Day 185, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Micah 1:1-8; Isaiah 5:8-30; 2Kings 17:3-23; 2Kings 18:7b-12; 2Kings 17:24-41; 2Kings 16:19-20; 2Chronicles 28:26-27; 2Kings 18:1-2; 2Chronicles 29:1; 1Chronicles 4:34-43
How do We Keep our Freedom?
July 4 is Independence Day in the United States of America. It has become a holiday. Along with picnics and ball games, we fly the American flag and celebrate with fireworks. This is the annual remembrance of the day when fifty-six men, representing thirteen colonies, signed a document declaring our freedom from the tyrannical rule of the king of Great Britain. After they signed the document, they began to form our government “by the people and for the people.”
As the reader may know, most of the early Americans came to the new world for religious freedom, and they based their laws on the Bible. America has had a good foundation and has enjoyed liberty for over 245 years. How do people and nations keep their liberty?
In today's chronological Bible reading, the northern kingdom of Israel loses her liberty. God is her judge, and the verdict is guilty! God uses the nation of Assyria to carry out the sentence.
For three years Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria, lays siege to the city of Samaria until she wastes away for lack of food and strength. Assyria conquers Israel, loots her treasuries, and exiles the captives. Judah, her sister nation, is next if she doesn't mend her ways.
Why did Israel lose her nation?
Why did God allow Assyria to capture and exile her people? God details the charges and lays them out plainly (2Kings 17:7-23, 34-40). Basically, these are the reasons:
• God said Israel was not to worship anyone or anything besides Him. The LORD considers idol worship a personal offense—it's adultery. Israel became an unfaithful wife prostituting herself before her lovers and their idols (her lovers were other nations—from whom she sought help ). Israel did this constantly and without shame.
• Israel forsook the law of the LORD. Her priests and kings no longer read it. King Jeroboam cast out the priests, whose duty was to instruct the people in the ways of the LORD. He installed his own priests and encouraged idol worship on high places, instead of worshipping God in Jerusalem.
• Israel was more evil than the nations the LORD had driven out of Canaan, the Promised Land. Although God sent many prophets to warn them of judgment and urge them to repent, they would not listen. They persisted in their evil deeds. His patience with Israel and Judah lasted almost 700 years from the time of their Exodus from Egypt, but finally God had enough of their wickedness. God punished Israel now, but would allow Judah, her sister nation, 136 more years of grace.
Israel was a theocratic nation; God instituted the laws she was to obey. He gave them priests and kings, but they were unfaithful leaders. They led their nation into great and grievous sins. Even some of God's prophets were unfaithful.
The Cost of Losing Freedom is High
Our nation is not a theocratic nation, but King David applies this to all countries when he writes, “Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 144:15, NIV).
Are we guilty of great and grievous sins? How long will God allow us to keep our freedom? We don't know and we shouldn't test his patience. If, in fear of God's judgment, we turn from our sins and ask him for mercy, the LORD offers us forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life (more...).
After Assyria conquers Israel, they replace the Israelites with other people from other nations. Because the new residents pollute Samaria (Palestine) with their idolatrous practices, however, God sends lions to attack them. Alerted to the tragedy, the king of Assyria takes a Jewish priest from exile and brings him to Israel to teach the people in the land how to worship God so that his anger will be appeased. Nevertheless, they continue worshipping their own gods in addition to the LORD.
Strangers now live in the Jewish homeland and intermarry with a few poor Jewish people left in Israel. These unions of Jew and Gentiles form the Samaritans, a despised people.
What price will sin extract from us? Those who persist in their sins may prosper for a while but for how long? Will they lose their home, property, possessions, or country? Will others occupy their place or nation?
What is our Best Chance to Keep our liberty?
The nation of Judah would remain in her land for now. She observed God's judgment against Israel and saw Israel's captors take her people into exile. For a little while, Judah would fear the LORD and live righteously under King Hezekiah.
What about us? When we see others suffer judgment for their sins, do we seek to mend our own ways or do we go on sinning, thinking judgment won't come upon us?
If we turn from our sins and are obedient to God, and if we keep teaching the truth of his Word, this will give our nation and people the best chance to preserve our liberty.
Take-Away Lessons
• Truth and freedom for the soul are found in Jesus Christ (John 8:31-36)
• Sin may take away our liberties.• If we are guilty of unrepentant sin, we should fear the LORD. We can turn away from our sins and ask God for mercy while there is still time. “Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation” (2Corinthians 6:2, NIV). (more…).
• If we obey the LORD by keeping his Word, the Bible, God will help us keep our liberty.
Focus Verse
Romans 6:22, NIV “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
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Looking Ahead: Now that Assyria has conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, she is arrogant and greedy to conquer more nations. But Isaiah prophesies that she will fall from greatness. In our next lesson we will look at the dangers of pride and arrogance, which we must avoid to receive God's blessings. Join us!
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