2 Kings 17:1-18

This is longer than usual but is needed.

Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in the twelfth year of Ahaz's rule in Judah, and he ruled nine years from Samaria. Hoshea disobeyed the LORD and sinned, but not as much as the earlier Israelite kings had done. During Hoshea's rule, King Shalmaneser of Assyria invaded Israel; he took control of the country and made Hoshea pay taxes. But later, Hoshea refused to pay the taxes and asked King So of Egypt to help him rebel. When Shalmaneser found out, he arrested Hoshea and put him in prison. Shalmaneser invaded Israel and attacked the city of Samaria for three years, before capturing it in the ninth year of Hoshea's rule. The Assyrian king took the Israelites away to Assyria as prisoners. He forced some of them to live in the town of Halah, others to live near the Habor River in the territory of Gozan, and still others to live in towns where the Median people lived. All of this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had rescued them from Egypt, where they had been slaves. They worshiped foreign gods, followed the customs of the nations that the LORD had forced out of Israel, and were just as sinful as the Israelite kings. Even worse, the Israelites tried to hide their sins from the LORD their God. They built their own local shrines everywhere in Israel--from small towns to large, walled cities. They also built stone images of foreign gods and set up sacred poles for the worship of Asherah on every hill and under every shady tree. They offered sacrifices at the shrines, just as the foreign nations had done before the LORD forced them out of Israel. They did sinful things that made the LORD very angry. Even though the LORD had commanded the Israelites not to worship idols, they did it anyway. So the LORD made sure that every prophet warned Israel and Judah with these words: "I, the LORD, command you to stop doing sinful things and start obeying my laws and teachings! I gave them to your ancestors, and I told my servants the prophets to repeat them to you." But the Israelites would not listen; they were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to worship the LORD their God. They ignored the LORD's warnings and commands, and they rejected the solemn agreement he had made with their ancestors. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. The LORD had told the Israelites not to do the things that the foreign nations around them were doing, but Israel became just like them. The people of Israel disobeyed all the commands of the LORD their God. They made two gold statues of calves and set up a sacred pole for Asherah; they also worshiped the stars and the god Baal. They used magic and witchcraft and even sacrificed their own children. The Israelites were determined to do whatever the LORD hated. The LORD became so furious with the people of Israel that he allowed them to be carried away as prisoners. Only the people living in Judah were left, (2 Kings 17:1-18).

Three points:

1. There is punishment for rebellion.

God has rules. Consider the Ten Commandments. We have all sinned. We have all broken the Commandments, but consider the church of today. The New Testament has rules also for us. How many does the church mention today? How faithful are the people of today?

2. God’s people are to be different.

One of the issues in the northern tribes of Israel is “The LORD had told the Israelites not to do the things that the foreign nations around them were doing, but Israel became just like them.” When we become just like the world around us or nearly so, we are total failures as Christians. In most churches divorce is as high or higher than “nonchistians”. So too the way we treat our spouses and children. We need to start living a Biblical lifestyle.

3. Don’t make God angry.

It is said here: “The Israelites were determined to do whatever the LORD hated.” It is almost as if they studied what God wanted and then deliberately did the opposite. Consider these rules:
“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22)

Are they too hard to follow?

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
(Romans 12:12)

Three points:

1. Rejoicing in hope

The first of these laws is to be rejoicing in hope. Rejoicing is to feel joy over and over again. The best example I have of explaining faith and hope is this: Jesus is returning; this is fact and faith. I hope it is today. We are to rejoice.

2. Patient in tribulation

We like things easy and comfortable, yet life is not like that especially for the Christian: Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12). We are to be patient. The Lord Jesus is the supreme example of patience in suffering.

3. Continuing instant in prayer

We are to be persistent, constant, quick to pray no matter what the situation. It is easy to pray when things are difficult, but we must pray when things are good, too.

John 16:10

...concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer... (John 16:10)

Three points:

1. Righteousness

Righteousness is having gone before a judge then declared innocent. The work of the Holy Spirit is to confront people to let them know what is right and wrong.

2. I go

The Lord Jesus is not here on earth; he is in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. He had to leave earth according to the plan of God. The right hand side of an authority is one of extreme importance and power.

3. See me no longer

This refers to his earthly time, not to his return in the future. His ascension was when he left. Now...
1. ...he helps protect his people: For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

2. ...he prays for his people: Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
(Hebrews 7:25)

And many other things.

John 16:9

...concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
(John 16:9)

Three points:

1. Concerning sin

Sin has the idea of missing the mark. The mark is God's Law, His rules. This is summarized nicely in the Ten Commandments. To miss the mark would mean that we cannot live His rules perfectly in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. The Holy Spirit does the work of conviction.

2. Believe

Believe has the idea of trust. The most common illustration is of the tightrope walker who can not only walk on the cable but also carry and wheel objects. If asked if he is able to do this with a person in the wheelbarrow, all agree, but if asked if they will be that person in the wheelbarrow, no one volunteers. If one did volunteer, that would be the word used here. We have to believe in the Lord Jesus as if our life depends on it.

3. Me

People put their trust in money, government, physicians, friends, themselves, experts(?), science, church, and many other things, but none of these things will forgive sins, take away guilt, or make things right between God and man. Trusting in Jesus can. We must believe in Him everyday for all things; He knows best.

John 16:8

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8)

Three points:

1. He

The Holy Spirit knows everything, is all powerful, and is everywhere. The coming refers to Pentecost.

2. Convict

Convict has the idea of confronting someone and showing that they are wrong. It is used 17 times in the New Testament as in "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. (Matthew 18:15) and Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:9)

3. The World

This is not a select group of people; it is all of us.
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(Romans 3:23)

1 Peter 3:22

(Jesus Christ) who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him. (1 Peter 3:22)

Three points:

1. Who is gone into heaven

He is no longer on earth. He knows everything that happens, but He, Himself, is not here. In heaven He waits for the time to return. He prays for us.

2. Right hand of God

This is a position of honor, authority, and protection.

3. Made subject to Him

Subject means that someone or thing is brought under the authority of someone else whether they like it or not. Angels willingly submit to Him. Authorities and powers are not willing; they are nonetheless. He is the ultimate power and authority. We find safety in Him.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18)

Mark 5:19

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." (Mar 5:19)

Three points:

1. Prayer

There is a number of prayers here.
a. The prayer of the demons to leave the man and go into the swine.
b. The prayer of the residents of the area for the Lord Jesus to leave.
c. The prayer of the delivered man to go with Jesus.

2. Answers

Jesus answered all three requests.
a. The demons got a "yes" answer and were allowed to enter the swine.
b. The people of the area got a "yes", and the Lord Jesus left.
c. The delivered man got a "no" and was told to stay there, go home, and tell everyone how the Lord Jesus had delivered him.

3. Us

Sometimes we have a "yes" answer sometimes a "no" answer. Each answer is best. We may not understand at the time why we got "no" for an answer, but it is the correct one. Let us be content with a "yes" or "no" answer.