TOPIC: KING JEROBOAM
MEMORISE: Thou shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3
READ: 1 Kings 12:20-33
[20]And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
[21]And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
[22]But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
[23]Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,
[24]Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
[25]Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.
[26]And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
[27]If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
[28]Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
[29]And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
[30]And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
[31]And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
[32]And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
[33]So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.
MESSAGE
Jeroboam is an example of someone who thought that he could serve two masters. God had promised him the kingdom, and upon becoming king, he turned away from God and started a chain of evil influence during his 22-year reign.
He also prevented the Israelites from going to the temple in Jerusalem to worship. Rather, he set up golden calves in different regions of the kingdom.
It is sad that in the world today, leaders who should be encouraging young people to live holy lives are actually encouraging them to sin against God.
For example, a pastor who fails to chastise a young man who organizes night parties for a living because he earns a lot of money and pays his tithes consistently is actually encouraging the young man to continue sinning against God.
This is wrong because the young man is in an environment that does not glorify God, and his offering would not be acceptable to God.
My dear child, you must be careful not to mix worshipping God with worship or service to other ‘gods’.
If you are involved in activities that do not bring glory to God, you better desist from them now before it is too late.
KEY POINT
You cannot serve two masters; choose God and live.
HYMN 41
JESUS, MY LORD, MY GOD, MY ALL
- Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All,
Hear Me, Blest Saviour, When I Call;
Hear Me, And From Thy Dwelling Place
Pour Down The Riches Of Thy Grace;
Refrain:
Jesus, My Lord, I Thee Adore;
Oh Make Me Love Thee More And More. - Jesus, Too Late I Thee Have Sought;
How Can I Love Thee As I Ought?
And How Extol Thy Matchless Fame,
The Glorious Beauty Of Thy Name? [Refrain] - Jesus, What Didst Thou Find In Me,
That Thou Hast Dealt So Lovingly?
How Great The Joy That Thou Hast Brought
So Far Exceeding Hope Or Thought! [Refrain] - Jesus, Of Thee Shall Be My Song,
To Thee My Heart And Soul Belong;
All That I Have Or Am Is Thine,
And Thou, Blest Saviour, Thou Art Mine. [Refrain]
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 44:24-47:7 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17
AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE AND PASTOR FOLU ADEBOYE