They Always Said The Same Thing
2 Kings 17:13
Jay Horsley
2 Kings 17 records the final destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel. The first six verses of the chapter tell of the final political circumstances that led to their demise. But verse 7 tells us the real problem, “Now this came about, because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt...and they had feared other gods.” In the detailed telling of their sins we see that they sinned secretly and publicly, worshiped every other god and did evil in the Lord's sight. Finally the Lord had had enough, so He ended their national existence.
But in the time that Israel existed, from its very beginning in 937 B.C. until its final days in 722 B.C., God sent prophets to admonish them. “Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah, through all His prophets and every seer, saying, `Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets.'” (vs. 13)
For the entire 215 years of the divided kingdoms, Israel and Judah had prophets. Beginning in 1 Kings 13, when the unnamed prophet spoke against Jeroboam's calf worship, Israel was full of prophets. Over this same stretch of time, Judah had even more prophets.
There were also several prophets whose names are not known.
The Lord was never without witness. When anyone would ask, as Jehoshaphat did, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” (2 Kings 3:11) one was always handy. They were always able to find a prophet and they were left without excuse.
When they inquired of God's men what did they hear? They heard everyone of them say same thing, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments.” (2 Kings 17:13) For over 200 years numerous men all preached this same message in both kingdoms. Before the kingdom was divided and after Israel was sent away, the message was the same then too.
In one sense we take great comfort in the unchanging message of God. There is never a time when we cannot now what to do. We can read the words of Solomon, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Eccl. 12:13,14) and make application of them today even though they were spoken nearly 3,000 years ago. These old words are ageless and timeless because they are part of the “`THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER.' And this is the word which was preached to you.” (1 Pet. 1:25) In the gospel we have the same message of morality and fidelity to God. This has never changed because God never does. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) God has never changed His expectations of us and never will.
But the unchanging expectations of God are an anvil upon which many have beat themselves to destruction. God had one clear set of instructions for His people but they refused to heed.
When God's instructions and expectations are clear and the message often repeated by all His spokesmen, the destruction of those who refuse to heed is undeniably deserved. With this though in mind, read again what God's preacher said about the gospel: