1 Kings 14:1-20: God Judges Idolatry

". . .but you have done evil above all who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods and metal images, provoking me to anger, and have cast me behind your back." 1 Kings 14:9

What's your favorite idol?

We all know that we ought to worship God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Simultaneously, we also know that we so often fail to do so. We were created to worship, and if we don't worship God, we will be worshiping something else. However, if we worship something else other than God, the Bible tells us that destruction is coming, as clearly seen in 1 Kings 14.

The first portion of 1 Kings 14 is all about God's judgment upon Jeroboam. We looked at Jeroboam yesterday and the great sin in which he brought to the Israelite people. We now see the fruit of his actions. However, let us first see exactly what God condemns Jeroboam for, that we might get a better idea of his sin that we might not commit it ourselves. Note in the verse quoted above that Jeroboam's sin was making other gods and therefore casting God behind his back. Jeroboam's sin was not that he totally forgot about God or that he purposely tried to squander him, but rather that other things took his attention, and therefore God got casted behind his back. God was still there, but he was in the background. Nevertheless, this sin brought some of the greatest judgment ever known to Israel.

Because of Jeroboam's great sin, Ahijah prophesied that Jeroboam's entire line would be cut off (that is, every male offspring of his would be killed so that he could not have a posterity). Furthermore, Ahijah prophesied that the entirety of Israel (that is, the 10 northern tribes*) would be overcome and scattered because of Jeroboam's sin. Idolatry reaps consequences, which is certainly seen in the life of Jeroboam.

So, what's your idol, and do you realize that it will bring you to destruction? What is that one thing that you often find yourself worshiping? Perhaps it's a couple things. Let me encourage you today: cast that idol behind your back, rather than casting the Lord behind your back. Beloved, one of those things will have to take the background. Make sure its your false idol that cannot deliver (see 1 Samuel 12) rather than Jesus. Great judgment will come upon you if you cast the Lord behind your back; let it not be so!

*Now that the nation of Israel has split, most biblical authors refer to "Israel" as the 10 northern tribes and "Judah" as the two southern tribes.