost sight of God and followed the “gods” of this world. God hates idol worship because the praise, honor, and glory that belong to Him is given to something else.
I always heard it said, “give me your calendar and checkbook (credit card might be more up to date), and I can show you what you worship.” We spend our time and money on the things we love.
If God were to examine your calendar and checkbook, would He see you love Him above the things of this world?
Written By: Brice Stockton
Idol worship was the downfall of Israel. It’s exactly what we see in our passage today.
At this moment in Israel’s history, the kingdom had been divided. There is the Northern Kingdom called Israel and the Southern Kingdom called Judah. Judah was the rightful kingdom because the kings were from the line of David. Judah also contained Jerusalem.
From our passage, Jeroboam is reigning in Israel, while Rehoboam reigned in Judah. Here is what is interesting: Israel had no king who did what was right in the eyes of God. The king always led people away from God. That is not always the case for Judah, but it happens to be what takes place for Rehoboam.
In both cases, Jeroboam and Rehoboam face hardship, and are met with consequences for their actions.
Jeroboam had a sick son. God uses the prophet Ahijah to tell Jeroboam that everyone in his family is going to die, because “they have made their Asherim (false god), provoking the Lord to anger” (v. 15). Jeroboam had not followed God and Israel listened to Jeroboam’s ways.
Rehoboam lost everything to Egypt, because “they also built high places and pillars and Asherim on every hill” (v. 23).
Both Jeroboam and Rehoboam lost sight of God and followed the “gods” of this world. God hates idol worship because the praise, honor, and glory that belong to Him is given to something else.
I always heard it said, “give me your calendar and checkbook (credit card might be more up to date), and I can show you what you worship.” We spend our time and money on the things we love.
If God were to examine your calendar and checkbook, would He see you love Him above the things of this world?
Written By: Brice Stockton
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