Too Difficult (Bulletin Article for May 6)
When Jeroboam became king of Israel, he realized he had a problem. He wondered how he could keep the people loyal to him once they returned to Jerusalem (in Judah) for worship. In First Kings 12:27 he wondered, “If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
His solution was quite simple, but terrible. He sinfully changed the worship of God and made it more convenient. Instead of traveling all the way to Jerusalem, Jeroboam told his constituents to just go to Dan or Bethel. After all, Jerusalem was quite a distance away and the way was difficult (cf. verse 28).
But Jeroboam didn’t stop there. He also changed the priesthood from the exclusivity of the tribe of Levi to allowing any tribe to provide priests (verse 31), and changed the spiritual feast days (verse 32).
Of course, Jeroboam also changed the object of worship. Instead of praising and serving the God of heaven, Jeroboam set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel and told the people that these were the gods who led them from Egyptian bondage (verse 28-29).
Why did Jeroboam do all this? For two reasons: pride and fear. Those two things are not necessarily exclusive. Jeroboam had power, but was afraid of losing that power, so he conveniently changed things to keep himself in power.
But, besides his “solution” being corrupt, so was his methodology. He used religion as a way to his own glory, but he also attacked—not the worship of God—but God Himself!
God has set up the way He wanted to be worshiped in the Law of Moses. Yes it was difficult, but it was what God wanted. Why change it?
Even today, there are many who claim that what we do is “too difficult.” Every Sunday? Sing only? Submit to elders? Not allow women to lead prayers in mixed company? To many, these are “too harsh.” So, what is their solution? Keep people from going back to Jerusalem. They have become modern-day “Jeroboams.” It may be difficult, but it’s what God wants. Let’s worship His way; not ours.
