(This is a companion piece to Paul’s Pentecost sermon.)
2Ki 17:38-39 Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. Do not fear other gods, but fear the LORD your God, and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.
These verses are a promise to the people of Judah. The Assyrians had conquered Israel and removed the Israelites from the Land. In their place, a variety of people from different cultures were moved into Samaria. The Judeans were about to be overtaken by the Babylonians and needed to learn from the events taking place just north of them.
That was the practice in ancient times. When a nation conquered another nation, they simply moved the inhabitants of conquered people far from their home. This destabilized them, since they believed their gods were associated with the land they left.
The process also weakened them, culturally. When they were relocated, they tended to intermarry and lose their identity as a people. They learned new ways, worshipped new gods, and ceased to be a threat to the ruling power.
This is what happened, when the Assyrians conquered the northern tribes of Israel. The king of Assyria deported the Hebrews and imported various other people to populate the territory.
However, the God of the Israelites wasn’t very happy with the new residents! So, the king of Assyria returned a Hebrew priest to Israel to teach the new residents the ways of the “God of the land.”
On the surface, you’d think this was a good thing. More people were hearing about Jehovah and learning to serve Him! However, it didn’t really work out that way. They were only inoculated with a little Jehovah worship. They never went ALL IN, as they refused to let go of their old ways. They brought their gods with them.
This was very typical. Actually, it’s (fallen) human nature… Even the Hebrews did the same thing. Joshua addressed this, when they entered the Promised Land.
Joshua 24:14 NIV Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
Obviously, the Hebrews had other gods with them, when they left Egypt! Not only did they make a golden calf for themselves, when Moses took too long on the mountain – but they still worshipped (feared) other gods even when they entered the Promised Land.
Actually, this was a long-standing problem. They had had these gods for a long time, well over the 400 years in Egypt… w-a-y before that – even from beyond the Euphrates River!
Their father, Abraham came out of Chaldea, which is beyond the Euphrates. He was the first one to be called out of paganism and away from the prevailing gods of his day to worship the one, true God.
Abraham proved that he was ALL IN with Jehovah, when he demonstrated his faith on Mt. Moriah. Abraham believed God – no matter what. He feared God only. He was even willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac to obey Jehovah – even though he was the one through whom God’s promises would be fulfilled.
Nope, no idols for Abraham! Not his family, not even God’s promises, would be honored above obedience to God, Himself. No wonder God counted Abraham righteous, because of his faith! Abraham only feared God.
However, it would appear that everyone who traveled with Abraham didn’t have the same, pure faith. Some of his people brought idols from beyond the Euphrates. And here they were, finally, moving into the Promised Land – and Abraham’s descendants have to be challenged to put away lesser deities.
Why?
Why would anyone need other gods, if they have the one, true God?
There could be lots of reasons: Fear. Superstition. Unbelief. Hedging their bets. Tradition. Pride. Independence. Rebellion. Stubbornness… and the list continues!
At this point, however, Joshua is challenging them to be ALL IN with Jehovah – and he is personally leading the charge!
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Indeed, Joshua was ALL IN, but others must not have been, because the one true God is still trying to get their undivided attention.
He was very clear on Mt. Sinai and hadn’t changed.
Exodus 20:3-4 Do not have other gods besides Me. Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers’ sin, to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commands.
And again, when they were about to leave the desert. There was to be no room in our heart for another…
Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
This theme is repeated over and over in Scripture! God has always been looking for a people to be His and only His, so He could be their God.
So, the question remains: Who are we going to serve? Who will we fear? Who will we love? Who will we honor and respect – the gods of the land, the gods of the prevailing culture, or the God of heaven?
Whether they are hand-me-down gods that we have grown up with (what is normal) or exotic gods we encounter along life’s journey, if it’s not the one and only, true God that we fear (love, honor, worship, obey) – we are off base. More than that, our spiritual misalignment, our adulterated and misguided worship, our fear of anyone or anything above or in addition to God Almighty will do nothing but drag us down, cause evil, and ultimately incur judgment.
If you can relate, take courage! God is graciously extending His hand to you. He will help you; He will purify; He will free you. Review your life with Him. Ask Him to help you to inventory your fears – and clean house.
Are you afraid of what people think? The fear of man is a snare! Fear God only – and throw out that idol.
Are you worried about the future? Why? God is on the Throne, and you have submitted your life to Him. It’s not your own, anyway; you were bought with a price.
Do you need the things of this world to feel secure or important? Why? Don’t you know that He has adopted you into His very own family? You have an inheritance in Him! You have much better treasure reserved for you in heaven. Why will you bow to mammon? You can’t serve both God and mammon! So, it’s time to choose.
Are you insistent upon your own way? Do you hold what you think above what God’s Word clearly teaches? Do your feelings and emotions have more weight than God’s will? Who is really in control: God or you? Even here, He longs to help you, as you “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
God is a jealous God. He will not share you with any other god. In actuality, there is no other god beside Him! He is the one and only, true God, and he is way above all so-called other gods.
We should remember our covenant with Him. He will be true to what He has promised! If we fear Him – and only Him – we don’t ever have to be afraid of anything or anyone else ever again.
2Ki 17:38-39 Do not forget the covenant that I have made with you. Do not fear other gods, but fear the LORD your God, and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.
