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Jeroboam's Religion 1Kgs 12
Jeroboam's religion
1Kings 12:25-33
Because of the foolishness of Solomon's son, the kingdom of Israel was split into two kingdoms. Jeroboam was chosen by God and given the honor of being king of 10 of the 12 tribes. As king over God's people he was to be a spiritual leader that would guide and influence God's people to be faithful to God and His covenant. Jeroboam failed. Miserably.
He made two golden calves in direct violation of God's law (Ex. 20:4-5). He instructed and encouraged the people to acknowledge and worship these idols as their 'god'. He made a temple for the people - so that they had a temple 'just like the one in Jerusalem'. He appointed priests for this temple - so they had priests just like in Jerusalem'. He appointed feast days for them to worship on - so they had special days 'just like in Jerusalem'.
They were all counterfeit religion. They were 'just like' but they were not the same. Counterfeits always attempt to be 'just like' something else. There were however many differences. The golden calves were just idols made by men's hands and were NOT GOD. The temple was not God's temple in Jerusalem. The Priests were NOT the sons of Aaron but rather were comprised of anyone that wanted to be one. The feast days were different. These all had one very big difference: they were said to be 'devised from his own heart' and not revealed by God (1 Kings 12:33).
Such practice continues to be a major problem in religion. Men devise things in their hearts and then proceed to worship according to such dictates of the heart. Isaiah indicted Israel saying: "And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men…" (Isaiah 29:13). Jesus used this passage from Isaiah and indicted Israel in the first century of doing the same thing: “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Matthew 15:8-9).
Much that passes for religion in America is counterfeit. It looks similar. It is NOT the same. We can in fact make the claim "it is just like…". Being 'just like' is not being the SAME. It is 'another gospel' that is not the same gospel. Let us learn to differentiate the word of God from the devises of men's hearts.
"After this thing Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people. Any who would, he ordained to be priests of the high places. And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth" (1 Kings 13:33-34).
