Israel exiled to Assyria

II Kings Chapter 17

Hoshea ruled in Samaria for nine years and did what was evil in the Lord's sight, but not as much as the kings of Israel who ruled before him.

King Shalmaneser of Assyria attacked and defeated King Hoshea, so Israel had to pay heavy annual tributes to Assyria. Then Hoshea asked King So of Egypt to help him shake free of Assyria's power. But when the king of Assyria discovered the treachery, he had Hoshea arrested and put in prison.

For three years the king of Assyria besieged Samaria until it finally fell and the Israelites were exiled to Assyria. This happened because the people worshiped other gods, sinning against the Lord. They imitated the practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land before them. The people of Israel built pagan shrines and set up Asherah poles on top of every hill and under each green tree. Again and again the Lord gave the people warnings and had sent prophets and seers to warn them. But the Israelites would not listen and rejected God's laws and the convenant made by their ancestors.

And because the Lord was angry, he swept them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord, so he punished them and handed them over to their attackers until they were destroyed.

The king of Assyria transported groups of people from several cities to resettle them in the towns of Samaria, replacing the people of Israel. When word reached the king of Samaria that the resettled foreign people did not know how to worship the God of the land, he commanded that one of the exiled priests from Samaria go back to Israel and teach the new resients the religious customs of the God of the land. But still the people continued to worship their own idols. The people from Sepharvaim even sacrificed their own children.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Moving the captives out and moving foreigners in, was Assyria's way to prevent revolt. The mixture of people resettled in Israel were called "Samaritans".

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? The new settlers in Israel worshiped God without giving up their pagan customs. They did so, to appease God. In our society today, many people claim to be a believer, yet don't want to give up attitudes and action that God denounces. God cannot be added to the values we already have. God comes first. He must not be added to the values we already have. We can't have it both ways. Believe in God and give up attitudes and actions that God denounces.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.