Devotional Tuesday: Fear the Lord, but...
Truth from 2 Kings 17 Today
Following the death of King Solomon, God allows the nation of Israel to be divided.
The tribe of Judah stands alone, and the other tribes are designated as Israel.
For years, the people of Israel rebel against God and establish false gods. They serve idols and Baal. They erect Asherah poles. They abandon the practices of YHWH.
After many years and many evil kings in the nation of Israel, God allows the nation to be exiled by Assyria. They are conquered and deported out of the land. The king of Assyria gives the land to foreigners—whom God also judged.
It is said about these foreigners who were given the land that…
“these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.” 2 Kings 17:41.
They feared and respected the Lord, BUT they also served false gods…
I find there to be a lot of truth here in this verse today.
Many of us find ourselves moved and engaged with Jesus and the God of the Bible. We love to read the stories. We love to feel the blessings of Jesus and his peace. We love the community of people called the church…
Yet, we still serve false Gods…
Today, false gods look many kinds of ways.
Crystals, horoscopes, satan, new age mysticism, money, hobbies, drugs, alcohol, etc…
The images may not be carved pieces of wood or metal, but they are human made crafted forms of worship none the less.
God in the Old Testament is so clear in commanding his people to honor him and worship him only. Even thousands of years later, we still offer worship to other things.
We fear God, but also serve other idols.
May we reflect and respond to God in prayer.
Prayer:
Father God, creator of heaven and earth, hear our prayer.
We have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you
with our whole heart;
we have not loved
our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake
of your Son, Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
Reveal to us now the places in our lives we have not wholeheartedly followed you
expose our idols and sins
reveal where we withheld from you
open our eyes to see the images we have made
strengthen us in the power of your Spirit so we can bring honor to your name
renew in us a clean mind
grant us grace to cast off every hinderance that trips us up
build endurance in our hearts to run after you daily.
Lord we give our honor, respect, adoration, and love
instill in us a holy and righteous fear and awe of you.
We believe in you—one God, eternal and everlasting.
Amen.