Bible Studies
Israel Plunges to Her Doom (2 Kings 15-16-17:23)
Series: Studies in Second KingsIntroduction:
1. In recent months we have been studying the history of the nation of Israel, especially that period associated with the divided kingdom. 2. The northern kingdom has been associated with idolatry since the days of Jeroboam I. They have worshiped and served idols at both Dan and Bethel. 3. In this lesson we will give attention to the kings of Israel who followed Jeroboam II: Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Peka and Hosea. In this period of approximately 41 years Israel plunges to her doom. 4. Some 700+ years before God had spoken through Moses warning the nation of this very time. Read Deut. 28:49-57. The language is horrifying and speaks of hostilities from without and hostilities from within as a result of her idolatry.Discussion:
I. What is happening among the kings of Israel (15:8ff).A. After the death of Jeroboam II his son, Zechariah, became king over Israel.
1. His reign lasted only 6 months.
2. He was the last of the dynasty of Jehu. Jehu had been promised sons to the fourth generation to sit on his throne (2 Kings 10:30).
3. Zechariah had continued the idolatry at Dan and Bethel.
B. Shallum killed Zechariah and reigned in his place.
1. He reigned only one month
2. There was no stability in the kingdom.
C. Until Menahem.
1. Menahem killed Shallum and reigned for 10 years.
2. But even then things were unstable.
3. Menahem continued the idolatry at Dan and Bethel.
4. Pul (aka. Tiglath-pileser), king of Assyria, was the dominate political power in the region. See 1 Chron. 5:26. Dated about 740.
5. Menahem paid him 1,000 talents of silver in order to come under his protection in order to maintain his rulership.
D. Pekahiah then reigned over Israel.
1. But only for 2 years.
2. He continued the idolatry at Dan and Bethel.
E. Peka killed him and reigned in his place for 20 years.
1. He too continued the idolatry at Dan and Bethel.
2. Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria captured Ijon, Abel-bethmaach, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazon, Gilead, Galilee and all the land of Naphtali and carried the people captive to Assyria.
3. Peka was killed by Hoshea.
F. Hoshea (17:1ff).
1. He reigned for 9 years. While he was not as evil as the kings before him, he still did evil in the sight of the Lord.
2. Shalmanesar, king of Assyria, dominated him and Hosea paid tribute to him. When he conspired against Shalmanesar, Shalmanesar went up to Samaria and besieged it for three years.
II. Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity (2 Kings 17:6). History marks the date at 722.A. Not only did Shalmanesar conquer Samaria he invaded the whole land of Israel.
B. He took the captives away to Assyria and settled them there.
C. He brought other peoples in and settled them in Samaria (2 Kings 17:24ff).
1. This is the origin of the N.T. Samaritans.
2. There was an attempt to teach them how to fear the Lord.
3. “But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses of the high places” (2 Kings 17:29).
4. “So while these nations feared the Lord, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did” (2 Kings 17:41).
III. Why did Israel fall? Why had God sent no deliverer? He had before? He had sent prophets. He had called the people to repentance in many ways. He had withheld the rain. He had repeatedly raised up enemies against them. He was patient not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Why were they taken into Assyrian captivity? See 2 Kings 17:7-18.A. It was not because God was unforgiving.
B. It was not a matter of their having been weak and giving in to various temptations. It was not because they had inadvertently (in ignorant error) violated the law of God. God had always extended His forgiveness for such sins. For these the whole religious system of temple, priests, sacrifices had been provided.
C. Israel had turned away from God. It was a matter of direction. It was a matter of the course of their lives. It was a matter of their rejection of God.
D. Read 2 Kings 17:7-18.
IV. What about us? What lessons does the Lord want us to take from this?A. Some would make application to our government here in the U.S. They would reason that if our nation does not do right in serving the Lord then we will be doomed. Some see the nation plunging to her doom this very moment.
1. All of this may be true, but the U.S. is not the kingdom of God.
2. You and I are! The Lord’s church is the kingdom of God.
3. We need to make personal application to our own lives. We need to be concerned about what is going on in the White House, BUT we need to be more concerned about what is going on in OUR house.
4. Are we worshiping golden calves of materialism, convenience, human wisdom and religious pluralism or are we exalting the Lord as the top priority? Cf. Col. 3:5ff.
B. Are we arguing over individual details of the law of God when the whole direction of our life is turned away from the Lord?
1. Jesus condemned the Pharisees who argued over the details of the law, created their own hedge about the law and bound their traditions.
2. He condemned them for honoring the Lord with their lips, but not giving their heart (Matt. 15:3ff).
3. They bound heavy burdens, legalistically approaching the law as if a right relationship to God was based on the keeping of all the details just as they interpreted them. They prayed to be approved by each other. They gave to be approved by each other. They fasted to be approved by each other. See Matt. 6:1ff.
C. A successful relationship to the Lord is not determined by doing the law perfectly. A successful relationship to the Lord is based on humility and forgiveness.
1. It is less about the details and more about the course of your life.
2. The message of the Lord to Israel began with these words, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods besides Me” (Deut. 5:6-7).
3. The instruction to Israel began: “The Lord is our God, the Lord is One! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” These were the words that were to be taught to their children and their grandchildren. See. Deut. 6:4ff.
4. It is not “keep the commandments” and “love the Lord.” But “love the Lord and keep His commandments.”
Conclusion:
1. Repentance involves turning to the Lord! Repentance is not just about turning away from individual sins. It is about turning to the Lord. Once we turn to the Lord we have turned away from sin. 2. Israel had turned away from the Lord. She persisted in her direction. God repeatedly sent prophet after prophet. He sent oppression. He brought drought. He provided deliverances. 3. And still they persisted. They would not listen, but stiffened their neck (2 Kings 17:14). 4. It was rebellion that led to their captivity! Are you in rebellion? Would you repent?
