I think all medical professions, including veterinary medicine, have to deal with the phenomenon of “Dr. Google”. I would like to start by saying I am not adverse to doing an online search to become more educated with things mechanical or a medical condition I would like to know more about. But when it comes down to dealing with a condition that has been plaguing you for a while, it is probably a good idea to seek the advice of someone you trust in the medical profession.
When I was in clinical veterinary practice, one of the more common complaints that people would seek my help with was ear problems in their dogs. It is extremely common for allergies (either environmental or food related) to be the root cause of chronic ear issues in dogs. The allergic response leads to inflammation and discharge in the ear creating pain. Over time the changes inside the ear makes it more likely for yeast or bacterial infections to develop. To properly address the problem, you need to also address that rood cause…the allergies. Now this can be a complicated process to undertake for many owners. That translates to it meaning that it is an expensive process. As a result, the advice I would give would often be ignored. In addition, the pet owner would seek multiple other opinions until they found an opinion they liked…i.e. a lower cost solution. Who paid for this in the end? Well, the dog of course in that over time the ear became so badly infected surgery would need to be done to remove the diseased ear tissue.
But we all do this at some point in our lives, don’t we? We “advice shop”. We ask multiple people their opinions on problems we may be facing until we found someone to tell us what we want to hear. And so it was in today’s first reading from 1st Kings.
A little background to refresh everyone’s memory about what was happening leading up to today’s reading. The tail end of Solomon’s reign as king over a united Israel and Judah did not go well. Solomon had been consorting with pagan women and drifted away from worshipping the true God. Gripped with power he had over taxed the 10 tribes in the northern kingdom of Israel. Because of this, God had warned Solomon that these 10 tribes would be taken away from Solomon’s son, the next king (Rehoboam), and given over to a new king in Israel (Jeroboam). Solomon’s response to this was to threaten the life of Jeroboam and cause him to flee to Egypt.
After Solomon’s death, and Rehoboam’s rise to the throne, Jeroboam comes back from Egypt. He and his supporters from the northern part of the kingdom, Israel, ask Rehoboam to ease some of the restrictions and taxes that Solomon had implemented on Israel. In return they will pledge their allegiance to the new king. Rehoboam asks for three days to make his decision. He then asks the advice of the elders who suggest that it is best for Rehoboam to cooperate with the northerners, reduce the burden on them and thus winning over their loyalty. Rehoboam immediately rejects this advice and then asks his friends, those who grew up with Rehoboam and supported him along the way. They were not going to make waves and agree with the elder’s advice. They advised Rehoboam to double down and actually increase the burden placed on the 10 northern tribes. Creating a heightened division between the tribes to the north and the two tribes (Benjamin and Judah) to the south. In the end this leads to the permanent splitting of the kingdom.
In addition, Jeroboam becomes king of the north and in an attempt to draw the people away from Jerusalem and Rehoboam, he develops his own religion. He establishes pagan gods and worship centers in the cities of Bethel and Dan. Shechem becomes the capital city in the north. He also develops pilgrimage feasts to compete with the feasts established by God. In a sense, he creates a religion according to “the word of Jeroboam”. He rejects Gods words of truth in order to find something that fits his world view. The first “cafeteria” religion. Where people pick and choose what works for them. Accepting what they agree with and rejecting that which is more difficult.
And don’t we all do that now? We pledge “Until death do us part” when we get married. But we are no longer in love! And God wouldn’t want us to be unhappy. Yes, I know it is not ethical to gossip about a co-worker but they really are not performing their duties well and I would be much better at their job. Church is sooo boring. I am sure I can find another parish, or another religion, that makes me feel good when I go. I just have to find the one that I can agree with.
What Jeroboam did not understand was that, even though he set up his own religion that ensured his political future, the covenant established by God with the Israelites through Moses was still in affect. Regardless of what Jeroboam believed. And God was going to hold up His side of the bargain. Every king of the northern kingdom of Israel failed to follow God and His covenant. They each followed their own way based on their own beliefs. Eventually, this would lead to the fall of the north to Assyria. And then the destruction of the southern kingdom of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians.
God asks us all to walk with Him and to walk in the truth. Even if we don’t like the outcome. Saul didn’t follow God’s directives when conquering his enemies. David followed his passions in committing adultery and murder. Solomon was enticed by power, fame and fortune. Rehoboam refused to offer mercy to his subjects. And Jeroboam used false religion in order to solidify his hold on his kingdom. May we all remain faithful to the one true God and avoid the creation of John-ism, Mark-ism, Barbara-ism, Lucy-ism and all other -isms that merely serve to divide his one true kingdom.
