Recording:

Jeroboam's golden calves in Israel were evil in the eyes of the Lord, yet why did they attract successive kings to follow suit? Have the ideas recorded in biblical history disappeared, or do they still prevail, albeit disguised in modern garb? Listen to Pastor Liu's sharing, and you will discover that Jeroboam's ideas continue to ferment around us, not far from us.

• What things do you think people easily boast about?
• Do you envy the lives of celebrities? Why?
• From this chapter, what kind of life do you want to choose?

Be careful not to be deceived by things worth boasting about

King Jehoash of Israel greatly admired Jeroboam, even naming his son Jeroboam. This is hard to understand! Why would he worship a Jeroboam who did evil in the eyes of the Lord? Let us find the answer in the 《Bible》. As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his power—including his war against Amaziah king of Judah—are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? (《2 Kings》14:15) This Jehoash, king of Israel, who did evil in the eyes of the Lord, actually defeated Amaziah, king of Judah, who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord! Jeroboam II restored the territory of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. (《2 Kings》14:25) Jeroboam II was also very capable, being valiant in battle and winning some victories. In other words, although they both did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, there were things about them that were worth boasting about. So we conclude that these people who are evil in the eyes of the Lord are very clever and powerful in the eyes of men!

Look at people comprehensively! Be sure to walk the path of life!

I want to show everyone a very important fact: those who do evil in the eyes of the Lord still have many things to boast about. This is why Jehoash so identified with Jeroboam's ideas! It was precisely because he did some things in Jeroboam's way and achieved his goals that he worshiped Jeroboam so much. But is this way of thinking correct? Let's look at this generation: for example, Hitler, whose German army was invincible in the early stages of World War II. They conquered cities and territories, were very brave, and quickly defeated France, Poland, Russia, and other countries. Hitler's achievements were so brilliant, but his end was very miserable.

For example, you meet someone who tells you, Look, I'm not bad either. I can do big business and make a lot of money! Look at you, a believer, still a nobody, not living very well! It seems right, but you should be careful when you hear this. Such people cannot understand us with worldly eyes, but we can understand them with spiritual eyes. In fact, careful observation will reveal one thing: if we are not arrogant, but trust in God with humility and obedience, then we are generally good in all aspects of our lives; on the other hand, those who do not trust in God and do evil in the eyes of the Lord are good in some areas of their lives, but very bad in others. That is to say, although there are some things in their lives that are terrible, there are also some things that are worth boasting about.

We must all learn a lesson: when looking at a person, be sure to look comprehensively, not just at one aspect. Hitler won many battles, but it all came to nothing later; the Japanese army was also very powerful, but had to surrender at the end of World War II. Therefore, we cannot look at people based on just one or two things, nor can we only look at those things they are proud of. Today we must understand that those who do evil in the eyes of the Lord also have many things to be proud of. But everyone must know that this is not the way of life. Brothers and sisters, let us begin to open our eyes and not be deceived by Jeroboam's ideas! Because acting according to this way of thinking can also enable people to achieve extraordinary achievements and become very powerful people, but it cannot enable people to obtain life. We who trust in God do not pursue a few earth-shattering things in this world, but pursue what is right in the eyes of God! The things of this world will pass away. Do you want to obtain a few things to boast about and be proud of? Or do you want to obtain eternal, beautiful life from God?

This is what we can see in this chapter. If people are not careful and fix their eyes on these things that can be boasted about, they will be deceived! This is why Jeroboam's ideas have such a big market! To this day, we are still dealing with these things, because so many people's ways of thinking are basically Jeroboam's, so it is really quite difficult to evangelize to many people! When we interact with these people, we will find that they very much like to look for these things that are worth boasting about. They often talk about and analyze the news, military strategies and tactics, domestic and international situations, which are all Jeroboam's ways of thinking, and sound very impressive! But when their children take college entrance exams and face problems in their lives, they are at a loss and full of helplessness. In the end, they can only say, That's life. But it's not like that! If people live by God, there is nothing that cannot be turned around! Brothers and sisters, be sure to remember: if a person grasps those few things worth boasting about in his life, but lives in a very miserable situation, he needs to think carefully about whether he has grasped the wrong things? We Christians should determine to obtain eternal, glorious life in the presence of God, not a few things worth boasting about.

Scripture

2Ki 14:1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign.
2Ki 14:2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem.
2Ki 14:3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash.
2Ki 14:4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
2Ki 14:5 After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king.
2Ki 14:6 Yet he did not put the sons of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the LORD commanded: Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each will die for his own sin.
2Ki 14:7 He defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.
2Ki 14:8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, offering to meet him in battle.
2Ki 14:9 But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son in marriage.' Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.
2Ki 14:10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant. Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?
2Ki 14:11 Amaziah, however, would not heed. So Jehoash king of Israel went up to fight against Amaziah king of Judah at Beth Shemesh in Judah.
2Ki 14:12 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.
2Ki 14:13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Ahaziah, the son of Joash, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about four hundred cubits long.
2Ki 14:14 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.
2Ki 14:15 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his power—including his war against Amaziah king of Judah—are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
2Ki 14:16 Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.
2Ki 14:17 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel.
2Ki 14:18 As for the other events of Amaziah's reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
2Ki 14:19 They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.
2Ki 14:20 His body was brought back on horses and buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David.
2Ki 14:21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah.
2Ki 14:22 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.
2Ki 14:23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years.
2Ki 14:24 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
2Ki 14:25 He restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.
2Ki 14:26 The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel was suffering; there was no one left, slave or free, to help them.
2Ki 14:27 And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.
2Ki 14:28 As for the other events of Jeroboam's reign, all he did, and his military might, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?
2Ki 14:29 Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.