JEROBOAM AND A HUMAN RELIGION

1 Kings 12:25-33

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. The occasion of the text was just after the kingdom of Israel  
      was divided (about 975 B.C.).
      1. Solomon had sinned and God had given a decree. 1 Kings 11:4-
         11
      2. Jeroboam and the people requested Rehoboam to make their
         burden lighter. 1 Kings 12:3-4
         a. Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men. 1 Kings
            12:12-14
      3. Thus, at that time ten tribes rebelled and made Jeroboam    
         king. 1 Kings 12:16-20
   B. After he became king, he introduced a new and modified         
      religion. This was a very serious sin.
      1. Many have since blindly followed the steps of this wicked   
         man.
      2. Let's consider the religion instituted by Jeroboam.

I. The object of worship is God alone - Ex. 20:3-5 (Matt. 4:10 - from
   Deut. 6:13; 10:20)
   A. Jeroboam made two calves of gold - vs. 28.
      1. He was influenced by Egypt. He had fled there to escape
         when solomon sought to kill him - 1 Kings 11:40
      2. The Israelites, after coming out of Egypt made themselves a
         golden calf - Ex. 32:1-4.

II. The place of worship for the Israelites was Jerusalem - Deut.
    12:10-11; 1 Kings 14:21
   A. Jeroboam set up his golden calves in Bethel and Dan - vs. 29.
   B. The people were foolish enough to worship before it - vs. 30.
   C. This shows how religion had deteriorated at that time.
      1. Solomon had laid the foundation for this departure - 1 Kings
         11:4-5

III. God had chosen the tribe of Levi to be priests - Num. 3:5-13
   A. Jeroboam made priests from among every class of people - vs. 31

IV. God commanded that a feast be held on the seventh month and
   fifteenth day. Lev. 23:33-34
   A. Jeroboam's feast, which he ordained himself, was close to the
      same date - vs. 32

V. Regarding the origin of religion, it must come from God's Word.
   A. Everything built and every function had to be according to the
      pattern. 
      1. Moses and the tabernacle - Ex. 25:8-9,40
         a. There was much disobedience - Lev. 10:1-2; 16:12; 1
            Chron. 13:7-10; 15:11-15
      2. Solomon and the temple - 1 Chron. 28:11-19
         a. There was much disobedience - 2 Chron. 26:16-20;
            33:4-11
   B. Jeroboam's religion had its origin in the human heart - vs.    
      26,32
      1. In reality there are only two religions in the world:
         a. The "I say" versus "God says" or "I think" versus "It is
            written." Jesus said, "God says...but you say..." - Matt.
            15:3-6
         b. What God says often differs greatly with what man
            thinks.
            MAN THINKS.....GOD SAYS
            (1) Dan and Bethel are all right.....Deut. 12:10-14; 1   
                Kings 14:21
            (2) Children are born in sin.....Ezek. 18:20
            (3) God is too merciful to punish eternally.....Matt.    
                25:41
            (4) Scriptures are not sufficient--esp. the silence of
                them.....2 Tim. 3:16-17
            (5) If we don't address men with titles, we show
                disrespect.....Matt. 23:9
            (6) Worship as one's conscience directs.....John 4:24
      2. God's ways and thoughts are not man's - Isa. 55:9
      3. Human heart is deceitful and wicked - Jer. 17:9; Gen. 8:21
      4. It is not in man to direct his steps - Jer. 10:23; Prov.    
         16:25
      5. When man devises his own way, his worship becomes vain -
         Matt. 15:9
      6. Hence, the human heart could never produce a system of
         worship meeting God's demands and the soul's needs.

VI. The purpose of one's religion, is to revere and honor God.
   A. When we abide in the Scriptures, we show honor and respect
      toward God - Mal. 1:6; Isa. 66:2
   B. Jeroboam's religion was instituted for his own selfish ends -  
      vs. 27-29
      1. He didn't care if God was dishonored and the people were
         condemned; he only wanted to keep his following.
      2. He wanted to keep the people out of Jerusalem lest they
         turned back to Rehoboam. 
         a. There have been many who, through the same selfish
            desires, keep people away from the church of the Lord. 
      3. Look at the basis on which he tried to justify himself.
         a. They will turn to the king of Judah and kill me. This is
            distrust in God - 1 Kings 11:34-36
      4. There are other ways in which he could have tried to justify
         himself. No doubt all of these went through his mind.
         a. "God has promised me the kingdom, I will aid God in
            securing it."
            (1) This same idea of aiding is used for a lot of
                departures today: Missionary societies, Sponsoring
                church arrangements, etc.
         b. "God accepted worship elsewhere in the past."
            (1) The same reasoning is used to bring in O.T. things
                today: Instrumental music, Sabbath keeping, infant
                membership, etc. Illustration: A man in Africa who
                had fourteen wives was being taught the gospel. He
                said, "What was good enough for Solomon is good
                enough for me."
         c. "I'll preserve all the essential features of worship:
            priests, feasts, sacrifices, alters, etc."
            (1) The same thing is done now. There is great deception 
                when a false religion has all the appearance of true 
                religion.

VII. God's way, though it has various restraints, is for the good of
   man - Deut. 6:24; 12:28
   A. Jeroboam's religion was for the convenience of the people - Ex.
      "It is too much..." - vs. 28
   B. There are many modern-day conveniences. Men change their
      religion to accommodate themselves.
      1. Sprinkling and pouring - See Col. 2:12
      2. Death-bed repentance - See Prov. 1:24-29
      3. Can't fall from grace - See Gal. 5:4
      4. Sincerity is sufficient - See Prov. 12:15; 16:25; 28:26
      5. Institutionalism - See James 1:27; "visit" means "to go and
         see with view of aiding"; it does not mean to conveniently
         send a donation to an organization which brethren have
         fashioned to do works that God commanded the church to
         do.

VIII. Look at the results which come from following either of the two
   ways.
   A. When men follow God's way, men are blessed - Deut. 11:26-27
      1. When we abide in the doctrine of Christ we have fellowship
         with God - 2 John 9
   B. Jeroboam brought a great curse upon himself and the people as
      result of changing God's way. 1 Kings 12:30; 13:33-34; 1 Kings
      14:10-11 - some of the harshest words ever spoken.
      1. God's curse rests on all those who would change the Lord's
         way today - Gal. 1:6-9
   C. The way of Jeroboam is a good example of how denominations
      are founded and stay in existence. People blindly follow an
      established religion for centuries.
      1. There were nineteen kings who succeeded Jeroboam in the
         Northern kingdom. All were bad and followed in the ways of
         Jeroboam. I Kings 15:34; 16:26; 2 Kings 3:3; 10:29; 13:6;
         14:24; 15:9; 17:22-23.
      2. Jeroboam's false religion even reached to the time of Christ
         with the Samaritans - John 4:20. 

Concl.
   A. What if you had lived back Jeroboam's time? Would you have
      followed in Jeroboam's religion?
      1. What would have been necessary to escape it? 2 Chron.
         11:13-14
   B. God disapproves of departures from His way today. 
      1. Let us keep our religion pure.
      2. Let us courageously follow the things of faith and practice
         which are from God's Word, but let us boldly reject all the
         things which have been introduced by man.

Chart:
Jeroboam & His Human Religion - 1 Kings 12:25-33 

FUNCTIONS GOD'S WAY JEROBOAM'S WAY
1. Object of Worship God - Ex. 20:3-5; Matt. 4:10 Calves - vs. 28
2. Place Jerusalem - Deut. 12:10-11 Dan & Bethel - vs. 29
3. Priests Levites - Num. 3:5-13 Not Levites - vs. 31
4. Feast 7th Mo. 15th Day - Lev. 23:33-34 8th Mo. 15th Day - vs. 32
5. Origin God's Word - Ex. 25:8-9,40 Human Heart - vs. 26,33
6. Purpose Honors God - Mal. 1:6; Isa. 66:2 Selfish Ends - vs. 27-29
7. Benefits Commands Good - Deut. 12:28 Convenience - vs. 28-29
8. Results God's Blessings - Deut. 11:26-27 Sin & God's Curse - vs. 30