2 Kings 17:34-41 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Kings 17:34-41. As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first. See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
2 Kings 17:34-41 (NIV)
34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.
35 When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.
36 But the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices.
37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.
38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods.
39 Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”
40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices.
41 Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
On verses 34-41: We see some of the main lessons of 2 Kings reiterated here in these verses:
1. We were made to worship the Lord alone (v36). Three times in this short passage it says “Do not worship other gods” (v35, 37, 38). Despite being admonished repeatedly to worship the Lord alone, the Israelites stubbornly persisted in their idol-worshiping ways, putting other things before God (v34, 40, 41a). We too can be stubborn in our idol-worshiping ways.
How do you know if you’re worshiping something other than the Lord? Whatever we put first in our lives is what we worship. What you worship is often reflected in three things: your wallet, your time and your thoughts. What we spend the most money, time and thought on is an indicator of what we truly worship.
2. Only in the Lord do we find real hope and deliverance (v39). Verse 39 says, “Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” Over and over the Psalms describe God as our deliverer. For example:
Psalm 3:8 (NIV)
8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah
Psalm 18:2 (NIV)
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 70:5 (NIV)
5 Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
Psalm 144:2 (NIV)
2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
If you’re going through a stressful or scary time right now, take refuge in the Lord. Hide in His promises. Spend time with Him and call upon His name. God is our deliverer and strength.
3. The children and grandchildren of the Israelites would follow in the idol-worshiping tendencies of their parents and grandparents (v41b). Likewise, if we want our children and grandchildren to be living in the fullness of God’s blessing, it begins with us modeling for them what it means to put God first in our lives.
Father, I call on Your name today and I take refuge in You. You are my deliverer and strength. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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