DAY 248 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE UNITED MONARCHY

by Gillian D'achada October 15, 2021

“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.” (NKJV).

1 Kings 13:33

Reading: 1 Kings 12:25-13:6

Today’s devotion looks at Jeroboam King of Israel. Jeroboam had been given his kingdom because of Solomon’s sin and by reason of Rehoboam’s foolish actions. God’s rule at this time came through the Pentateuch, Psalms, and Proverbs as well as the word of the prophets. God’s place was now divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. God’s people included both Judah and Israel.

Unfortunately, Jeroboam did not rule his kingdom by the word of the LORD, but he built two golden calves (like Aaron did at Sinai), one at Bethel and the other at Dan, set up high places to replace Jerusalem as the one place of worship and appointed non-Levite priests. He did these things to cement his rule in Israel and to stop Israelites from going to Jerusalem to worship.

The LORD’s response to Jeroboam’s sin was as follows, “Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you ruler over My people Israel, and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes; but you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and moulded images to provoke Me to anger, and have cast Me behind your back therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone” (1 Kings 14:7-10; NKJV).

Oh dear. Let’s never rest on our spiritual laurels! Looking forward we see a downward trend, with apostate kings aplenty and exile looming nearer and nearer. Only a few godly kings would be interspersed among those who did evil in the eyes of the LORD.

Prayer

Dear Father, we see the growth of darkness among Your people at this time. Help us to stay true to You and to Your word.

For the family

Watch yesterday’s video again. Click here to watch

Now explain what happened to Jeroboam afterward. Guide a discussion around the importance of always trusting and obeying God, not only when it suits you.