The Story Continues

Relative to my post yesterday, the divided kingdom's stories continue...

In Rehoboam, there seemed to be at least some willingness to hear God. 

Jeroboam, on the other hand, ran wildly away form God.

As far as the narrative goes in today's One Year Chronological Bible goes, that little bit of willingness to obey God in Rehoboam actually paid off eventually in Asa's documented good reign. However, even Asa did not destroy the pagan shrines.

It was those pagan shrines that represented some bad stuff. They represented the pagan ways of the people who inhabited all of Canaan Israel arrived and took the land. Those inhabitants worshiped Molech and Ashtoreth - both very sexually deviant religions (they even had temple prostitutes). And, although Asa was responsible for the people returning to God, those shrines were left standing as a constant reminder, a persistent wooing, if you will, of a deprived alternate to the Lord God.

Meanwhile, Jeroboam and his successors Nadab and then Baasha continued in full rebellion against God. 

The thing that really stands out to me is Judah's story today, because our modern church seems, at least today, most like Judah. There is some good there, but there is also a "holding on" to things that are just wrong. That "holding on" to those "evil shrines" is going to have to be dealt with one way or the other. Will Judah deal with it?

The Story Continues!

Father, help me to remain focused on the two kingdoms' progression in time over the next days' readings. Help me to see the similarities to us (the church) today. Help me to learn the lessons You have for me and for me to share.