QT 28 Dec 10

1 Kings 13:33-34 (NIV) Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. 34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.

NOTE: Jeroboam is guilty of a number of sins. The foremost was the creation of the two idols on high places. The second is appointing priests incorrectly. At the time, they had to be members of the Levites. One could not just choose to be a priest; they could choose to be a teacher of the law provided they are recognized by two other teachers of the law. By allowing anyone to be a priest, Jeroboam takes the position away from being a sacred duty to a common job. When the position was maintained within a tribe, the tribe self-assessed itself. Now, there is no history of correct activity, but any idea or practice can be added into the worship. And the worship is no longer valid anyway, since it is a worship of idols and demons. To a certain extent, Solomon is also guilty in this result. His wives and his choices at the end confused the people. Jeroboam's leadership in this regard is even worse and he basically throws standards, and the checks and balances out the window for the purpose of power.

We are not under the law, and in fact, we are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. We have the temple of God within us, and the Spirit of God resides in each believer. In that sense, little of the example of Jeroboam applies. Obviously, we cannot make idols or worship idols. Our idols and our worship of them are much more sophisticated. Rather than an idol on the wall, our homes and possessions have become for many their idol. And like, Jeroboam, many allow any old idea to take up residence in their mind regarding God and worship, rather than taking the thought or idea up against the standard given to us in the word of God. Not all ideas are equal, or even good, despite how they sound. God has given us his word, a mind to think, and the His Spirit within us to discern truth. But, we need to use them! Just having them, does us no good if they are not utilized.

QT 22 Dec 10

1 Kings 12:26-33 (NIV) Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 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."

28 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, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.

31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

NOTE: When it is all about me, the decisions made are usually not good ones. Even worse, Jeroboam repeats the worse sin of Israel (the golden calf) that occurred during the Exodus. For that sin, God was ready to abandon his people, except for the pleading of Moses. And even then, it appears that the tabernacle remained outside of the main camp, instead of in the middle. Now Jeroboam doubles down on the sin by creating two golden calves on opposite ends of the nation. Not only is God reduced to an image, but the one God is now two gods. And he creates a new festival for the eight month. Interestingly, the eight month had no festivals, the festivals occurred on the first, third, and seventh month. So, the eight month could properly be termed the month of the golden calf, and rebellion to doing it God's way. Lord, protect me from the sin of Jeroboam, the sin of making it all about me.

QT 20 Dec 10

1 Kings 12:6-11 (NIV) Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked.

7 They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants."

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?"

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter'-tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'"

NOTE: I don't think the issue is that Rehoboam listened to younger, less wise advice than older, mature wisdom. I think Rehoboam knew what he wanted and he rejected those who did not give him the answer he wanted. He went to the elders first, and would have probably taken their advice if it had been advice he wanted. To loosen the load on the people would have meant a change in income level for Rehoboam. He was not willing to reduce his standard of living. He wasn't interested in serving people but in being served. And finally, he was young and foolish. Quite a contrast for having the wisest father the world would ever know. Your family does not determine your direction. Your desires, your sin, your choices make you into the person you are. We like to blame others for faulty counsel or a bad environment, but really we are covering up our own choices that are to blame.

QT 14 Dec 10

Eph 6:17-18 Take ... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

NOTE: Five times the Spirit is mentioned, in regards to the Holy Spirit, in the first three chapters of Ephesians. If I shorten these two verses down, I get, "take the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, and pray in the Spirit." As others have mentioned, this is the only offensive weapon, but there is no action prescribed for its use other than praying. And since the author clearly references God's word, the completing thought is that our prayers should be based on promises in the Word of God. As an application, I am going to go back to using "Face to Face" for my prayer times.

QT 1 Dec 10

Eph 6:14-18 (NIV) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

NOTE: Next up is the shield of faith, which is used to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. The word for shield, thureos, is used only here. It is a large, door shaped, shield. Faith, pisteoos, is mentioned in 1:15 "… heard of you faith …," 2:8 "… saved through faith; …," 3:12 "… we have boldness and access with confidence by faith …," and 3:16 "… that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; …" The last passage suggests that faith is required to understand the dimensions of Christ's love for us, and that it is beyond understanding. Eph 4:27 warns against the devil gaining a foothold, specifically referring to anger that continues. Finally, fiery, Greek word puroo, is from a root word meaning to kindle or inflame (with anger, grief, or lust).

What does this all mean? Satan is going to attack us. He will attack our assurance of salvation, our belief in God's great love for us, and our relationship problems. He wants to make mountains out of molehills, and forest fires out of sparks. We are called to extinguish these attacks by faith. God loves us despite our struggles and sins. God forgives us over and over again. What if God only forgave us 7 times or even 7 times 70 times? In many areas we would be out of forgiveness, even using the 490 figure. We need to have faith in his love for us, and emulate in our relationship with others. The shield of faith reminds us of our own worthiness, and our hope in our salvation.

QT 29 Nov 10

Eph 6:14-18 (NIV) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

NOTE: Continuing the discussion on the armor of God: the next armor item is shoes, or more properly, feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Peace is the major message of chapter two -- peace between Gentile and Jew, and peace with God. Readiness, the Greek word hetoimasia, appears only here in the NT. It could also be translated preparation. We need to prepare ourselves to go forth (ie, the feet) and verbally share the message (gospel) of peace to a world desperately need of peace. One of the advantages of shoes is that we can travel far, and that we stay busy. Shoeless-ness restricts our range and activity. God wants us sharing our faith, and -- being ready to share our faith to anyone who calls us to account for the hope that is within us.