1 Kings 14: The Same Trap

"And [the people of] Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord. They provoked Him to jealousy more than all that their fathers had done, with their sins which they had committed. For they also built for

themselves high places [to worship idols] and sacred pillars and Asherim [for the goddess Asherah]. These were on every high hill and under every luxuriant tree."‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Even with all the Lord’s efforts to honor His word and give Israel a faithful king, the pattern didn’t change. It brings to mind Romans 3:10–12:"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

The heart of the issue hasn’t shifted much over time—it’s still the sin of self. Idolatry doesn’t always show up as a carved image or a pagan altar. More often, it’s giving in to what pleases "us/me" most, even when it competes with what pleases the Lord most.

Both Judah and Israel fell into the same trap: idolatry and self-worship. As sad as it is to admit, I see the same pull in my own heart, and even in my children. The temptation to elevate what we want over what God wants is still alive and well.