The Anatomy of Apostasy

Mark Dunagan
01/01/11 - N/A

The Anatomy of Apostasy

The first ten chapters of First Kings Solomon is flying high spiritually. Then comes chapter 11.  The first verse says, “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women” (1:1).  The problem with these “foreign” women is that they came from the nations that God had told Israel not associate with and especially not to marry (11:2; Deuteronomy 7:1-4).  Nothing in verses 1-4 says that Solomon started worshipping the gods of these wives—however in verse 4  we see the slow accumulation of neglecting God’s commands, “It came about when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been”.   Solomon's unfaithfulness was gradual. It took years to see the full effects of “the creeping pace of accumulated compromises, the fruit of a conscience de-sensitized” ( 1 Kings, David Ralph Davis, p. 113).   Consider that Solomon did not officially renounce God, he simply was no longer devoted to Him.  God now had to “share” Solomon’s heart with idols. Many people in our modern times would consider Solomon to be very opened-minded, exploring other religious traditions, creating a dialogue with other cultures, broadening his horizons, and investing in alternative forms of spirituality.  Yet God calls Solomon's actions “evil” (11:6).  Verse 9 reveals that Solomon had actually had two interactions with God, and yet Solomon did not allow these unique experiences to prevent him from departing from God.  Even the “most privileged and intimate experiences with God do not guarantee immunity from infidelity” (Davis p. 115). What does? Choosing to love God more than foreign women, or anything else.

The Consequence: 11:11-13

This chapter says nothing about Solomon’s politics or views of civil government.  What will bring down Solomon’s Empire is not necessarily an unwise political move, but simple unfaithfulness to the true God.  Sin will unravel whatever we have built.  My first impression of verse 12 is that it seems unfair for this kingdom split to be delayed until the time of Solomon’s son.  Yet when one reads further and learn more about Rehoboam and his decision to forsake wise counsel (1 Kings 12:6-11), obviously Rehoboam must share the blame for this division along with his father Solomon. He certainly did not help matters any.  Rehoboam then proceeded to raise an army to bring the departing tribes into submission, yet God intervened and made it clear that the two kingdom arrangement was His will on the matter (12:21-23).  At this point everyone in Israel seems to get this message (12:23 “and to all the house of Israel”).  God has made it clear that the northern kingdom is a legitimate kingdom.  

Jeroboam

Midway through chapter 11, God tells us that while Solomon was living there were consequences to his unfaithfulness.  God raised up various adversaries, some from the most unlikely situations (11:17), including Jeroboam, the son of a widow (11:26).  God proceeds to inform Jeroboam about: 1.  Why the kingdom is going to be split (11:33-idol worship).  2. What Solomon’s descendants will have (11:32,34).  3.  The 10 tribes he will be given (11:35), and the condition for a long and enduring dynasty — his own faithfulness to God (11:38).  Nothing complicated here, only very straightforward information, and very reassuring promises.  Simply put: act like David, be a king like David was, have your heart completely devoted to Me and all will go well (11:38).  In a sense, we are given a very similar promise (Matthew 6:33-34).  

The Connection Between Fear and Apostasy

“And Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom will return to the house of David.  If this people go up of 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” (12:26).

These chapters say quite a bit about what is in a person’s heart.  Solomon’s heart was turned away (11:2,3,9), it was no longer wholly devoted to God (11:4), and now in a similar way, Jeroboam starts talking to himself.  There is nothing wrong about talking to yourself, what matters is the truthfulness and integrity of what you are discussing with yourself.   Are you seeking to convince yourself that God is right, or that God cannot be trusted?

Applications

• Jeroboam’s problem was not that faithfulness was dull or boring, rather, it was unnerving to his shallow convictions.  He already had been given a clear promise from God that as long as he was faithful, he would have an enduring kingdom (11:38).  But this wasn’t enough for him.
• “Jeroboam turns away from orthodoxy, not because it is no longer true but because it is no longer useful.  He does not find it false, but fearful.  He must hold on to ‘his kingdom’, and, since he cannot simply trust God’s word for that, he must make himself secure.  That is the stimulus here for false religion.  If you cannot trust god, you will use religion.  In Jeroboam’s case, what matters is not truth but position—his position” (Davis p. 139).
• Thus, anytime we find that the promises in Scripture are not enough for us, we are unwittingly becoming a disciple of Jeroboam who essentially says, “God’s way is not going to work, I must plan for my own security, and calculating for my own advancement  is far more important to me than commitment”.
• It is easy for preachers to fall into Jeroboam-like thinking.  Instead of concentrating on what the Bible says, such as preaching the word faithfully (2 Timothy 4:2), and being a godly person (1 Timothy 4:12), preachers can fall into the trap of trying to market themselves instead of adorning the gospel, or be what the culture wants to them be in order to achieve some sort of popularity or prestige or lucrative advantage.
• Churches can fall into similar thinking.  There are too many people publically announcing to God fearing, Bible honoring churches that they will not be able to survive in the new century, that they must change and go with the culture in order to remain relevant or attract an audience.  Yet God has already told us that culture is temporary (1 Peter 1:23-25; 1 John 2:17 “and the world is passes away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever”) and the church that Jesus founded will not (Hebrews 12:28). Loving God means trusting His ways to accomplish His purposes.
• Christians can become fearful like Jeroboam.  The fear of being unpopular, the fear of being viewed as backward or as a “hater”.  Let's determine to stand firm and strong for truth, and outlive the accusation of "hater" through a life spent in loving service.

Out of the Strategy Room: 12:28

Jeroboam “consulted” and sadly no one told him to “trust God”.  Are you ever amazed by the following some groups have who blatantly teach things that are the direct opposite of what the Bible says?  I stand amazed that people would believe one is saved by faith only, then a verse says the exact opposite (James 2:24).  Or that anyone would listen to someone who says that baptism does not save us, when there is a verse that says, “baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21).  In this text we have another example of people flocking to something that is obviously wrong.  Out of Jeroboam’s “consultation” (I hope he didn’t have to pay anyone for their advice)—he came out with two golden calves that would represent God!  Yet the last time this type of worship had been introduced among the Israelites the consequences had been horrible (Exodus 32).  Remember, Jeroboam was not ignorant about the consequences of idol worship (11:33).  If idol worship had brought down Solomon’s Empire, why did Jeroboam think it would preserve his kingdom?  And did no one in Israel remember their past?  Given history, the very presence of golden calves should have raised quite the red flag.  

Application

This is one reason why a study of Biblical history is so essential for all Christians (1 Corinthians 10:12).  What God thinks about changes to His law is no mystery (Proverbs 30:5-6), neither is it a mystery how God feels about worship that lacks Bible authority (Leviticus 10:1-2).  We have equally seen what has happened to many denominations as they continue to depart further and further away from the Bible, and sadly, we have even seen the steep path of departure among our liberal brethren.  We have passage after passage that warns about the constant peril of  apostasy (Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1ff). Yet in spite of all this clear evidence, like Jeroboam, we somehow think that “things will turn out different in our situation”.  

“Behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt”: 12:28

Observe how apostasy is often “marketed”.  The same technique was used in Exodus 32:4.  In fact, often error will argue that it isn’t error, rather it is still standing with the truth, as in Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16:3).  “Jeroboam may be suggesting that this bull-assisted worship is not so wild, not so off the wall, as Israel might think.  He is rather merely picking up on a different ‘tradition, which was held in the past but, sadly, buried from view…time was, he could suggest, when the stream of faith in Israel was broader and more inclusive, when matters of faith and faithfulness were not construed so narrowly” (Davis p. 140).  Like Solomon with his wives and their gods, Jeroboam appears to have successfully convinced himself that he is still serving the true God.

“It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem”: 12:28

Is true worship is no longer convenient? Does it no longer “work” for our time?  Jeroboam's solution was to place one of the idols way up north in the city of Dan—so the people could conveniently go there to worship!  (12:30)  It is interesting how an apostasy might start from the argument that something biblical is no longer convenient, or that it is too hard, and then creates a situation or list of demands that is often far more inconvenient and difficult. What liberation we are offered from the endless demands of manmade religion when we submit ourselves to the merciful and wise leadership of our God.

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017

www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net