1 Kings 12

To contemn God is worse than to rebel. The tribes of Israel rebelled against Rehoboam because he made their yoke heavier (1 Kings 12:16). But to contemn God is worse, it is to slight him; to contemn God is to put a scorn upon him, and affront him to his face, and an affront will…

Besides, Josephus who lived 400 years before him makes no mention of any such thing. And it is probable that the ruins which Hierome saw were those of the palace of Jeroboam, who there fixed the seat of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 12:25), as king of the place where he obtaine…

Times of sacred worship are the Lords, no less than the things of it. Our own stated times are no less disapproved by him, than any other parts of sacred worship of our own finding out (1 Kings 12:32, 33). And as this time of the entrance of the High Priest into the most Holy Pl…

With our temporal calamities have we not some increase of spiritual privileges? As in the wilderness they had God's presence, though they had a tedious passage of it; the free use of ordinances will countervail all public burdens, some suppose that Solomon in that (Ecclesiastes…

For nothing can be holy to the Lord, which is not made holy by the Lord. It was a part of the Pharisees' superstition to fast twice a week (Luke 18:12), and it was the brand set upon Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:33), that he ordained a feast to the children of Israel, upon the fifteenth…

And in like manner Micah's mother, she dedicated the silver to Jehovah to make a graven image (Judges 17:3), and Micah concludes, ver. last, that now Jehovah would do him good. Yes, Jeroboam himself, when he set up his calves at Dan and Bethel, he proclaims, Behold your Gods O I…

All divine worship is either moral — whether natural or instituted according to God's good pleasure by Himself — and among the apostates, arbitrary worship takes the place of the instituted. The Holy Spirit teaches us this in the example of Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:31-33), who in pe…

For how greatly the ancient deeds of their fathers — whether rightly or wrongly done — were held in reverence among that people is attested by what is recorded concerning the bronze serpent likewise fashioned in the wilderness, and the ephod of Gideon, and other such things. The…

From hence cometh it, that we fear not in greatest dangers (2 Kings 6:16; Psalm 3:7; Psalm 27:3); that in the time of affliction, we are patient (Proverbs 20:22; Hebrews 10:33); without all murmuring to hold our peace (Psalm 39:10); receiving them as from a father (Job 1:21; Psa…

And this was fourfold: First, From the Lot of Simeon falling within its lot in the first inheritance of the Land (Joshua 19:1), from where that Tribe, though still keeping its distinct genealogy, was reckoned to Judah, and became one people with them. Secondly, By the cleaving o…

Either enemies or believers, in so far as they are carnal or apt to mistake a spiritual state; so must the world say of Noah, who was just in his time, sure the world thought him too just; he'll build an Ark, and he'll have all the world to be drowned but himself and his house.…

The magistracy is a higher calling, which is more subject to temptations, from the different humors of men who are to be governed: nothing will carry a man through it, but this holy courage and dependence on God. The fear of man brought a snare to Jeroboam, that he perverted the…

vide Brisson. page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, with the eighteenth. So Jeroboam would have his calves worshipped (1 Kings 12:32). And yet all that complied with him therein, are charged for walking so willingly after the commandment (Hosea 5:11).

They think old men fools, but old men know that they are fools. Their conceitedness puffs them up, and makes them incapable of instruction, and very unteachable ([reconstructed: Rehoboam] and his young counselors may save us the labor of instancing in any others, 1 Kings 12), an…

Secondly, the Idolatry removed and punished by the Jewish Kings and Magistrates, was as well of worshipping the true God in a false manner, as of those who worshipped false gods, the gods of the Nations, and were Apostates from the true God to other gods, as is evident by the in…

We must distinguish between the intent of the threatener, and the intent and sense of the threatening. Law-threatenings may be well expounded, by the execution of them, upon persons, against whom they are denounced: As, (1 Kings 11:30) compared with (1 Kings 12:15-16). Ten Tribe…

And as he had in the Decalogue rejected any Worship not of his own appointment as such (Exodus 20:4, 5), so he made it afterwards the Rule of his acceptation of that People and what they did, or his refusal of them and it; whether it was by him commanded or no. So in particular,…

And how severely were the Israelites punished, for their worshipping of the golden calf (Exodus 32)? And for worshipping the calves, which Jeroboam set up at Dan, and Bethel, all know (1 Kings 12:28). (5) Because, the law of God, is the perfect rule and standard of good works; t…

(6) Because, though the Israelites worshipped the true God, by an image (for Aaron built an altar, and made proclamation, and said, tomorrow is a feast to the Lord) yet are they accused of the sin of idolatry, and for that cause severely punished (Exodus 32:21, 27, 35). (7) Beca…