MOTIVATE

Most everyone has a love/hate with alarm clocks.[1] For those of you who are retired, allow me to remind you that the function of an alarm clock is to awaken us to our purpose. They are preset at night to sound at a specific time with a loud ring or a melodic song. When the alarm sounds, we should awake from our sleep or slumber. And while we may love technology, we also dislike being dislodged from our comfort.

For many, sleep is hard to come by. We work long hours and late nights. We twist and toss with thoughts turning and stress simmering through our bodies. And just when we’ve finally hit the sweet spot of deep sleep, the alarm sounds. Then we play the game for how many times we hit the snooze button. How many of you are snooze smashers? Me too! But, eventually, the pleasantness of your pillow and comfort of your covers must be opposed, and we need to stop avoiding the alarm to function in our day. Alarm clocks are critical to fulfilling our purpose.

Likewise, God had an alarm clock in the Bible for His people. They were called: Prophets. Prophets sounded the alarm for God’s people to sober from the darkness and awake from the slumber of their sin. Yet, many times Israel kept smashing the snooze button as they maintained the comforts of idolatrous power and immoral pleasure.

We’ve studied 1-2 Kings, which is about the nation of Israel. It started as a strong and united nation from King David. The transition went to his son Solomon. However, in due time the blemishes and burdens of the nation increased so that there became internal strife and external threats to divide the nation. Today’s passage helps us to understand why nations fall.

EXAMINE    2 Kings 17

Nations fall when they elevate their leaders above the LORD (17:1-6).

¹ In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. ² And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. ³ Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. ⁴ But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. ⁵ Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Israel would never be the same with 19 kings in the north and 20 kings in the south, but all falling short of its glory years.

At this point, Ahaz was the son of Uzziah (aka: Azariah; 2Ki 15:1). Uzziah did right in the eyes of the LORD and reigned 52 years. The prophet Isaiah wept at King Uzziah’s death, and received a glorious vision from the LORD that the people permeated with unclean lips (deceit, lies, hypocrisy, hate). Yet, God spoke to Isaiah and sent him to be a missionary to a sin-sick world (Isa 6:8).

Uzziah’s son Ahaz then became the king of Judah (south), and Hoshea became king in Israel (north). Unfortunately, Ahaz did not follow his father, and was characterized as and evil man who participated in a vile practice of placing his son in the fires of sacrifice (2 Ki 16:3). He took money from the temple to make alliances with enemy nations like the king of Assyria (16:8).

On the other side of the kingdom, Hoshea is king of Judah. His name was common and may sound familiar: Hosea (spelling is different to distinguish between the prophet and king^[2]); also like Joshua, which means “salvation.” Yet, Hoshea was a traitor and his political gamesmanship to garner bigger and better allies ended up in his own downfall.  

Israel’s confidence was never to fully be in a human leader, and our faith should never be in a political hero.

Ps 146:3-10  ³Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. ⁴ When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. ⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, ⁶ who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; ⁷ who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; ⁸ the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. ⁹ The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. ¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

In other words, no partisan donkey can defend us, nor a political elephant can protect us from the enemy within. The human heart is corrupted by a callous snake that has seduced and separated us to believe we can turn earth into our own paradise. Yet, all we do is pollute it with our greed and envy. Our only hope is for God to restore His reign of truth, justice, peace, and righteousness
(cf. Ps 89:14).

Israel’s confidence was never to fully be in a human leader, and our faith should never be in a political hero. No partisan donkey can defend us, nor a political elephant can protect us from the enemy within. Our only hope is for God to restore His reign of truth, justice, peace, and righteousness (cf. Ps 89:14).

We avoid unhealthy elevation of our leaders by
> Talking more about Jesus. Many people promote their preferred political candidate or even their favorite preacher more than they talk about Jesus. This is a red flag towards cultish behavior. If we are more passionate about the next 4 years with winning a political outcome than we are about eternity and winning people to Jesus, then we have misplaced our kingdom priorities. 

Christians, if we are more passionate about the next 4 years with winning a political outcome than we are about eternity and winning people to Jesus, then we have misplaced our kingdom priorities. 

> Not excusing behaviors and beliefs with whataboutism. Every leader has flaws, so be the first to acknowledge them while you promote your perspective values. Political pragmatism should not override biblical obedience. So, if you find yourself excusing flaws or sins, and only looking at the flaws of your opponents, this becomes the judgmentalism that Jesus rejects (Mt 7:1-5). Jesus isn’t opposed to all judging, only that which is hypocritical to not first take the plank out of your own eye.

> Inviting the perspectives or questions of others instead of silencing conversation or shutting people out. What is making society on edge with tension, anger, and division is that we have lost the appreciation for civil discussions. And instead of learning from one another, we assume the worst about someone just because they have a different perspective or approach. In fact, Jesus instructed His followers to pray for their enemies; knowing that we cannot sincerely pray for someone if we’re not willing to love them and want the best for them.

Nations fall when they pursue satisfaction apart from the Savior (17:7-18).

⁷ And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods ⁸ and walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. ⁹ And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, ¹¹ and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger, ¹² and they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this.” ¹³ Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” ¹⁴ But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. ¹⁵ They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. ¹⁶ And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. ¹⁷ And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. ¹⁸ Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.

God rescued them from the land of Egypt and the enslavement from Pharoah king of Egypt. Israel’s salvation should have resulted in enduring gratitude, but instead proceeded into entitlement and disregard for God’s commands.

• V.8 They followed customs of worldly nations vs God’s commands.
• V.9 They acted secretly toward the LORD. If you embarrassed of your actions in front of your kids or parents or pastor or whomever, then, maybe reconsider your choices.
• Vv.9-11 They built high places, made offerings, and served idols. Today, we think idolatry is archaic and doesn’t happen – until we realize our stadiums, arenas, and theatres overflow with fight songs, celebratory praise, and soulful pleasure.  
• Vv.14 They wouldn’t listen, were stubborn, lacked faith, and despised God’s commands. Consider how frequently we choose not to seek God’s word or reject godly counsel, neglect prayer about our circumstances, and overall go our own way because “I’m me, and doesn’t God want me to be happy?!” This too is characterized in Scripture, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but in the end it leads to death” (Pr 14:12)
• V.17 They burned their sons and daughters as offerings. They believed that a parent shouldn’t have to be burdened by a child if they don’t want the responsibility. Further, they followed alternative and atrocious religious practices of appeasing idols with child sacrifice (cf. Mic 6:7; Jer 7:31; 19:5; 32:35).  
  Modern society has not evolved higher, progressed nobler, or advanced to being any better than our ancient ancestors.

In 1999, a four-year old child was taken to the hospital because her skin turned yellow – not jaundice but almost neon yellow/orange.[3] After examination, analysis revealed her condition was caused by too much betacarotene, which is an additive that boosts the color content in Sunny Delight. Apparently, the child drank almost 2-liters every day. While the condition was harmless and no health risk, her skin would return normal after a few weeks of clear liquids. – – Likewise, we become what we consume. We must realize that consuming significant amounts of secular entertainment, social media, biased news, and worldly drama is coloring our life and catechizing our heart in ways we can’t control.

> A simple action to train our contentment and shape our satisfaction in God is gratitude. Daily focused time in praise and thanksgiving to God is a remedy for idolatry. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Daily focused time in praise and thanksgiving to God is a remedy for idolatry.

Nations fall when they avoid accountability (17:24-33).

²⁴ And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. ²⁵ And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the Lord. Therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them. ²⁶ So the king of Assyria was told, “The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.” ²⁷ Then the king of Assyria commanded, “Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land.” ²⁸ So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. ²⁹ But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. ³⁰ The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹ and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² They also feared the Lord and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. ³³ So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.                                          

The Assyrians exiled the Jews and lived in their land. Yet, the LORD sent lions to attack the Assyrians. So, the Assyrians understood they needed the Jewish God’s guidance to live in harmony with the land. So, they commanded Israel’s priests to return to instruct them how to follow the ways of God. And indeed, the Assyrians feared and followed the LORD, but they intermingled worship with their own idols.

Sadly, the priests did not hold the leaders accountable. They feared man more than God. They compromised. They valued the audience and accolades on earth more than the attention of God.

Let’s explain it this way: On a regular dinner evening, our family probably has more people at the table than your family. I’m sure on special occasions you have others over, and those are wonderful times to treasure with family and friends. But all that means practically is that my family is probably not as good as your family at something called, “leftovers.” Now leftovers are a beautiful thing of glory. Because that means you’ll get a 2-4-1: two meals for one preparation/cooking. Yet, because our family of 7 likes to eat, we don’t frequently have the blessing of leftovers. But there are times we make a big batch of something…

So, while leftovers can be helpful on an occasional experience, they would not be appealing over and over and over again. In fact, eating the same leftovers is punishment –

Essentially, this is what the priests and Israel were doing spiritually. They sacrificed to idols, then gave leftovers to God. They worshiped false deities with their best time/talent/treasure, then came to worship God stressed, sleepy, and unapproachable. Or they worshiped God first but was certain to save leftovers for their idols.

Jesus doesn’t do leftover Lordship.

In all, Jesus doesn’t do leftover Lordship.
–  Lk 9:23 “If anyone wants to follow me, let them deny self, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

• Rev 2:4-5 “you have abandoned your first love; repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place”
• Ps 86:11 “Teach me your way, LORD… grant me an undivided heart to fear your name.”

So, how can we discern if we’re not giving God leftovers and we’re placing Jesus first?

• Ps 16:4-11 “The sorrows of those who take another god for themselves will multiply… [but for me] LORD you are my portion and my cup of blessing. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance… Therefore, my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.. You make known the path of life to me; in your presence there is fulness of joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures”

APPLY/TAKEWAY

We have 2 options before us

1. Reckoning. Like Israel, our nation and our life is headed for a reckoning with God.  
2. Repentance. God invites us to repent, so we’re ready to face the Lord.

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[1] Illustration adapted from Tony Evans sermon: “Now Is The Time For Revival.”

^[2] Billy K. Smith, “Hosea,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 784.

[3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/too-much-sunny-delight-turns-girl-s-skin-yellow-1134703.html