2 Kings 17: A Lost Kingdom
But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God.
By this time in Israel’s history, many impressive prophets have tried their hands at convincing Israel to change its ways. But neither the miracles of Elijah and Elisha nor the impassioned pleas of Hosea and Amos have had much effect. When troubles come, the nation frantically signs up military allies and turns to its neighbors’ gods for help. The Israelites never turn wholeheartedly back to God.
The Day of Judgment so harrowingly foretold by the prophets is recorded here in the flat, matter-of-fact language of history. This chapter gives a postmortem on the northern kingdom of Israel, a kingdom that has disappeared from the map. Israel meets its end when its kings, against all the prophets’ advice, seek to purchase political protection first from Assyria and then from Egypt. Discovering the double cross, Assyria dispatches an invasion force.
In earlier wars Assyrian conquerors followed a policy of genocide, exterminating their enemies and destroying their land and property. Later, they adopt a technique of deporting their victims and replacing them with foreigners from other conquered territories. After such radical disruption, these conquered peoples can hardly regroup and rise up as a new threat.
In keeping with that deportation policy, after its invasion of the northern kingdom, Assyria proceeds to expel 27,290 captives from the land, dispersing the “ten lost tribes of Israel” and replacing them with other conquered people groups. (This act leads to the origin of the Samaritans, a group that makes an appearance in the New Testament and, in fact, can still be found in modern Israel. These people of mixed races combine their own religions with some reverence for the true God.
After 2 Kings 17, the Bible’s attention turns toward Judah, the southern kingdom comprising the two surviving tribes of Israelites. Second Kings diagnoses idolatry as the chief sickness in the northern kingdom and points to it as the reason for Assyria’s invasion. Unfortunately, idolatry has already gained a foothold in the southern kingdom as well.
Life Question: God allowed the Assyrians, a much crueler people, to conquer Israel and take the whole nation into exile probably because Israel was judged by a higher standard, on the basis of the great advantages God had given his people. Even Christ would say many years later that “From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Do you ever feel that, as a Christian, you are held to a higher standard than others?
Yes, and more often than not I’m afraid I fall short of Christ’s expectations. We are called to represent his teachings in every word and deed of our lives. Christ didn’t get caught up in the world’s cynicism towards his Father, and he certainly didn’t care who he offended by spending time with people whom he felt needed to hear his message. Labels, barriers, and fences didn’t concern him.
But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God.
By this time in Israel’s history, many impressive prophets have tried their hands at convincing Israel to change its ways. But neither the miracles of Elijah and Elisha nor the impassioned pleas of Hosea and Amos have had much effect. When troubles come, the nation frantically signs up military allies and turns to its neighbors’ gods for help. The Israelites never turn wholeheartedly back to God.
The Day of Judgment so harrowingly foretold by the prophets is recorded here in the flat, matter-of-fact language of history. This chapter gives a postmortem on the northern kingdom of Israel, a kingdom that has disappeared from the map. Israel meets its end when its kings, against all the prophets’ advice, seek to purchase political protection first from Assyria and then from Egypt. Discovering the double cross, Assyria dispatches an invasion force.
In earlier wars Assyrian conquerors followed a policy of genocide, exterminating their enemies and destroying their land and property. Later, they adopt a technique of deporting their victims and replacing them with foreigners from other conquered territories. After such radical disruption, these conquered peoples can hardly regroup and rise up as a new threat.
In keeping with that deportation policy, after its invasion of the northern kingdom, Assyria proceeds to expel 27,290 captives from the land, dispersing the “ten lost tribes of Israel” and replacing them with other conquered people groups. (This act leads to the origin of the Samaritans, a group that makes an appearance in the New Testament and, in fact, can still be found in modern Israel. These people of mixed races combine their own religions with some reverence for the true God.
After 2 Kings 17, the Bible’s attention turns toward Judah, the southern kingdom comprising the two surviving tribes of Israelites. Second Kings diagnoses idolatry as the chief sickness in the northern kingdom and points to it as the reason for Assyria’s invasion. Unfortunately, idolatry has already gained a foothold in the southern kingdom as well.
Life Question: God allowed the Assyrians, a much crueler people, to conquer Israel and take the whole nation into exile probably because Israel was judged by a higher standard, on the basis of the great advantages God had given his people. Even Christ would say many years later that “From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48) Do you ever feel that, as a Christian, you are held to a higher standard than others?
Yes, and more often than not I’m afraid I fall short of Christ’s expectations. We are called to represent his teachings in every word and deed of our lives. Christ didn’t get caught up in the world’s cynicism towards his Father, and he certainly didn’t care who he offended by spending time with people whom he felt needed to hear his message. Labels, barriers, and fences didn’t concern him.
1 comment:
Yes. We should be held to a higher standard. We represent the family of God to others. His pleasure is our guiding measure. Our repentant spirit tells the tale of our identity before God and the people who know us.
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