2 Kings

2 Kings 17: The LORD calls Israel to turn

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the fall of Samaria, let us seek the Lord together. Ask Him to show us anything that takes His place in our hearts, and to show us Jesus, who came to call sinners.

Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.

Psalm 138:7

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us how Israel turned from You, and how You called them to return. Help us to put away every idol and to trust Jesus. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Hoshea becomes king of Israel and does evil, though not as the kings before him, and he pays tribute to Assyria. He sends messengers to Egypt and stops paying tribute, so the king of Assyria imprisons him and besieges Samaria. Samaria falls in the ninth year, and Israel is carried away to Assyria. The writer says this happened because Israel had sinned against the LORD who brought them out of Egypt. The LORD sent prophets and seers to say, “Turn from your evil ways,” but the people hardened their necks. They practiced evil rites and served idols, so the LORD removed Israel from His sight. Foreign peoples settle in Samaria, and they learn to fear the LORD, but they keep serving their own gods.

As you read 2 Kings 17, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD called Israel to turn from its idols through His prophets, but they would not listen.

Hoshea stopped paying tribute, so Assyria besieged Samaria three years and carried Israel away (verses 4 to 6). The writer says why, for Israel had sinned against the LORD who brought them out of Egypt (verse 7). They feared other gods, built high places, and set up pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill (verses 7 to 10). The LORD sent every prophet and seer to say, “Turn from your evil ways” (verse 13). They would not listen, rejected the LORD's covenant, and served idols and Baal (verses 14 to 16). So the LORD was angry and removed Israel from His sight (verses 18 and 23). Judah also did not keep the LORD's commandments (verse 19). Foreign peoples settled in Samaria, and they feared the LORD but still served their own gods (verses 24 to 33). The LORD warned Israel before He judged, and the chapter shows how serious it is to refuse His call.

How does 2 Kings 17 show us that the LORD called Israel to turn from its idols through His prophets, but they would not listen?

The LORD calls His people to turn.

The LORD testified to Israel and Judah through every prophet and seer (verse 13). He called them to turn from their evil ways and keep His commandments (verse 13). He sent this word by His servants the prophets (verses 13 and 23). Jesus said that He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5 verse 32).

Israel would not listen, and it was carried away.

They would not listen, but hardened their neck like their fathers (verse 14). They served idols and rejected the LORD's covenant (verses 15 and 16). So the LORD removed Israel from His sight, and they were carried away to Assyria (verses 18 and 23). Parents, you may want to explain verses 7 to 23 in your own words, without details.

People fear the LORD and serve other gods.

The king of Assyria settled other peoples in the cities of Samaria (verse 24). They did not fear the LORD at first, and lions killed some of them (verse 25). A priest taught them how to fear the LORD, yet every nation made gods of its own (verses 28 and 29). They feared the LORD and also served their own gods (verse 33).

Memorise

Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes

2 Kings 17:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what idol have I put in the LORD's place, and do I turn to Jesus?

The LORD sent His prophets and seers to say, “Turn from your evil ways,” and Israel would not listen. They hardened their necks, and the LORD removed them from His sight. Jesus came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5 verse 32).

Every sinner has turned away from the LORD, and no idol can save anyone. Jesus carried the sin of His people to the cross and died there. His death pays for all their sin. He rose from the dead, and He calls sinners to come to Him.

So turn from your sin and trust Jesus today. Repentance and forgiveness of sins are preached in His name to all nations (Luke 24 verse 47).

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD called Israel to turn from its sins, and that Israel would not listen. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Parents, you may want to explain verses 7 to 23 and 31 in your own words, without details. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He calls us to turn to Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, you backsliding Israel,’ says Yahweh; ‘I will not look in anger on you; for I am merciful,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will not keep anger forever.

Jeremiah 3:12

Father, thank You that You call sinners to turn to You. Thank You for Jesus, who came to call sinners and died for them. Give each child grace to turn from sin and trust Him, and give them a new heart. Help us to put away every idol this week. Amen.