“After this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but again he made priests from every class of people for the high places; whoever wished, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, so as to exterminate and destroy it from the face of the earth.”
I Kings 13:33-34 NKJV
a. After this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way: He should have turned, but he did not. God’s dealing with the man of God from Judah was warning enough to Jeroboam, but it was a warning he ignored.
i. “All these wonderful accidents, as God’s hammers, did but beat upon cold iron.” (Trapp)
b. He became one of the priests of the high places: In ancient Israel, God commanded a strict separation between the office of king and priest. Jeroboam blurred this separation and this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam.
i. Jeroboam had great opportunity, especially in light of the promise of God through Ahijah recorded in 1 Kings 11:38: Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.Jeroboam did not obey God and honor His commandments, and he never fulfilled his potential or promise.
ii. The same principle works in servants of God today. We are not called because of obedience, or used out of merit; but our disobedience hinders our potential for full use. Paul put it this way in 2 Timothy 2:21: Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter [works of dishonor], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.God uses vessels of honor, separation, usefulness, and preparation to their fullest potential.
iii. In his failure, Jeroboam became the prototype of the disobedient kings of Israel. The phrase He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin was used of many subsequent kings of Israel. These include:
· Baasha (1 Kings 15:33-34).
· Omri (1 Kings 16:25-26).
· Ahaziah (1 Kings 22:51-52).
· Jehoram (2 Kings 3:1-3).
· Jehu (2 Kings 10:29-31).
· Jehoahaz (2 Kings 13:1-2).
· Jehoash (2 Kings 13:10-11).
· Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:23-24).
· Zechariah (2 Kings 15:8-9).
· Menahim (2 Kings 15:17-18).
· Pekahiah (2 Kings 15:23-24).
· Pekah (2 Kings 15:27-28).
iv. One curious exception was Ahab, who was noted as worse than Jeroboam (1 Kings 16:30-31).
v. Jeroboam had great opportunity, but instead became a great curse to every generation of the northern kingdom after that. Even at the end of the Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam’s sin was remembered: For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD, and made them commit a great sin. For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them, until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away from their own land to Assyria, as it is to this day (2 Kings 17:21-23).
vi. All in all, Jeroboam is an example of sinful failure.
· He failed despite great blessing and favor from God.
· He failed for the sake of mere political advantage.
· He failed and led an entire nation into idolatry.
· He failed despite specific warnings to repent.
· He failed despite specific judgment and deliverance from that judgment.
· He failed despite a clear message and example of integrity. (Guzik)
He Failed!
Jeroboam’s sinful failure was a choice that separated him from the house of David and God. We are left with the same choice when Satan throws his fiery darts, will we sin and give in to the flesh or will we be strong in the Spirit?
The devil knows our weaknesses and will try to use them to get us to turn from the Lord.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
Ephesians 6:10-18 NKJV
Please pray for me as I pray for you for spiritual strength.
Blessings
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