Saturday: Jan. 21, 2017

[anlptgtsg]

1 Kings 12:25-33
25Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.c

26Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

28After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 29One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.

31Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

Because of Solomon's sin, Israel was divided. God gave the 10 tribes to Jeroboam and 2 tribes to Rehoboam because of David. Eventhough Jeroboam was chosen by God, He is afraid of what will happen to him. He felt that people will come back to Rehoboam if they go to Jerusalem to worship. So he device a plan so that people in Israel won't go to Jerusalem to worship. His method is making 2 idols and saying that these idol has help them get out of Egypt.

Sadly we are sinners and at times go to our plan. But God's plan for us is better. He knows what is good for us. And He even proved it to us as we go on as Christians. And yet we sometimes fail. Let us always remember to ask God first for any problems in our life. He will guide us through the Holy Spirit. Let us remember all the good things God showed us and have faith in Him in times of great distress.