Weekend Wrap-up
Theme of the Week: The Truth About Tolerance
Saturday, February 25, 2006
 1 of 1
After Assyria defeated Israel, it deliberately moved many Israelites out and many foreigners in, scrambling populations to head off potential revolts in its empire. The new settlers in Israel proceeded to worship God without dropping their pagan beliefs. Here the biblical historian summarizes the requirements of God, spelled out in the Pentateuch, which they were failing to observe.
Interact with God's Word
2 Kings 17:32-39
- When had God made a covenant (v. 35) with the descendants of Jacob?
- What evidence is offered (v. 36) that only the God of the descendants of Jacob is a god deserving worship?
- According to verse 34, did the newcomers' willingness to worship God measure up?
- How many times in this passage is God's insistence on their exclusive allegiance to Him repeated?
- From the emphatic way in which the covenant was explained to the newcomers, could they have failed to understand it?
- So why do you think they persisted in their tolerant inclusiveness?
Spend Time in Prayer
Ask God for strength to resist the pressures of a society that has already rejected His exclusive claims to their allegiance.
2 Kings 17:32-39
32 These new residents worshiped the LORD, but they appointed from among themselves priests to offer sacrifices at the pagan shrines.
33 And though they worshiped the LORD, they continued to follow the religious customs of the nations from which they came.
34 And this is still going on among them today. They follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the LORD and obeying the laws, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.
35 For the LORD had made a covenant with the descendants of Jacob and commanded them: "Do not worship any other gods or bow before them or serve them or offer sacrifices to them.
36 Worship only the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt with such mighty miracles and power. You must worship him and bow before him; offer sacrifices to him alone.
37 Be careful to obey all the laws, regulations, instructions, and commands that he wrote for you. You must not worship any other gods.
38 Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods.
39 You must worship only the LORD your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies."
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
Please teach me, Lord, how to remain unwavering in my allegiance to what Your Word declares without coming across as arrogant.
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