- They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. 2 Kings 17:15 – After a couple centuries and after many kings, the northern kingdom of Israel fell. The nation of Assyria came, besieged the land, conquered Israel, and carried the Israelites into captivity. Now this seems to be a hard move from the Lord on His people, especially after everything He did for them in rescuing them from Egyptian captivity centuries prior. We see though the reasons for the hard move of God in verse 7-23. Israel went headfirst into deep sin. As we see in our verse above, they despised the law and all the words God had given their ancestors. Instead they took part in all the idolatrous practices of the nations around them, the very thing God said not to do. While tucked away in the middle of this verse, there is a phrase that speaks a powerful message, “They went after false idols and become false.” The word for “false” can be translated as idol, emptiness, nothingness. Literally they went after nothing and became nothing. Our likeness will be determined by what we pursue. If you want to pursue some nothingness idol, you’ll become nothing for it can’t do anything for you. Yet if you want to become like Jesus, you pursue Jesus. While this passage is so depressing to read through seeing how their pursuit of sin and nothingness idols led them to such tumultuous seasons of life, what a blessing to have the comfort of scripture revealing to us that isn’t the only path in this life we can take. Nothing doesn’t have to be your end and falseness doesn’t have to be your identity. We can choose to follow Jesus can become more like Jesus. Choose then this day who you will follow, for it will determine the outcome of your life. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3083
- So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. 2 Kings 17:33 – It’s sad just how easy it is to point out the wrong in someone else’s story while at the same time are blind to that fact we are messing us too, maybe even in the very same way. See we on the other side of this story can look at this passage and see the stupidity of their choice. How could they serve God and at the same time serve other false gods? Those two things are impossible to mix, but somehow they tried and found themselves very far away from where God wanted them. Yet how often are we doing the same, mixing two things that shouldn’t be mixed? Worry mixed with trusting God. Shame mixed with accepting God’s grace. Closed fists mixed with God’s loving open arms. Somehow we think we can manage mixing these polar opposite things together and be ok, just like the people in our story. Yet our end destination will be no different than theirs, away from where God wants us. If something is not of God stop trying to say it’s ok to keep in your life. It doesn’t mix and never should be mixed in your life. Remember what Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24) I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 388
- And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. 2 Kings 17:9 – Now Israel at this time did blatant evil against God, so why would it say they did it in secret. This could mean a couple things, maybe that many were ashamed so they worshipped idols in secret, but they main thought is that the cloaked their idolatry with the pretense of worshipping God. They made it look like they were following God when in truth they weren’t. Is that ever our story? Do we ever go to church for the wrong reasons? Do we ever only pray because we want to get something from God? It’s easier to “cloak” our sinfulness with religious things than you think. Know God sees past the cloak always so let’s just be real with Him instead. Share with Him plainly why you’re praying, reading, or worshipping. He can handle it and He also can change our hearts when we let Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1040
- Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. 2 Kings 17:27-28 – Israel had been taken away from their land and peoples from other nations came and made their home within Israel. These people were not faithful to God so He sent lions to attack and kill many of them. How did their king handle all this? Our verses above. A God-fearing priest was to come, share, and teach these people how to follow their Lord properly. What a missionary opportunity and what a captive audience he would have had. What scripture is reminding me of today is how blessed of a missionary opportunity I’ve been given as well to share the ways of the Lord with others everyday. No, the people I’m talking with may not be dealing with lion attacks on the daily, but they are struggling in their own ways. I have people everyday in front of me. Maybe it’s at church or at Walmart or over social media, but I have an opportunity with each of them to share God’s love. Just like this priest I’ve been sent by God into a rich mission field with a purpose to help people know His ways. You have been too. So….we both are being sent. We both are being directed. We both have people in front of us each day that needs to hear about Jesus. What are we going to do about this? My hope is my answer isn’t just let that opportunity pass by and just enjoy doing my own thing. We have people in front of us who need Jesus and we know how to help them find Him. Let’s get after it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2223
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