"Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them."
(I choose to put this post in the section about current events, because this has happened over and over again...and just because 2 Kings was written quite a few years ago does not make the sins of Jeroboam irrelevant.)
Let's start our story with Moses and the exodous. After wandering in the desert, the children of isreal finaly were able to claim the land that GOD had given them. GOD had his rules like the "big ten" and also the tempel was to be in Jerselum. Oh yeah and also GOD was the KING of isreal (know as a theoacracy) anyway the people started looking around at other nations that were living by them, and they were like "Yeah GOD you ok...but we want a king" Thats when Saul comes on the scene, and then David, and then Solomon. Then the nation of Isreal had like a cival war, and the kingdom was pulled into two parts.
Remember how GOD said the tempel was to be in Jerusalem? Well that was located in the "southern kingdom" and the "southern kingdom" was ruled by Rehaboam the son of Solomon, and the "northern kingdom" did not have the tempel and was ruled by Jeroboam.
Rehaboam was the rightful king, but Jeroboam felt that he should be in control. Jeroboam did not want the isrealites that were living in the "northern kingdom" to turn against him. So he did something that was very evil. He told the "northern isrealit tribe" that there was not a lot of point in traveling to Jerusalem and worshiping GOD there. But he did not just leave it there he set up two more false tmepels, and instituted the priesthood that he thought was best.
Let me break it down for you, he did not do something totally diffrent than what GOD had set up...the system that Jeroboam set up looked very similar to the system that GOD had set up. One of the most cleverly designed lies will contain about 99.5% truth. I know there are alot of difrent denominations out there, and so there are numerous messages about how to be the best christian that you can be.
But always do your own homework. So when you listen to a preacher say something take it as a suggestion. But then open GOD's personal LOVE letter to you, and see for yourself what the KING is saying.
Matthew 22:36-40
36 �Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?�
37 Jesus replied: ��Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: �Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.�
(all the law and the prophets are supported by these two commands, so you would proably do pretty good if these two comands were the foundation of your belief system)
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
It is very clear that we are living in the last days. We can see this from the lifestyles of "Preachers of L.A." show. Many are peddling the prosperity gospel and cheap grace. The danger lies from within the church and from without in concert with the devil, world and the flesh. Watch and pray.
