In 2 Kings 17:7-21, we see the whole litany of how Israel had failed God. These were the reasons for their downfall. Time and again they had tested the patience of God by taking their covenant relationship with Him for granted. There was not a single thing that He warned them about that they did not break. Since their deliverance from the land of bondage, they did not wholeheartedly honor Him who had delivered them but instead feared other gods. Israel’s main failure was a spiritual one. It was a failure of the whole nation and not just the kings only. Verses 9-13 summarised for us how they had failed God spiritually. “The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. They set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the LORD had carried away to exile before them, and they did evil things provoking the LORD. They served idols, concerning which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.”
Despite
the repeated warnings of God through His prophets, they gave a careless
disregard for their warnings. They did not return to the Lord and
the covenant that He had made with them. Like their stiff-necked fathers, they
did not believe in God but rejected His statutes, and the covenant, and defied
the commandments of God. Vainly they followed the folly of the pagans and
indulged in the practices of those heathens. Verse 16 says that “they made
for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made
an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served and
practiced Baal.” And verse 17 says that “they made their
sons, and their daughters pass through the fire, divination, and enchantments,
and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD provoking Him.” They had shown that they were unwilling to serve
the only true God who had given them all that they needed to have a meaningful
life. Instead of showing gratitude, they spurned His love by going after
worthless idols and vain practices.
With
severely tested patience, God in His anger gave them over to their opponents.
He removed all the tribes, except Judah, from His sight. Yet Judah did little
to prove themselves worthy of the grace extended to them. They emulated their
northern brethren and walked in their ways. They would be dealt with later.
Meanwhile, God punished Israel by allowing them to be plundered by foreign
nations until they were taken out of His sight.
The
issue we see here is the issue of gratitude. How could a nation so graciously
chosen by God yet show itself so unworthy of grace? They were
obstinate and ungrateful people. They had chosen to bite the hand that fed
them. Obstinacy always breeds disobedience. They will make us insensitive to
the outstretched hand of God. We must not allow ourselves to reach that state.
One way to avoid becoming stiff-necked and stubborn is to nurture an attitude
of gratitude. Always remember we must give thanks to God for everything.
Whether circumstances are congenial or not, never leave the God of Love. Here
are some words of Marty Nystrom’s song for us to make them our constant prayer:
Lord, my heart is
prone to wander
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Your courts above
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