SUNDAY, AUGUST 7, 2022
TEXT:
2 Kings 17:23-34
23.
Until the LORD removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by all His
servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to
Assyria to this day.
24.
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from
Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of
Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and
dwelt in the cities thereof.
25.
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not
the LORD: therefore, the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
26.
Wherefore they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which you have
removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of
the land: therefore He has sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them,
because they not the manner of the God of the land.
27.
Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry there one of the priests whom
you brought from there; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them
the manner of the God of the land.
28.
Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and
dwelled in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
29.
However every nation made gods of their own and put them in the houses of the
high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein
they dwelled.
30.
And the men of Babylon made Succoth-be’noth, and the men of Cuth made Ner’gal,
and the men of Hamath made Ashima.
31.
and the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children
in fire Adram melech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.
32.
So they feared the LORD, and made to themselves of the lowest of them priests
of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
33.
They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the
nations whom they carried away from there.
34.
To this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither
do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and
commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named
Israel.
(King
James Version Easy Reading Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
WHEN GOD REPLACES YOU WITH ANOTHER
The consequences of
rebellion and disobedience against God eventually made King Shalmaneser of
Assyria take the king, nobles, religious and political leaders and the people
of Israel into captivity.
All of them were
transported away to Assyria and in their place King Shalmaneser brought people
from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvim and settled them in all of the
towns and cities of Israel. The few who were left behind intermarried with
these foreigners, resulting in a mixed race that would later haunt the Jews and
permanently divide the house of Israel. A news religion was also instituted: a
mixture of the worship of Yahweh and idols – syncretism.
Sometimes Christians
feel that they are doing God a favor by worshipping Him, so they choose to live
anyhow. When you choose to live anyhow, remember that it comes with heavy
consequences such as sickness, loss of privileges or even physical death!
QUESTION:
Do you feel that God cannot do without you and so you live your life anyhow?
PRAYER:
I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, that my life is hidden in You and that it is no
longer I who lives but You. Please empower me to submit to You every day, in
Jesus name, Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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