2 Kings 17 

Scripture: 14-15

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

Observations:

A disaster happened because the people of Israel abandoned God, forgetting how he'd saved them during the Exodus. They started to worship other gods and adopt foreign customs. They worshipped at high places, using sacred poles and pillars on hills and trees like the nations that God drove out of the land earlier. They worshipped idols and failed to listen to all the prophets, who commanded them to do the right thing and obey God's commandments.  This is why the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed and why the people were sent away. Only the tribe of Judah remained intact (down in Judah). However, Judah didn't follow God's ways correctly either. The blame is placed on "the sins of Jeroboam." They led Israel astray and ultimately caused the exile in Assyria.

Application:

Is there a reason God wants you to worship him and be obedient to his way that leads to a life to the full? Upon looking at this scripture from 2 Kings, that is an overwhelming and confident YES! God knows we are easily distracted by the shimmering lights and noises that our culture often surrounds us with. But in the end, they won’t provide you with the joy and (yes)liberation that you can find in God. This was a Biblically sound reference to how we can fail in today’s postmodern extravaganza. There is a lot to follow! There is plenty of spirituality to suggest, but I find it more common where we mistake our want and desire in the conditioning that we need to be. Need to want. Need to have. None of it will matter in the end. That’s why God is so assertive in these stories to remind us that it’s his love and our obedience that will carry on and on and on. Whether it be eternally with him or by legacy to provide future generations to follow in this life.

Prayer:

God, we are naïve and senseless. We are sheep. That is why you sent us the Good Shepard. The one who can teach us that by staying close and true to you, that we will have an extraordinary life. A life worth living. And that is a wonderful thing that you have indeed blessed us with! We love you in all are brokenness. Amen.