READING: 2 Kings 16-17, John 11:28-57
You’d think I wouldn’t be surprised by the wickedness of the human heart, but sometimes the Scriptures so vividly describe our condition that it catches me off guard. Today’s reading in 2 Kings takes me in that direction.
In 2 Kings 17, the descriptions of the sins of Israel that led to their downfall are dripping with rebellion. While I won’t include every verse and description here, note the sinful hearts of the people:
- “This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods” (2 Kgs 17:7).
- “The Israelites secretly did thingsagainst the Lord their God that were not right” (2 Kgs 17:9).
- “They did evil things, angering the Lord. They served idols, although the Lord had told them, ‘You must not do this’” (2 Kgs 17:11).
- “Still, the Lord warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer. . . But they would not listen” (2 Kgs 17:13-14).
- “They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and angered him” (2 Kgs 17:17).
So, they turned against God and followed the false gods of the other nations. They apparently even thought they could keep their sin hidden from God. Then, even though God still warned them through every prophet and seer, they chose not to listen to the warnings. It’s not surprising then that God sent the judgment of exile.
What’s most surprising is that God still kept His covenant with them, and He did not abandon them. He was, and always is, faithful to His word.
PRAYER: “Thank You, God, for Your holy standards and Your gracious mercy.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 2 Kings 18-20, John 12:1-19
