2 Kings 17:1-23
Monday, 13 March 2023
“They did not turn from these sins until the LORD finally swept them away from his presence just as all his prophets had warned.” -2 Kings 17: 22
The fall of a nation, a city, a community, a family or a person does not happen in a day. It’s the steady but deliberate walk down a path of wrong decisions and choices that ultimately bring them to complete destruction. That is what we see in today’s reading. A total disregard for God and his commands was practiced generation after generation until the day when God judged them! There was no immediate respite till God in His mercy decided to bring healing to the nation.
These situations in the Old Testament is a warning for the New Testament believers. God hasn’t changed! Let’s straighten our lives before it’s too late.
What were some of the grave sins the Israelites committed, that God took such a hard stand? Are we walking the same slippery path?
· Lived like others rather than for God (V.8)
One of the warnings that God gave His people before entering the Promised Land was not to follow the practices of the people of the land. As time went by this was just what they did and their leaders further caused them to sin even more. For us believers, we are given 2 warnings in the New Testament
Rom.12:2 tells us “not to conform to the pattern of this world.”
1 John 2:15-17 tells us “not to love the world or anything in the world.”
Let us heed these warnings by remaining in fellowship with God’s people thereby being accountable to fellow believers.
· Practiced secret sins (V.9)
One of the main strategies that Satan uses against people of God is fooling them with this thought that nobody will know what they are doing. These are sins they don’t want others to know because they are embarrassing or afraid of being blamed. We fail to understand that God the Omniscient sees and knows everything— Eccl. 12:14 says “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” It won’t be long before ‘sin is found out’. Over the years we see men and women from all walks of life from church to the secular, fall due to their secret sins. No one is exempt from this temptation. Even as you read this, what are you dabbling with? Repent and Renounce before it destroys you!
How do we overcome this? David gives us a beautiful prayer in Psalm 19:12-14. May this be our daily cry to the Lord:
“…. how can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. And keep me from deliberate wrongs; help me to stop doing them. Only then can I be free of guilt and innocent of some great crime. May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.”
· Disobedience to God’s word & His prophets (V.13)
The reason for the fall of Israel into the previous two sins was their disobedience to God’s Word and His prophets. When men do not stand on absolutes, deterioration is not too far behind. The Israelites ignoring the infallible, authoritative, and inerrant word of God, began to look for power and guidance from other sources as written in V.17. Did God give up on them? No! We see in V.13 how He repeatedly pursued them, sending His servants to warn them.
Even as you read this devotional, is God calling you back to Him? 2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
As you hear him today do not harden your hearts, return and receive the gift of life offered to you in Christ Jesus. Always remember, whatever God predicts will come to pass. His return is soon and so is His judgement! This is good news to those who obey but not to those who ignore and disobey.
Quote for the day: “Both the promises and warnings God has given in His Word will surely come true.”
Listen: 'Though your sins be like scarlet '