2 Kings 17:1-41. NIV
Map: King of Judah-Ahaz; Hoshea-King of Israel in Samaria-9 yrs; did evil ; Shalmaneser (Sh) king of Assyria attack Hosea (his vassal-tributes)-discover him as a traitor; Hosea sent envoys to So, King of Egypt. Sh seized him and put him to prison; captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria-settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor river…. Why? Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God…; they worshipped other gods and followed the practises of the nations the LORD had driven before them…, secretly did things against the LORD..high places..set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree vs 10…did wicked things that provoked the LORD to anger..worshipped idols…the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers..turn from your evil ways..vs 13…; they would not LISTEN, stiff-necked..did not trust in the LORD..rejected his degrees and the convenant..made with their fathers..ignore warnings…followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless..imitated yhe nations around them..did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do ..forsook all the commands of the LORD thei God..made two idols..shape of calves, and an Asherah pole..bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshipped Baal…,sacrificed their sons and daughter in the fire…practised divination and sorcery..provoking him to anger vs 16–17..very angry with Israel…removed them from his presence..therefore the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers. Thought: causes and effects.
Wind back: Jeroboam son of Nebat (after David and separation from Judah) enticed Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin vs 21,;…Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam…removed them from his presence, as he had warned them through all his servants the prophets. Consequence: no longer has his powerful protection..taken into exile in Assyria..under a different Master and King..suffered rather than enjoy God’s blessings and goodness.
The King of Assyria brought people from Babylon,…and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites..vs 24..did nort worship the LORD..God sent lions..killed somecof the people…vs 23-26;..the King of Assyria order one of the priests..came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the LORD vs 28; each national group made its own gods….and the Sephharvites burned their children in the fireas sacrifices…Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim vs 31..worshipped the LORD and also served their own gods in accordance..customs of the nations…brought vs 33 i.e not cut off their old practices and loyalties…did not observe the command of God..in breach of the convenant that God made with the Israelites..vs 35..not to worship other gods or bow down to them..only to worship God; it is He who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies..must always be careful to jeep the degrees and ordinances…;would not LISTEN, however, but persisted in their former practices.
Application: Worship only the living Almighty powerful, kind, gracious eternal God. Trust and obey to get his blessings and protection from all our powerful enemies. Live and choose wisely. Do not follow worthless things and suffer the consequences self inflicted.
