2 Kings 17:18–19 (ESV): “18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only. 19 Judah also did not keep the commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced.”
God is a jealous God. He will not contend with man forever. Just as He is faithful to complete the good work He began in us, He is also faithful to discipline those He loves.
Israel and Judah were prone to wander. The Lord sent the prophets to remind them to walk in His commands and statues. Most of the kings did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Thus, the Lord brought Assyria into the picture to take Israel captive in the year seven twenty-two B.C. God uses captivity as a means of discipline. Judah won’t be far behind for they too walked waywardly. Fast-forward one hundred and twenty-five years, and Judah will be taken captive by Babylon. This is the faithfulness of God at work to discipline those He loves.
How prone to wander are you? Are you doing what is good or evil in the sight of the Lord? Know this, God is faithful! He will complete the good work He began in you. He will also discipline you for being disobedient. He loves you too much to allow your rebellious heart to reign. Choose to obey the Lord. Walk hand in hand with Him. If you find yourself wandering, recognize, repent, and return to the Lord. He is waiting for you with open arms.
Father, we thank You for fighting for us. Change our hearts to desire the things that please You. Remind us when we wander to recognize where we have fallen, repent, and return to You. We pray these things in Jesus' name, amen.
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