From Gold To Bronze
Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah . . .
Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up His jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.
So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the LORD's temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom. I Kings 14:21-28
Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up His jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made.
So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the LORD's temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom. I Kings 14:21-28
The alternative to true divine blessings are simply pathetic.
When Israel walked faithfully with God, God led them in battle and defeated their enemies time and again. The nation became prosperous and their King, Solomon, gained international renown. The nation was so wealthy that silver became of little value and as common as stones in the streets of Jerusalem. Solomon made large gold shields and placed them in the temple of God. God smiled on Israel and the nation prospered.
However, when Israel turned its back on God, their fortunes started waning. They became easy prey for their enemies and their wealth was plundered. The lofty standard of the nation fell from gold to bronze. The nation became nothing but a shadow of its former glory.
That is exactly what the enemy offers to us in the long run when we are enticed and eventually seduced by him to turn our backs on God. He replaces our lofty gold standard with a debased standard of bronze. Satan's goal is to replace our blessings of gold with bronze.
Let's remain sober and vigilant for this adversary of ours only comes to steal, kill and destroy.
When given the chance, he will replace our gold with bronze! Don't give him the opportunity!
When Israel walked faithfully with God, God led them in battle and defeated their enemies time and again. The nation became prosperous and their King, Solomon, gained international renown. The nation was so wealthy that silver became of little value and as common as stones in the streets of Jerusalem. Solomon made large gold shields and placed them in the temple of God. God smiled on Israel and the nation prospered.
However, when Israel turned its back on God, their fortunes started waning. They became easy prey for their enemies and their wealth was plundered. The lofty standard of the nation fell from gold to bronze. The nation became nothing but a shadow of its former glory.
That is exactly what the enemy offers to us in the long run when we are enticed and eventually seduced by him to turn our backs on God. He replaces our lofty gold standard with a debased standard of bronze. Satan's goal is to replace our blessings of gold with bronze.
Let's remain sober and vigilant for this adversary of ours only comes to steal, kill and destroy.
When given the chance, he will replace our gold with bronze! Don't give him the opportunity!
Prayer: Father, I know that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. Nothing he offers can ever compare with what you have for me. Please help me not to gravitate toward him in any shape, form or fashion. Amen.