2 Chronicles 11:14,15
“For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the LORD. He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and the calves which he had made.”
Jeroboam was the king of the northern ten tribes. He seemed to have much going for him. However this was a bad move. I understand it, but it’s wrong. Their beliefs were all based in the south. The peoples thoughts would continue to go south, so the king removed the Levites. He set up his own high places and established his own priests. This was in violation of their faith. This was a bad start.
While it made sense as a king we learn that what’s expedient isn’t always right. It reminds me of Proverbs 3:5,6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
Jeroboam was following worldly wisdom. I can hear the devil’s hiss. The proverbs verse says we aren’t to lean on our own understanding or that of the world. When Jesus started His ministry the Spirit led Him out in the wilderness. He was there for forty days. While at a needy state the devil tempted Him. While hungry the devil sought to break His fast, while nervous about the cross he sought to negotiate a different way, while vulnerable He was tempted to test God. Those are all attacks on His faith.
These tests that Jesus encountered are the same ones we will. They can be seen in I John 2:16, “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.” The desires of the flesh was Jesus being tested with hunger. Other areas that are included in this sin are over eating, drinking, sex outside of the proper context, and so on. The desire of the eyes was Jesus’ temptation to go around the cross. Satan was offering the kingdoms of the world. He may have magically given Him a slide show. It was quite a temptation to give Jesus the world bypassing the painful cross. This sin is addressed in the commandment again coveting. This is the craving we get to obtain things. Jesus wants to be Lord over that part of us. The last temptation was the pride of life. This temptation was satan challenging Jesus to leap off the temple. It was a dare. That challenges our pride. Jesus responded with scripture. “Thou shall not tempt the Lord, thy God.” We aren’t to care what others think of us. God will give us honor, we aren’t to seek it ourselves.
Our old nature uses ungodly input. Our input is from the Lord. Go to the scriptures. Part of being a christian is to learn to ignore the ungodly inputs. It’s wonderful to do so. The ungodly inputs creat anxiety and stress. God’s input gives rest.
Lord, thank You for this new way. Such a blessing. Help us to stay on Your road.