Monday: The Two Kingdoms
After the division of the nation, things went from bad to worse. In the Northern Kingdom, King Jeroboam made some terrible spiritual choices that had a long-lasting impact for evil.
Read 1 Kings 12:26-31. What should this tell us about how immediate circumstances can so blind our judgment?
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The king’s introduction of idolatrous worship helped set the nation on a disastrous course. The apostasy introduced during Jeroboam’s reign became more and more marked, until finally it resulted in the utter ruin of the kingdom of Israel.
-Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 107. In 722 b.c., Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, put an end to the country and deported its inhabitants to different parts of his empire (see 2 Kings 17:1-7). There was no turning back from this exile. For a time, Israel disappeared from history.
Things weren’t as bad in the Southern Kingdom, at least not yet. But they weren’t great either, and, as with the Northern Kingdom, the Lord sought to spare these people from the calamity that the Northern Kingdom faced, only now from the threat of the Babylonians. Unfortunately, with rare exceptions, Judah had a series of kings who continued to lead the nation into deeper apostasy.
What do these verses say about the reign of some of Judah’s kings? 2 Chron. 33:9-10, 2 Chron. 21-23; 2 Kings 24:8-9, 2 Kings 18-19.
Despite all the terrible leadership, so many of the prophetic books of the Bible, including Jeremiah, are the words of the prophets whom God sent to His people in an attempt to turn them away from the sin and apostasy that was eating at the heart of the nation. The Lord was not going to give up on His people without giving them ample time and opportunity to turn from their evil ways and be spared the disaster that their sin would, inevitably, bring.
It’s so hard to step out of your own culture and environment and look at yourself objectively. In fact, it’s impossible. Why, then, must we constantly test our lives against the standard of the Bible? What other standard do we have?
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Hello friends, today our situation is worse then at that time. Most of our world leaders do not fear God, and have turned away from God's Commandments and the knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Moreover, the majority of our world population is mesmerizing after the Vatican leadership. The scriptures plainly identify this power as the beast out of the sea. The scriptures also tell us of what the future holds for the beast and those who follow the beast. Here is the patients of Saints, here are those who keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Even so Lord Jesus come quickly.
The division of the Lord’s chosen nation into two kingdoms was prophesied as God’s permissive will, not His preferred will, on account of Solomon’s abandonment of true worship of the Creator (1 Kings 11:29-40). The decision of Rehoboam to intensify Solomon’s previous oppressive measures accelerated the split (1 kings 12:12-17).
Yet not long after king Jeroboam through selfish ambition repeated the idolatry of Solomon (1 Kings 12:26-31). Too often God’s people do not sufficiently appreciate the principle of cause and effect, the connectedness of ideas or lessons from the past.
One thing Christians frequently miss is the idea running through scripture that the chosen do not belong to this world. Since mankind was driven out of the Garden of Eden it has been the Creator’s idea that His people are in exile waiting to return home. From Genesis 3 through Revelation 20 there is a picture of a people displaced. Still Christians seek to conform to this world and copy common practices.
Preserving culture, supposedly out of respect, may seem healthy. However human culture is heavily tainted with sin, and some things which seem harmless are connected to the coarser elements of the same culture.
By claiming dual citizenship (Luke 16:13), trying to hold onto earthly customs, while grasping for the Kingdom of Heaven many end up enticed by sin (Genesis 4:7) and before long practicing a form of idolatry or worldliness (1 John 2:5-6).
Pilgrims and strangers (1 Peter 2:11) in this life are not wrapped in national flags or attached to birthplaces. Their new birth (John 3:6-7) and new citizenship form the basis of the culture they claim, a heavenly one, refined by love and the principles of the kingdom of God (Philippians 3:20). They do not readily follow the fashion and habits of those who have made their home here.
We must remember that when the prophets warned Israel or Judah of being exiled after destruction and desolation of their nation, they are baffled for they know that they are serving and worshiping only Yahweh. So it is with the modern world of today. I propose that we start one to one awareness of our precarious situation and it is with this loving caring and budding friendship evangelism that can be powerful, effective and efficient and less expensive. If we individually resolve this method of 2x2 we would be successful and let those of us who are accessible to legislative councils and prominent business and political people do theirs as well. Together with the Pastor the work should be ready for the final proclamation of the 3 Angels Message in its verity with power and success. Let us uplift Christ and they will see the spiritual decadent of our social, political, religious and economic leaders. Just preach the Gospel and its Lord Jesus Christ all that the world is waiting for is for us to uplift Christ, Period.
Jeroboam changed the instruction of Jehovah to protect His kingdom.
In what ways do we put our desires above Jehovah's standards?
Let me count the ways!
In an attempt to save his life and make himself king forever, Jeroboam introduced the idol worship and turned the hearts of people against God, all this just to exalt himself be him a king, and the end result all people perished. From this we have to learn the of the humility of Christ what if Christ wanted to keep his to himself?(life). Let this mind be in us Philippians 2:5. If we only had this mind
In response to the question; Indeed most of us are living up to the standards of the world. Look around!! We are practically in fear. We are afraid to voice our true opinion on what has become "the norm". We are forced to accept inappropriate behavior because we feel the anxiety of not being politically correct. We are anxious to get our hands on the latest gadgets...... I could go on and on. How can we prepare our hearts for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ and inspire others to the the same if we are not. We must remain and live our lives to the standards of the bible. I pray that we remain true and vigilant.
Compare 2 Chronicles 11, and you find the reason for the rapid decline of Israel. God's original plan was for the Levites to be spread throughout the nation, teaching the people about God. When Jereboam set up his own gods and altars - the Levites left and returned to Jerusalem. Not only was their king leading them astray, but now the people had no one to teach them about the true God.
It is a fateful thing when the righteous are driven away - or choose to leave. If you do a survey of each king of Israel and of Judah, you will find very few that followed God with all their hearts - and none of them in Israel - only Judah.
I love this message for Amos 1:14&15, we are so mislead if we believe that the Lord will not do as he said he would. Hold fast until your faith. Be not deceived the Lord will come and will not tarry.
Hugh,
Kindly clarify what you mean by saying, one thing christian miss in in Scripture is that the chosen one are not from this world. Please help me understand.
"In the world, but not of the world." When we participate in the new birth we are no longer of Adams family but adopted into God's family.
Mweemba,
Thanks for taking the time to read the post. Jesus said the chosen do not belong to this world in John 15:19, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." He virtually repeats it in John 17:14. In short the chosen (faithful believers) do not live by the principles and standards of the world. The principles and standards of Heaven are their guide.
Mweemba Renford,I would suggest you read Philippians 3:20.Our habits,culture,manner of speech,thoughts,comportment should reflect our country of origin,heaven.True Christians would see that they are in exile here in this world.