Bible Chapter: II Kings 17 & 18

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    How long can people openly go against God before He judges them for their sin?  There is no simple answer to that question.  But, here we see that people who know better and openly rebel against God will reach a point where His judgement comes.  In these two chapters we see polar opposites.  We see Hoshea, the last king of Israel (the northern kingdom) as well as Hezekiah, king of Judah (the southern kingdom).  Hoshea was the last king of Israel.  They had forsaken the commands of God and followed many heathen practices.  God finally turned them over to the enemy and the majority were taken captive.  When Hezekiah was make king of Judah he cleared out all the evil places and restored the Temple.  He was very active in promoting obedience to God.
    Israel accepted the lifestyles and standards of the other nations.  We read of king after king who promoted that.  These hundreds of years of sinning finally reached a conclusion and the northern kingdom disappeared.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    My thoughts are going towards the life many live that looks for what is popular or appears fun.  That is what we see so often in these history books.  God had given a covenant to Abraham.  God had shown miracle after miracle to provide and protect.  They had seen so many supernatural interventions that showed God’s supreme power over all the other gods the nations served.  And yet, they insisted on doing what they wanted.  So many of the heathen practices were repulsive, and yet they did them anyway.
    What we are seeing today among many churches and people who say they are Christians is a similar pattern.  They are practicing and promoting many things that are contradictory to the Bible.  They are following the lifestyles and standards of the world around them.  They think that they can continue to do these things and that God will never do anything about it.  They have forgotten the last chapters of Old Testament history and the prophecies of end times.  God will judge.  This says that we must stay close to the Lord and do what HE says.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Learn from God’s Word.  Learn from history.  Learn that God is pure and holy and will not allow evil to flourish forever.  In His perfect timing He will reward faithfulness and judge evil.