1 Kings 12:25-33
Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. If 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.”
After 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.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar.
Jerusalem had been the religious center of the united kingdom. Jeroboam, fearful that visiting Jerusalem for the pilgrim feasts will lead his people to defect, creates two new sanctuaries for the northern kingdom. He also creates an unlawful priesthood. And he makes bull calves, the symbols of fertility, for the people to worship. His actions encouraged idolatry and as time went by, Israelite worship became more and more degenerate. The writers of Kings see him always as 'bad king Jeroboam', the one who set Israel on the downward path if sin against God.
Why?
Jeroboam intended his people don't go to Jerusalem, he made two golden calves and asked his people to worship them. It is the downfall of the Israelites.
People make decisions for their own private minds and profit. Jeroboam totally forgot what the Lord has told him.
Maybe the faith of Jeroboam was affected when he was staying in Egypt.
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Jeroboam was afraid his people will come back to Jerusalem and return to join Judea.
Jeroboam emphasizes his two golden calves are the real God, who brought them out from Egypt.
Worship the Lord is not for our own convenience, but have to follow the command of the Lord.
敬拜神不是以自己的方便，自己的方法。同樣讀經不是按照自己喜歡的看法來解經。敬拜不是以自己最愉快的心情，所以穿輕鬆的衣著，最舒服的，自己最方便的，應該是按照真理，照神的心意來敬拜神！不能因為天氣熱所以穿短褲來教會，不是按照自己的喜好。
耶羅波安是神揀選的，神設立的，從神來的，王位是有正當性。但是他卻非常沒有安全感！愈沒有安全感當更多依靠神，反而尋求自己的方法。我們目前生活所有的供應都是來自神，我們卻常常用自己的方式來建立安全感，應當更多依靠神，敬畏神。
耶羅波安做王，他以為這國就是他的，他是經營者、受神託付的，是管理者，他不是董事長，只是CEO。想使用神來控制百姓！神給我們家庭，我們好好管理家，神給我們財富，我們要好好管理這些資產，我們常常利用神來幫我們做事情，我們照我們的想法禱告！我們也常在禱告以後仍然無法交託，沒有得安息！仍然擔心神沒有照著我禱告的做！繼續憂慮，於是靠自己，繼續憂慮！我們沒有信靠別的神，但是我們卻希望改變神的心意！讓我們完全順從神的旨意，相信神必成就超過我們所求所想的。
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How?
When we have a selfish mind are easy away from the Lord and made new idols in our hearts. Be careful to make idols in my heart.
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