Politics Needs Religion, God's Answer Is Revival
In 1 Kings 12, Israel is divided. And its leaders seek to keep it that way. Sound familiar?
1 Kings 12:25–27 (ESV) Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
1 Kings 12:25–27 (ESV) Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
Jeroboam was promised 10 tribes from the word of the Lord. Yet he is saturated with insecurity. The passage above shows his lack of trust in God and a need to secure his own fame, glory, and kingdom. He saw the people going to the Temple in the land of Judah and came up with a plan to stop it:
1 Kings 12:28–32 (ESV) So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. 32 And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
1 Kings 12:28–32 (ESV) So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. 32 And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
Amazingly Jeroboam replicated the very sin of Israel in the wilderness when Moses delayed on the mountain with God. Only he makes two calves and sets them at opposite ends of the kingdom to make sure they are easily accessible to all. The thought here was to make worship convenient to keep the people from long pilgrimages to Jerusalem. He even modeled this idolatry after the worship in Jerusalem with imitation temples, false priests and feasts.
What's interesting about this passage is how Jeroboam uses this false religion of his own making to manipulate the people from getting near to the true Lord. Isn't this a case study for the political agenda of both right and left-sided politicians in America? To be sure, both sides claim to be Christians of one sort or another. They also use religion to denounce the other side and demonize those with opposing viewpoints. They also claim that their "version" of Christian faith is the true one, that their views are backed up by scriptures selectively chosen for their argument. The sad reality is, many Christians get caught up in these debates and focus on divisive arguments rather than the true worship of the Lord.
The second lesson we should take away from this passage is to notice how easy it is for political leaders to manipulate men with religion. If you are not careful, you will be caught up in the fervor of hot button arguments against your fellow man with no time left to love and serve them. Let us never forget that Jesus brought both the religious left and right together in shared animosity toward Him.
What's the answer to these issues so relevant to our age? Revival. In the next chapter, a prophet comes to predict that spiritual awakening led by a leader from the house of David will bring these divisions to an end and eliminate false religious pretense which covers for political motives.
1 Kings 13:1–2 (ESV) And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the LORD and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’ ”
What is the answer to those of us caught in the antagonistic division of our country right now? We need the true Son of David to come and smash our altars, destroy what we think is sacred and essential for us to gain power and cause us to surrender afresh to the rule of the Lord in our hearts.
I ask this to happen in my life, as well as yours.
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