This first section of chapter 17 of the book of Kings begins to focus on the reign of Hoshea the king of Israel. This king very brightly represents for us the bondage that sin in our life brings and demonstrates what a powerful taskmaster sin is, which God uses to humble His people and bring us to our wits’ end so that we cry out for deliverance which then comes to us through Christ (Psa 107:24-30).
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
The stormy winds spoken of in Psalm 107 can represent the trials of life which buffet us, that are connected to the spiritual struggles we have in our heavens, the powers and principalities over which God is sovereign and raises in our heavens to bring us to see how powerless we are over the wretchedness of flesh from which only He can deliver us (Eph 6:12, Rom 7:24 – “Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven” – Rom 3:27).
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
The end result of Hoshea’s rule over Israel is disastrous, as verse 18 and 19 expresses that the LORD was very angry with Israel:
2Ki 17:18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
2Ki 17:19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
This exile that is going to happen to Israel, and in time Judah, represents the bondage sin brings and that we all must endure as we come to learn of our Lord’s mighty hand working in our corruptible flesh from which He is able to deliver us (Rom 7:24-25). It is only through the suffering of this life that we will finally cease from sinning as we are received of God through a chastening and scourging process very few are meant to endure in this lifetime (2Ti 2:12, Heb 12:6-8, Mat 22:14).
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Here is a brief history of what was happening at this time in the life of King Hoshea which should serve to help us organize the physical events so that in turn we can then understand what those events mean as we compare spiritual with spiritual using those physical events (1Co 2:13) God has inspired to happen in the life of this very wayward king and those external parties that greatly influenced his day-to-day decisions as the king of Israel.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Before I read this excerpt from [Who was King Hoshea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org], it’s important to remember Babylon’s perspective is that Judah and Israel just ignored the very best of the best prophets and thereby brought about this condemnation upon themselves for what they did in their flesh, with no outside influence causing all this neglect to unfold as it did. That perspective puts the man of perdition firmly on the seat of our heavens, and must be destroyed by an all-powerful external force [Christ] who is far greater than our own carnal reasoning that serves the law of sin (Rom 7:25) harboring powers and principalities that Christ will little and by little rule over (Exo 23:30, 1Jn 4:4). The destruction of the man of sin is the destruction of that part of us that says, “I’m responsible for my sins” or “I’m responsible for my good deeds” (2Th 2:5-8), which word “responsible” is not found in the bible.
God’s elect are blessed to know that when scripture says boasting is excluded by the law of faith, it is also true that we can’t give ourselves credit for being drawn away to be tempted and sin seeing this lack of faith (Rom 14:23) we have is something that God has disposed to each man to experience according to the counsel of His own will (Luk 23:34, Act 4:27-28). The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD (Pro 16:33). We acknowledge our sins and the righteousness of Christ working in us, and see them as all part of His workmanship unfolding within us (Rom 4:25) to His glory who has power over the marred vessel to make one unto honour and another to dishonour (Rom 2:4, Eph 2:10, Rom 9:21).
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
We operate in the measure of faith God gives us (Rom 12:3), and Lord willing, we will heed the admonitions from these stories which tell us that we can be more than conquerors through Christ alone who can bring us to our wits’ end and cause us to cry out and be delivered from Satan “in his time” or “until he be taken away” (Mar 9:24). What hope the scriptures hold out for us, as we learn we can cry out, confess our faults, and be delivered day by day as we die daily in Christ (Rom_6:3)!
Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
From: [Who was King Hoshea in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org]
Hoshea son of Elah became king of the northern kingdom of Israel in 732 BC after assassinating King Pekah, son of Remaliah. Hoshea reigned 9 years. He was a wicked king, but not as wicked as previous kings of Israel (2Ki 17:2). Hoshea was the last king of Israel before the nation’s destruction by Assyria.
King Pekah had fought with the Assyrians but lost territory to Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria. So when Hoshea took the throne from Pekah, he was a vassal to Shalmaneser king of Assyria and was required to pay heavy tribute (2Ki 17:3).
In a bid for freedom and independence, Hoshea rebelled against Assyria and stopped paying the tribute, appealing to Egypt for help. This move was a failure. When Shalmaneser discovered King Hoshea’s treachery, he threw Hoshea into prison (verse 4). The Assyrian army then invaded all of Hoshea’s land. The capital, Samaria, was besieged for three years and eventually captured. The Israelites were then deported to Assyria and settled in Halah, Gozen on the Harbor River, and in the towns of the Medes. As most of the northern kingdom of Israel had already been conquered, this deportation effectively destroyed the entire kingdom. Israel’s destruction partly fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:16.
On the surface this may sound like the usual intrigues of kings, but the Bible makes it clear that the Assyrians’ takeover of Israel and the Israelites’ subsequent exile was God’s judgment on His people for their great sin. In spite of all the Lord had done for them, the Israelites had turned from God and worshiped false gods, setting up high places and burning incense to idols (2Ki 17:7-11). God had sent prophets, including Elijah and Elisha, to warn the Israelites, but the people persisted in their idolatry. God had meant for Israel to be set apart as a holy people (Lev 20:26; 2Ki 17:15), but instead they had assimilated the idolatrous practices of the societies they had conquered. God had given them many chances to turn back to Him, but they ignored all the prophets who warned them to turn from their evil ways. Because of their rebelliousness, “the LORD removed them from His presence” (2Ki 17:23) in fulfillment of Moses’ warning in Deuteronomy 30:17–18.
Several years after the capture of King Hoshea and the destruction of the northern kingdom, the southern kingdom of Judah fell to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (2Ki 25:1-4). The capital city of Jerusalem was destroyed, including its walls and the temple of the Lord (verses 8–10). Judah was taken into captivity and exiled for 70 years, just as the Lord had promised, as judgment for sin. However, in His mercy, God promised to preserve His people and eventually bring them back to the land He had promised them (Eze 11:14-17, Rom 14:17, Joh 3:5-8, Php 3:3, Rev 3:12, Rev 21:2). [End Quote]
2Ki 17:1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.
2Ki 17:2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.
Hoshea reigned nine years in Samaria over Israel, and that all began in the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah’s reign. Something foundational is going to come out of the rule of king Ahaz, which is what we are being shown with these numbers. Twelve signifies foundations negative or positive, and nine represents judgment. So Ahaz was the king who would be ruling during that time when God would destroy the corrupt foundations of Israel through judgment [9] that would ultimately have the nation be brought into captivity. In the positive sense, we see an example in this story of how God takes the marred vessel, in this case the nation of Israel, and tears it down so that in time it can be made anew (Jer 18:6). A holy and undefiled nation of Israel is not going to come on the scene in the flesh, but these stories are written for the elect’s sake (1Co 10:11) to remind us of how thoroughly God must purge his threshingfloor, which is how the first man Adam is destroyed (Eze 43:26, Eze 20:38, Rev 15:6-8, Mal 3:3) in order to bring about the new creation formed in Christ, the “Israel of God,” who must lose their life in order to find it (Gal 6:16, Mat 10:39).
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Eze 43:26 Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.
Eze 20:38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Rev 15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Mat 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
2Ki 17:3 Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.
2Ki 17:4 And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present 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.
2Ki 17:5 Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
This section of scripture describing Hoshea’s actions, he, “sent messengers to So king of Egypt” and “brought no present 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” revealing how Satan, typified by Shalmaneser king of Assyria, is a jealous god, like our Father in heaven (Exo 20:5), but in his case he is jealous for his evil purpose of wanting to keep Hoshea in the bondage of sin for not continuing in the servitude that he extended to Shalmaneser for so long, even giving him presentsH4503 as we did in Babylon with our tithes and offerings and misguided vain worship of God (Mar 7:7, Rev 11:10). This attempt at breaking away from Shalmaneser’s influence over Hoshea is similar to how Israel was pursued by the Pharaoh and armies of Egypt who wanted to keep them in the bondage of slavery.
‘Presents’ H4503 minchâh min-khaw’
From an unused root meaning to apportion, that is, bestow; a donation; euphemistically tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary): – gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.
Total KJV occurrences: 211
This story reminds us that Satan’s wrath is a real thing and that he does not want any of his servants to be divided in their minds regarding where their gifts and loyalties should remain as they continue in their quest of being accusers of the brethren (Rev 12:10). When Shalmaneser sees Hoshea betraying his loyalties to him, he “shut him up, and bound him in prison.” Hoshea is already a servant to Shalmaneser, and the minute he tries to free himself and sweep his house of his influence, seven spirits worse enter into Hoshea’s life as the king of Assyria went ahead and “shut him up, and bound him in prison” (Mat 12:45).
Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [Rom 8:18]
There is no loyalty among thieves, and Satan comes to steal and destroy (Joh 10:10). Hoshea’s actions of sending “messengers to So king of Egypt” are seen as an act of treason to Shalmaneser. The agreement was that the king of Assyria, as long as he was paid the money or gifts for his service of extracting money from the people, would spare Israel and not sift them like wheat, which is what he ultimately did. However, knowing the sovereignty of God, we know that this peace was never meant to last and Shalmaneser’s actions just show that Israel’s king Hoshea was a house divided all along that was going to fall (Luk 8:17, 1Co 3:13, 2Co 5:10-11). Hoshea was cursed for putting his trust in the king of Assyria and because of Hoshea’s lack of faith in what God could do for him, he brought a great curse on the nation of Israel (Jer 17:5). The spirit of these two kings and their interactions with each other are very well described in these verses (2Ti 3:1-4), as their treaty began to fall apart to reveal no loyalty on either side.
Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
After Hoshea is shut up and bound in prison, Shalmaneser “the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years” which reminds us that the devil is not slack regarding being the evil sword in God’s hand (Psa 17:13) which will be used to besiege the capital of Israel, Samaria, for three years. This is all demonstrating for us how God does use evil men in the process of humbling His people as He continues to refine us (Mal 3:3) through these severe trials [“besieged it three years“] (Act 20:31). Paul is expressing here in the book of Acts what Christ said in these verses (Mat 26:41, Mar 13:33, Mar 14:38, Luk 21:36), and that is to look well inwardly (2Co 13:5) and outwardly (1Pe 5:2) because of the weak flesh we’re in, so that no enemy of the cross arise, no root of bitterness take over “and thereby many be defiled” (Heb 12:15).
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mar 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
2Ki 17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
It’s in the “ninth year of Hoshea [that] the king of Assyria [Shalmaneser] took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria”. Being the ninth year of Hoshea’s kingship is the symbolic number of judgment, a judgment for Israel, that typifies the more severe and heavy trials God must prepare the bride of Christ to endure through in this life (1Pe 4:17).
The significance of placing them “in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” is found in the meaning of these three words, HalahH2477, HaborH2249 , and GozanH1470, that tell us Israel was going to experience a “painful” “joining” to another nation, even as there is “a cutting off” from their homeland.
HalahH2477
– Original: חלח
– Transliteration: Chalach
– Phonetic: khal-akh’
– Definition: Halah = painful
a city or district in mesopotamia under Assyrian control where the Israelite captives were taken
– Origin: probably of foreign origin
– TWOT entry: None
– Part(s) of speech: Proper Name Location
– Strong’s: Probably of foreign origin;
Chalach a region of Assyria: – Halah.HaborH2249
– Original: חבור
– Transliteration: Chabowr
– Phonetic: khaw-bore’
– Definition: Habor = joining
a tributary of the Euphrates River in Assyria
– Origin: from H2266
– TWOT entry: None
– Part(s) of speech: Proper Name Location
– Strong’s: From H2266; united;Chabor a river of Assyria: – Habor.
Total KJV Occurrences: 3GozanH1470
– Original: גּוזן
– Transliteration: Gowzan
– Phonetic: go-zawn’
– Definition: Gozan = a cutting off
the mesopotamian city on or near the middle of the Euphrates where exiled Israelites were settled
– Origin: probably from H1468
– TWOT entry: None
– Part(s) of speech: Proper Name Location
– Strong’s: Probably from H1468; a quarry (as a place of cutting stones);
Gozan a province of Assyria: – Gozan.
2Ki 17:7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
2Ki 17:8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
2Ki 17:9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
2Ki 17:10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
2Ki 17:11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
2Ki 17:12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
This punishment that was brought upon the nation of Israel was because of the things we read of here (2Ki 17:7-12). The great lesson to pass on is that God is not mocked, and whatever we sow we are going to reap (Gal 6:7-8). This section of scripture clearly shows us the progression of coming out of Egypt and how we then wax and wane as Christians losing our first love. Only by the grace and faith of God do we continue to progress and work our way through being tempted ten times in the wilderness (Num 14:22) as we come to see that our flesh has to fall seven times, meaning completely (Pro 24:16), to show us that our overcoming is not of ourselves but a gift from God that takes our entire life to accomplish through Christ as we go onto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32).
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.Num 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Pro 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
It’s in our ignorance that we sow (1Ti 1:13) and suffer the consequences of those actions, so we are deceived until we are not, and we even are that dog that returns to his vomit, until we are not (Pro 26:11). Thanks be to God, in the end He will bring all of the world to be sickened of every sin, and the judgment that first begins at the house of God (1Pe 4:17) will make Christ’s bride ready and prepared to wipe away all the tears of humanity; tears which will never be a part of the finished creation that will only be continually rejoicing and giving thanks to God almighty who will be all in all with Christ as our head forever (1Co 15:28).
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
2Ki 17:13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
These last verses we will look at explain the effect of being under the taskmaster of sin which the rulership of the god of this world produces (2Co 4:4). The verses testify or witness against us what God was doing in Israel of old and Judah (1Co 10:11), “Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah.“
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
God’s purpose is revealed for the church today through much tribulation which we must endure in order to inherit the kingdom of God (Act 14:22, Rom 8:17). Christ identifies with our struggle and tells us that we are more than conquerors through Him who is our head and redeemer (Heb 4:15-16, Rom 8:37)
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
These taskmasters are set over us and bring us to do exactly what God had predestined and written in our books that we would do and suffer (Exo 1:11). The Lord knows the affliction we are under, and it is by reason of our crying out with strong tears as Christ did that we are delivered from Satan and the bondage of sin (Exo 3:7, Heb 5:7-8, Joh 8:36).
Exo 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Exo 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
God was faithful to bring along “the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments” knowing that this witness was not going to change the hearts of the people but was part of the testimony or witness to the nations of what wretchedness is in all flesh until it is no longer there (Deu 19:15). God is faithful, and His word is not broken, and He cannot lie, and so a witness is given to the people, and the people, as expected, reject that witness. The body of Christ is one spirit and one bread not divided, and the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 are actually multiple witnesses that witness today and will witness throughout the thousand-year reign of the saints to establish the matter and leave no opportunity for flesh to say, ‘”We didn’t know, Lord, if only you had witnessed to us, we would not have taken of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or slain Abel…or, or, or.”
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
2Ki 17:14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
2Ki 17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
2Ki 17:16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
2Ki 17:17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
The natural status of flesh is to do what is written in these verses (2Ki 17:14-17), and as God tells us to do one thing, we do the opposite and don’t listen, as our necks get stiffer, and our hearts are darkened due to that sin which brings about disbelief and spiritual bondage (Rom 7:19-20, Luk 11:35). The opposite is to believe and do the work of God with the faith of Christ working in us, which is a gift from God (Joh 6:28-29, Php 2:12-13).
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.Luk 11:35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
This unbelief and sin in our life leads to our rejecting His covenant and brings us to fill that void in our life with vain practices of the heathen. We leave the commandments of the LORD and make molten images, the “two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal“, which represent for us today the ways of the heathen we are not to learn (Jer 10:2).
Jer 10:2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
We especially provoke God to anger when we do this: “And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger,” which typifies for us today our keeping and teaching the lies of Baal or Babylon to our children.
2Ki 17:18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
2Ki 17:19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
2Ki 17:20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
2Ki 17:21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.
2Ki 17:22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
2Ki 17:23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
After all of that rebellion we are told about, we are told that “the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.” Our natural retort to God for that anger against us would be to say: “Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?”
There is more witness against us in the next verse: “Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made“, meaning the whole body is sick from head to foot, and there is none righteous. So God declares to us, if we are able to receive it, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Throughout the scriptures we are reminded of the rejection of the first man Adam and how flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and that only a very few, a remnant will be dragged through the fiery trials in this age to one day free all of humanity from the bondage of sin (Oba 1:21). It looks hopeless from the fleshly point of view, and indeed it is without the faith of Christ within us which helps us believe that our present suffering is not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed (Rom 8:18). Many times, we are told “unto this day.” “So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day“, reminding us that the witness against flesh being enmity against God is an is, was and will be event, and will be until all enemies are put under His feet. God’s elect will fear and want to avoid that sorer punishment in the lake of fire spoken of in Hebrews 10:29, knowing that we are going to have to die daily and be armed with the mind of Christ and endure through much suffering in this life in order to inherit the kingdom of God and avoid that punishment.
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
In closing we are told in these verses (Eph 5:1-8) what we can now do through Christ for the rest of our lives, and Lord willing, we will be these dear children spoken of in these last verses who present themselves as “an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” as Christ did himself.
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
"His Branch" 