Fri.'s Devo - The Downfall of Israel

Read: 2 Kings 17:1-18:12; Acts 20:1-38; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 18:6-Hoshea began to rule over Israel while Ahaz was ruling over Judah. He was evil but not as evil as the kings of Israel before him. He was attacked by King Shalmaneser of Assyria and forced to pay heavy tribute. Hoshea got tired of paying it and hired King So of Egypt to help him stand against the king of Assyria. When the king of Assyria, Shalmanezer found out, he had Hoshea put in prison and beseiged the city of Samaria for three years. When it fell, the people were exiled to Assyria. They settled in colonies in Halah along the banks of the Habor River. *** All of this happened because Israel had chosen to follow Jeroboam into idolatry. They had perverted God's laws and chosen their own priests and their way of worship. All of this was evil and greatly offended God. God had sent prophets again and again to warn them to turn back to Him, but they refused to listen. They had set up the two golden calves and an Asherah pole. They even worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven. They sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire of Molech and consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil. *** In God's anger, he drove them from the land he had promised them and only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even they refused to obey the commands of the Lord and they followed in the evil practices that Israel had introduced. *** The king of Assyria sent groups of people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sephavaim to settle in Israel to replace the Israelites. But these people didn't worship God so God sent lions to kill them. They sent word to the king of Assyria what was happening so the king sent back a priest of the Lord to teach these foreigners God's laws and how he wanted to be worshipped. But these people continued to worship their own gods also. *** While all this was going on in Israel, Hezekiah became king in Judah. He ruled over Judah for 25 years and did what was pleasing to the Lord and removed the pagan shrines and cut down the Asherah poles. He destoryed the bronze serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness becuase the people had began to worship it. He was true to the Lord like no other king in Judah. God gave him success in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay tribute. He conquered the Philistines. He had ruled six years when Samaria fell to the Assyrians and Israel was taken into exile. *** In Acts, Paul's life was full of danger and threats but it never stopped him from preaching the truth. In Troas, Paul was preaching his last night before leaving. He preached late into the night and a man who was sitting next to a window, fell asleep and fell three stories down to his death. Paul went down and restored him and brothe him back up and they had the Lord's Supper and he left the next morning for Assos. Paul knew that he was bound for Jerusalem and that suffering and jail lay in his destiny but he was not afraid. He pressed on knowing this was his assignment and he wanted to do everything God had planned for his life. *** Paul shared all this with his followers and encouraged them to stay strong and faithful to what the Lord had called them to do. He warned them of false teacher who would arise and teach heresy. He prayed with them and hugged them good bye. *** Lord, may we have the determination of Paul to know our destiny and not be afraid of suffering and trials. May we press on toward the prize of our reward for obedience and faithfulness.