Parallel passage: 2 Chronicles 12:1-16
BACKGROUND
Jeroboam of Israel
Reigned: 931-910 B.C. for 22 years
Character: BadEven though Jeroboam sent his disguised wife to the prophet at Shiloh, Ahijah still prophesied of the death of Jeroboam's son, Abijah (notice the close spelling of the prophet's and son's names), and the downfall of Israel for its blatant violation of the commands of God. He specifically said that he would scatter them because they provoked the LORD to anger for making Asherah poles. These were wooden images made for the worship of Asherah, a Canaanite mother goddess. Also, Ahijah prophesied that a king would cut off the family of Jeroboam I, and we will see this come true in 1 Kings 15:27-30.
Rehoboam of Judah
Reigned: 931-913 B.C. for 17 years
Character: Bad mostly
Rehoboam's three-year period of listening to the Lord and acting upon it came to an end. Judah did evil by setting up high places, sacred stones, and Asherah poles on every high hill and spreading tree. They even had male prostitute shrines.
The worst thing was that the palace and temple treasures were carried off by Shishak, king of Egypt in 926 BC. Shishak was also known as Sheshonk I, the founder of the 22nd dynasty of Egypt, who ruled from 935-914 B.C. He is the king who had given asylum to Jeroboam I when he fled from Solomon (1 Kings 11:40). In this particular military campaign, Shishak took control of 156 cities. This is recorded on the exterior wall of the Temple of Amon at Karnak in Egypt.
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| The temple wall depicts a list of city-states conquered by Shoshenq I in his Near Eastern military campaigns. By Olaf Tausch - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9870676 |
There is a parallel story of both Jeroboam I and Rehoboam in 2 Chronicles 9:29-13:22 . From this account, we learn that the "LORD struck [Jeroboam] down and he died."
REFLECTION
Here are some reasons given for the appeal of idols given in The Life Application Bible, p. 575:
POWER
The people wanted freedom from the authority of both God and the priests. They wanted their religion to fit their lifestyle, not their lifestyle to fit their religion.
Modern Parallel
People do not want to answer to a greater authority. Instead of having power over others, God wants us to have the Holy Spirit's power to help others.
PLEASURE
Idol worship exalted sensuality without responsibility or guilt. People acted out the vicious and sensuous personalities of the gods they worshiped, thus gaining approval for their degraded lives.
Modern Parallel
People deify pleasure, seeking it at the expense of everything else. Instead of seeking pleasure that leads to long-range disaster, God calls us to seek the kind of pleasure that leads to long-range rewards.
PASSION
Mankind was reduced to little more than animals. The people did not have to be viewed as unique individuals, but could be exploited sexually, politically, and economically.
Modern Parallel
Like animals, people let physical drives and passion rule them. Instead of seeking passion that exploits others, God calls us to redirect our passions to areas that build others up.
PRAISE AND POPULARITY
The high and holy nature of God was replaced by gods who were more a reflection of human nature, thus more culturally suitable to the people. These gods no longer required sacrifice, just a token of appeasement.
Modern Parallel
Sacrifice is seen as self-inflicted punishment, making no sense. Success is to be sought at all costs. Instead of seeking praise for ourselves, God calls us to praise Him and those who honor Him.APPLICATION
Read through the modern parallels above and talk to God about them. What will be your "I will" statement for today?
PRAYER
Lord, keep us close to Your side so that we might never stray from You into areas of idolatry. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
1 comment:
That was fun to find a picture of the Egyptian kings military campaign!
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