What is it about Jeroboam that makes us want to criticize him? He stood up for the rights of Israelites in the face of the despotic king Rehoboam. He set up opportunities for the people of Israel to worship. What did he do wrong, that caused Israel to sin?
Often we become fixated on the golden calves. So Jeroboam inspired idolatry. Is that all he did? Let's keep looking. Maybe some of what Jeroboam does fits problems we have in our modern Christian organizations.
First, Jeroboam was concerned that the people would leave their loyalty to him and turn it to Rehoboam if they followed the patterns of worship which God had ordained, which their parents and grandparents had followed, in going to Jerusalem to make sacrifice. Out of a concern that he would lose his popularity, Jeroboam set up an alternative system of worship. How often have we heard of people who don't want to "do church" in an old-fashioned way, that they want to hold people's interest in their particular location and group? They set up patterns of worship which are self-consciously different from those which people have experienced throughout history, just like Jeroboam.
Second, Jeroboam made the golden calves. He wanted to make some symbol of prosperity and provision which the people would understand. Do we attempt to make worship more comprehensible, approachable, and "relevant" rather than teaching our people what God has ordained?
Third, Jeroboam selected new places to worship. In placing the temple at Jerusalem God was ordaining a particular place and manner of worship. Jeroboam had no right to set up an alternative. God ordains worship according to his own patterns. He is specially present for his people when they worship according to the pattern he has established. This change of venue was tantamount to a change of God's appointed manner of worship. It's like someone today deciding that we would use the Koran for our readings, baptize people in bubbles, and drink coffee and eat cookies as communion. That's setting something up that God has not appointed. It denies what our Lord has given us.
Fourth, Jeroboam appointed priests from people who were not authorized to be priests. God gave the Aaronic priesthood for a specific prophetic purpose. Again, Jeroboam was acting in his own interest and was putting aside God's command to favor his own. This is similar to the practice in the modern church of having women serve as elders. God has appointed men to be elders. No explanation necessary. It's what God appointed. We don't have permission to change God's commands.
Fifth, Jeroboam appointed new feasts and times for sacrifices. Again, God appointed the feasts and times he desired. It all fits into a prophetic framework. What Jeroboam did does not fit into that pattern.
May we not be like Jeroboam. May we ever follow what God has appointed.
No comments:
Post a Comment