Movatterモバイル変換

2 Kings 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 thatwere round about them,concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earthis mine: …

Exodus 24:6-8
And Moses took half of the blood, and putit in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar…

charged them

Exodus 20:4,5
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likenessof any thing thatis in heaven above, or thatis in the earth beneath, or thatis in the water under the earth: …

Exodus 34:12-17
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: …

Deuteronomy 4:23-27
Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image,or the likeness of anything, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee…

fear other gods

Judges 6:10
And I said unto you, Iam the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

Jeremiah 10:5
Theyare upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither alsois it in them to do good.

and commanded them,
God's commands were not mere suggestions but divine mandates that required obedience. The commandments were given to guide the Israelites in living a life that was pleasing to God and distinct from the surrounding nations. This reflects the holiness and authority of God, as seen inLeviticus 19:2, where God calls His people to be holy because He is holy.

“Do not worship other gods
This command is rooted in the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3), which prohibits idolatry. The worship of other gods was a constant temptation for Israel, as they were surrounded by polytheistic cultures. This command underscores the monotheistic nature of Israel's faith and the exclusivity of their worship to Yahweh. It highlights the spiritual adultery that idolatry represents, as seen inHosea 4:12.

or bow down to them;
Bowing down is an act of reverence and submission, often associated with worship. This prohibition emphasizes that physical acts of worship, such as bowing, should be directed only to the LORD. The act of bowing to idols is seen as a betrayal of the covenant relationship with God, as illustrated inDaniel 3:18, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image.

do not serve them
Serving other gods implies allegiance and devotion, which should be reserved for the LORD alone. This command reflects the call to serve God with all one's heart and soul, as seen inDeuteronomy 10:12. Serving idols is portrayed as slavery, contrasting with the freedom found in serving the true God.

or sacrifice to them.
Sacrifices were a central part of worship in ancient cultures, symbolizing devotion and appeasement. Offering sacrifices to other gods was strictly forbidden, as it violated the covenant and was an abomination to the LORD. This command is reinforced inDeuteronomy 12:31, where God warns against adopting the detestable practices of the nations. Sacrifices were to be made only to the LORD, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the sacrificial system (Hebrews 10:10).

2 Kings 17 unfurls against the sad backdrop of the northern kingdom’s collapse. Yet verse 35 first reminds us of the bright beginning: “For the LORD had made a covenant with the Israelites…”.

• A covenant is far more than a contract; it is a sacred, binding relationship. SeeGenesis 15 andExodus 24, where God pledges Himself to Abraham’s offspring and later seals the Sinai covenant with blood.

• God’s covenants always reveal His character—faithful, steadfast, unchanging (Psalm 89:34).

• The people’s duty flowed from God’s prior grace. AsExodus 19:4-6 shows, redemption (“I carried you on eagles’ wings”) comes before obligation (“Now if you will indeed obey My voice…”).

The covenant came with clear commands. Covenant love is not law-less love; it gives direction.Deuteronomy 6:1-3 stresses that commands are gifts meant to bless, preserve, and prolong life in the land.

• Israel’s history proves that ignoring divine commands always leads to disaster (Judges 2:20-23;2 Kings 17:7-18).

• The commands are not arbitrary; they safeguard exclusive allegiance to the Lord who alone saves (Isaiah 43:11).

Idolatry is the chief covenant violation. The first of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

• “Other gods” covers everything—from Baal and Asherah (1 Kings 18:21,2 Kings 17:16) to the modern idols of power, money, and self (Colossians 3:5).

• Worship is fundamentally about trust and love. When Israel trusted Baal for rain, they denied the Lord’s sufficiency (Jeremiah 2:13).

The physical act of bowing signals internal surrender.Psalm 95:6 invites us to bow before the LORD alone.

• Bowing also communicates honor; giving that honor elsewhere robs God of glory (Isaiah 42:8).

•Daniel 3 contrasts faithful refusal to bow before idols with the prevailing cultural pressure.

Service involves daily allegiance, not just ceremonial acts. Jesus recalls this command inMatthew 4:10, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only,” fending off Satan’s temptation.

• Whatever commands our time, energy, and resources becomes our master (Matthew 6:24).

• Israel’s slide into idolatrous service led to moral decay and social injustice (Amos 2:6-8).

Sacrifice expresses ultimate devotion.Deuteronomy 12:13-14 stipulates that offerings be made only “at the place the LORD will choose.”

• Pagan sacrifices often involved immorality and even child sacrifice (2 Kings 17:17), practices the Lord utterly abhors (Leviticus 18:21).

• By limiting sacrifice to Himself, God guards both His people’s purity and His own honor.

2 Kings 17:35 is the covenant’s heartbeat distilled into one sentence. God, having graciously bound Himself to Israel, calls for undivided worship: no rival gods, no divided loyalties, no borrowed rituals. The command is protective and loving, directing His people to the only source of life and blessing. Our response today mirrors theirs: exclusive trust, heartfelt worship, and daily service offered to the Lord alone.