1 Kings 16:7 Moreover, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Jehu…to Baasha and his house, because of all the evil he had done in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger by the things he did, becoming like the house of Jeroboam….
It seems that each king was worse than the one before. From what I can ascertain, the worship of idols instead of God was the biggest transgression with each king. And not only personal worship of idols but laws that led the country to worship them as well. Thank goodness we no longer have to worry about the worship of idols, right?
1 Kings 16:18-19 When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died, because of the sins he had committed, doing evil in the eyes of the LORD….
Hopefully, you recognized the sarcasm in that last question. While we don’t have to deal with idol worship in the way of the ancient Israelites, in many ways, I think idol worship has become much more insidious. Anything that interrupts our relationship with our Savior can be an idol. Money, power, fame, people, pursuits, these days there is no shortage of things that can come between us and God. Where and how we spend our money and our time can give us a good idea of where our priorities are. Jesus, help me stay focused on You only.
1 Kings 16:25 But Omri did evil in the eyes of the LORD and sinned more than all those before him.
Lord, Thank You for this day and this scripture. Thank You for the reminder that idols still exist today, and we need to guard our hearts and minds in You always. Draw us closer. Guard and guide us. Amen.
1 Kings 16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him.
Have a blessed day.
My faith, my life, my teaching–it's all a work in progress.