2 Kings 17 Hope in the Midst of Captivity

We read of the beginning of what is known as the Babylonian captivity of Israel and Judah. What is so amazing is the Lord had sent prophet after prophet with stern warnings and humble for Israel and Judah with requests to return to the Lord and serve Him alone.

Israel and Judah both had attempted to establish together in worship. Today it would be referred to as syncretism, serving the Lord God and idolatry. This brought the anger of the Lord that resulted in both being taken into captivity.

Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, had not only displaced and taken captive Israel and Judah; but had also brought people to replace the Jewish nation’s people. These replaced nations soon learned that Jerusalem was city and all of what we know as Israel that had been dedicated to the Lord. In an attempt to serve their idols, there were literal lions sent into those cities; which as a result, a number were killed in judgment.

There is an eerie similarity between Israel then and much of the western world, including the United States today. As Israel was founded upon and dedicated to the Lord Jesus, we too have turned our backs on the Lord and espouse a religious syncretism or a mixture to worship that has Biblical basis and that which is idolatry, atheism and agnostic. Other religions are granted greater freedom and liberty than the one religion that was true.

There is still hope, Job 14:7 ““For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground, Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant.”

There is still hope that is based on receiving the Living Water and Bread into our lives; individually and as a Church of the Living God.