The Limitations of Common Sense
Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 08 July 2007 10:02
The Limitations of Common Sense
The Story of Jeroboam
Sermon Notes
Sometimes we think of our connection to God as a long list of don’ts or as a long list of chores. However, as we grow in our relationship with God, we come to realize that our connection to God is really more like a day at the beach. It is something to something to enjoy, but it has parameters – parameters that are for our own protection, such as put on sunscreen, don't swim alone in the deep water, ...
Being connected to God means living a life of radical trust in God and obedience to what He has told us to do.
Recommended Reading: The New International Commentary on 1 and 2 Kings by Ian Provan
The end of the story (1 Kings 14)
The story of Jeroboam ends with Ahijah the prophet and Jeroboam, who is the king of Israel (the Northern Kingdom). Jeroboam's son is sick and Jeroboam sends his wife in disguise to Ahijah to inquire about the health of their son. However, Ahijah is told by God that it is Jeroboam's wife and God gives Ahijah the prophecy that because of Jeroboam's great sin and idol worship, all of Jeroboam's family would die and that he would not have a dynasty for his family.
The beginning of the story (1 Kings 11)
God tells Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah that God is going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hands and He will give ten of the twelve tribes to Jeroboam to rule. If Jeroboam is faithful and obedient to God, God will be with Jeroboam as He was with David and God will build a dynasty for Jeroboam.
Rehoboam’s mistake and Jeroboam’ sin (1 Kings 12)
After Solomon died, Solomon’ son, Rehoboam became king. The people of Israel came to Rehoboam and asked him to lighten the heavy load that Solomon had put on them. Rehoboam takes unwise counsel from his friends and instead increases the burden on the people. Then ten of the twelve tribes of Israel rebel against Rehoboam and the kingdom is divided in two: the Southern Kingdom and the Northern Kingdom. The ten tribes which make up the Northern Kingdom make Jeroboam their king, as God had foretold through Ahijah.
However, Jeroboam is afraid that if the people continue to go to Jerusalem (which is in Judah, the Southern Kingdom) to worship God, they will eventually join the Southern Kingdom again and kill Jeroboam. So, Jeroboam – against God’s expressed will – creates two golden calves for the people to worship instead of going back to worship God in Jerusalem.
Jeroboam reinvented the whole system and priesthood, which God had created and instituted, and creates his own festival and places of worship. He leads the people into idolatry and sin.
- From a human perspective, this is a logical common sense decision to protect himself.
- However, Jeroboam did not follow God’s decree even though he had already seen God moving and fulfilling His Word.
We need to learn to listen. God longs to speak living words into our lives.