BECAUSE

July 15, 2022

 

The word "because" denotes cause and effect. “It fell because you threw it in the air. It fell because of the law of gravity.”

As with the physical world, there are causes and effects in the spiritual realm. If we don’t understand this truth, we can misunderstand why certain things are happening.

THE REASONS FOR GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

2 Kings 17 records a long list of wicked kings and the corresponding judgment of God, which ultimately led to captivity in Assyria. It was cause and effect.

 Now this came about because … (2 Kings 17:7)

… and then the Scripture gives 18 reasons for their captivity.

1. the sons of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God (vs. 7b)
2. they feared other gods (vs. 7c)
3. walked in the customs of the nations whom the Lord had driven out (vs. 8)
4. did things secretly which were not right against the Lord their God. (vs. 9a)
5. built for themselves high places in all their towns (9b)
6. set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree (vs. 10)
7. burned incense on all the high places (vs. 11)
8. served their idols, concerning which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” (vs. 11)
9. did evil things provoking the Lord (vs. 11)
10. Ignored the warning of the prophets (vs. 13-14)
11. rejected God’s statutes and His covenant (vs. 15)
12. followed vanity and became vain (vs. 15)
13. forsook all the commandments of the Lord their God (vs. 16)
14. made for themselves molten images (vs. 16)
15. made their sons and daughters pass through the fire (vs. 17)
16. practiced divination and enchantments (vs. 17)
17. sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord (vs. 17)
18. provoked God (vs. 17

When you see the list in its entirety, you realize that God had to bring judgment. He could not ignore that which wicked men were leading His nation to do.

What was the response from God to this blatant, unceasing, unrepentant sin?

• So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight (vs. 18)
• The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them, and gave them into the hand of plunderers (vs. 20)
• So Israel was carried away into exile from their own land to Assyria (vs. 23)

We are not immune. We think our nation is above God’s judgment, but it is not. You can ignore God’s mercy and grace and warnings only for so long. God sees everything, and everything is ultimately dealt with by God. A sobering thought.

Father, make our hearts tender to Your voice. Let us hear You and respond with humble obedience. Let us understand that Your way is always best, and You love to take care of Your children if they follow You!  But let us also remember that our disobedience cannot be ignored if we lead generations to ignore You.

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