The Repercussions Of Ungodly Leadership
"The LORD will raise up for Himself a king over Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam. Even now this is beginning to happen. And the LORD will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed swaying in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land that He gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they aroused the LORD's anger by making Asherah poles. And He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit."
. . . The other events of Jeroboam's reign, his wars and how he ruled, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel. He reigned for twenty-two years and then rested with his ancestors . . . I Kings 14:14-20
. . . The other events of Jeroboam's reign, his wars and how he ruled, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel. He reigned for twenty-two years and then rested with his ancestors . . . I Kings 14:14-20
Israel under David was focused on serving God loyally. David laid a godly foundation for the nation and the result was one of blessings and prosperity. God was so pleased with the loyalty of David that He promised to build him an enduring legacy. This promise continued when David's son, Solomon, took over the kingship after the death of David. God assured Solomon that if he showed the same loyalty to Him as his father David had done, the dynasty of kingship in their lineage would never be broken. God prospered Solomon and made him the richest and wisest king who ever lived.
Solomon, however, loved many foreign women and in his old age, his wives turned his heart after other gods. God spoke to him but he did not listen. The result was catastrophic. The kingdom was divided into two and the once strong and prosperous nation was set on a path of decline.
Jeroboam, who became the ruler of the larger portion of the divided kingdom, also turned his back on God. He actively promoted the worship of other gods purposely to keep Israel away from serving the only true God. Again, this ungodliness resulted in devastation for Israel. God's words of judgment were: ". . . You have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam . . . and the LORD will . . . uproot Israel from the good land that He gave to their ancestors . . . and He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and caused Israel to commit."
The bad and ungodly leadership of Jeroboam resulted in generations of pain for citizens of Israel yet to be born.
Leadership carries with it enormous responsibility. When ungodly choices are made by leadership, it affects the destiny of entire nations and even the world at large. That is why the Bible enjoins us to pray for those in authority. This a spiritual responsibility that must not be taken lightly because the repercussions of ungodly leadership can be enormously destructive.
Solomon, however, loved many foreign women and in his old age, his wives turned his heart after other gods. God spoke to him but he did not listen. The result was catastrophic. The kingdom was divided into two and the once strong and prosperous nation was set on a path of decline.
Jeroboam, who became the ruler of the larger portion of the divided kingdom, also turned his back on God. He actively promoted the worship of other gods purposely to keep Israel away from serving the only true God. Again, this ungodliness resulted in devastation for Israel. God's words of judgment were: ". . . You have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam . . . and the LORD will . . . uproot Israel from the good land that He gave to their ancestors . . . and He will give Israel up because of the sins Jeroboam has committed and caused Israel to commit."
The bad and ungodly leadership of Jeroboam resulted in generations of pain for citizens of Israel yet to be born.
Leadership carries with it enormous responsibility. When ungodly choices are made by leadership, it affects the destiny of entire nations and even the world at large. That is why the Bible enjoins us to pray for those in authority. This a spiritual responsibility that must not be taken lightly because the repercussions of ungodly leadership can be enormously destructive.
Prayer: Lord, I pray for those in leadership roles in our nation today. I pray that you will guide them to make decisions that will ensure the peace and prosperity of all. Amen