Observation: The great sin of Jeroboam is this, setting up idols designed to explicitly prevent the worship of the Lord. This goes beyond any act of simply improper worship or the violation of a law. Rather, this was Jeroboam explicitly decided that he would have the people deny the Lord and turn away from Yahweh. He created the calves, rejected the Lord's temple, renounced for Israel any affiliation with Yahweh, and even set up new celebrations ... even therefore denying simple and joyful celebrations of the Lord.
Jeroboam rejected everything about the Lord, even to the extent that it was less pleasant and joyful for his own people. He replaced joyful celebrations in a beautiful city in order to honor Yahweh, with meaningless travel to nowhere places to look at statues, and maybe hold a pointless party. And it would be this "trade" that would be the great sin that destroyed Israel.
Application: How true it is that, when sin is at its greatest, it is actually more burdensome and difficult than actually not sinning. Great sin harms ourselves more than not committing the sin would have. It often introduces hardship and anguish and guilt and illness upon the one who sins, let alone any victims.
I know that, even when obedience to the Lord is difficult, that sinning is actually more difficult in the long run. I would prefer to have an easier life, and that would be a life obeying the Lord. I certainly reject the idol worship of this world. I would prefer the better life, where the burden is light.
Prayer: Lord, may I keep your laws and precepts in my heart, and day and day be better at complying with your ways. I would prefer to reject sin, and thus not incur the associated hardships. Please allow me to take your hand and walk in your ways today. Amen.
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