The Sin of King Jeroboam

Jeroboam, Israel’s new king, built a new capital in Shechem to separate themselves from Judah. However, because the temple of God was in Judah, people would still travel from his kingdom to worship in Judah. Jeroboam feared this would lead to the loss of his kingdom and his life. So he made two golden calves like Aaron so many years before and introduced them as Israel's new gods. Slowly Jeroboam added more and more idols into Israel’s public worship. God would not stand for the corruption of His people and sent a prophet to let him know what would become of his idolatrous altar.

In our last episode, we heard how Rehoboam’s pride and foolishness cost him much of his kingdom. When given an opportunity to show mercy and kindness to his people, he chose instead to oppress them in an attempt to prove his strength. And so Israel became a kingdom divided, with the ten tribes of the north serving Jeroboam, a man who had served Solomon and was chosen by God to rule much of Israel. Today we’ll hear how, despite being warned by God not to turn away from Him and His commandments, Jeroboam succumbs to temptations and sins in the eyes of God. And just like Solomon and Rehoboam before him, his disobedience will prove costly, as God judges him for his unfaithfulness.