2 Kings 10: 31-36
29 However, as for the sins of Jeroboam the son of Neat, which he made Israel sin, from these Jehu did not depart, even the golden calves that were at Bethel and that were at Dan.
30 The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”
31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart; bhe did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.
After bringing such great reform to Israel you would think that no one would be more devoted to God than King Jehu. Alas, “It’s this one thing he did.
According to the text, the one thing that Jehu was guilty of was the “sins of Jeroboam”. As it is that’s not saying very, because on the surface it would appear that Jehu was being held accountable for Jeroboam’s sin. But, as we delve into the word today we will uncover the real sins and discover the full truth.
As we embark upon our quest, there are some questions that need to be answered.
Who was Jeroboam?
1 Kings 11:26-40 tells us the following; Jeroboam was the son of one of King Solomon’s servants and he was such a valiant warrior that Solomon appointed him as task master over the entire tribe of Joseph. As King Solomon became more wicked, the Lord sent word to Jeroboam through the prophet Ahijah that He would reign over ten tribes of Israel, while Judah would remain under the rule of Solomon’s house to honor the legacy of his father David. Once Solomon was made aware of the word of the Lord concerning Jeroboam, He tried to kill him, be he fled to Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died.
What sins did he commit?
Once King Solomon died, Jeroboam returned to Israel and word of the Lord was fulfilled like the prophet said. Although he had now become the king of Israel, with the banner of the Lord waving over him and the power of ten tribes obediently under his rule, the fear that was struck in his heart by Solomon was still ruling him.
We find evidence of this truth in 1 Kings 12:25-33.
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. And he went out from there and built
Penuel.
26 Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.
27 “If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
28 So the king 1consulted, and amade two golden bcalves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
29 He set aone in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.
30 Now athis thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.
31 And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi.
32 Jeroboam 1instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast which is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; thus he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made. And he stationed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 Then he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised in his own heart; and he instituted a feast for the sons of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense.
In essence, his sins where not trusting in the Lord’s word and letting fear cripple his judgment.
How did Jehu become guilty of Jeroboam’s sins?
When you compare the lives of Jeroboam and Jehu you find some shocking similarities;
They both came from very humble beginnings.
They both were great warriors.
They both assumed the throne without royal secession.
Finally, like his predecessor, Jehu was more concerned about his strategy than God’s sovereignty.
Now that we have uncover the sins which pledged these two men and many of us as well let us discover the truth of this matter that can be applied to our lives.
We must believe God’s word regardless of the contradictions we face.
Never allow our activity to get in the way of God’s sovereignty.
Know that God is more concerned with what you are to Him than what you do for Him.
