Definition: But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to [his] destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 26:16. It's a really important and dramatic passage about a king's actions. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: This verse describes a king named Jeroboam who was acting very foolishly. He was strong and confident, but he became obsessed with worshipping the Lord God – to the point of disobeying him completely. Let's unpack the details: “But when he was strong…” : This tells us this happened when Jeroboam was in a powerful position and feeling good about himself. “…his heart was lifted up to [his] destruction…” : This is the key part. His heart – his thoughts, feelings, and priorities – were focused on doing something wrong . He was being selfish and rebellious. It means he wasn’t worshipping God with respect or devotion. “For he transgressed against the LORD his God…” : This means he broke a serious rule set by God. It's like saying he disobeyed a law or commandment. “…and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.” : This is the bad thing he did. He went into the Holy Temple, which was a sacred place for worship, and began burning incense – a ritual used to honor God. He was essentially making offerings to himself , rather than to God. What's the big takeaway? This verse is a warning about pride and rebellion. It highlights that true worship isn’t just about showing off your good deeds, but it’s about humbling yourself before God and following his will. It shows that Jeroboam's pride led him to disobey God and cause trouble. In short: He was acting like a rebel against God, and he did it by offering sacrifices to himself. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you some context about the time period this verse comes from (the reign of King David)? Talk more about why this story is significant in biblical history?