THE RELIGION OF THE SAMARITANS 2 Kings 17:24-41 05/28/2006 by Dr. Dane Boyles

THE RELIGION OF THE SAMARITANS2 Kings 17:24-41

05/28/2006by Dr. Dane Boyles

THE RELIGION OF THE SAMARITANS

24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25 When they first lived there, they did not fear [worship] the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people.


26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.” (2 Kings 17:24-26)


27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to fear [worship] the LORD. (2 Kings 17:27-28)


29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. 30 The men from Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the men from Cuthah made Nergal, and the men from Hamath made Ashima; (2 Kings 17:29-30)


31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.32 They feared [worshiped] the LORD, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. (2 Kings 17:31-32)


33 They feared [worshiped] the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought. (2 Kings 17:33)


34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither fear [worship] the LORD nor adhere to the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35 When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. (2 Kings 17:34-35)


36 But the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful to keep the decrees and ordinances, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. (2 Kings 17:36-37)


38 Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the LORD your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.” (2 Kings 17:38-39)


40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. (2 Kings 17:40-41)


A RELIGION OF “FEAR”• THIS IS EVIDENT BY THE FOLLOWING

STATEMENTS...

“So they feared the Lord...” (2 Kings 17:32)

32 They worshiped the LORD (2 Kings 17:32)


“They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods...” (2 Kings 17:33)

“So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images...” (2 Kings 17:41)

But that they had the wrong kind of fear is implied in verse 34:

“..they do not fear the Lord...”


THERE IS A PROPER FEAR OF THE LORD...• As taught by Solomon in the Old

Testament 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools [a] despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)


26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:26-27)


12 Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow. (Eccl 8:12-13; see also 12:13-14)


• As taught by Jesus and His apostles28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)


• SO THE SAMARITANS HAD THE WRONG KIND OF “FEAR”...

They would have never thought of God, had it not been for the lions (2 Kings 17:25-26)

When they did think of Him, it was only to tremble before Him (like the demons).


A RELIGION OF “FORM”• THEIR HEARTS WERE NOT IN THEIR

SERVICE TO THE LORD... What service they rendered to the Lord

possessed “form,” but not “substance.”


• SUCH WORSHIP IS OFTEN COMMON TODAY...

Where there is “form,” but not “substance.”

Now, there is a need for "form" in religion...

The Lord’s Supper, singing, prayer, giving, etc., they all have “form.”


Christians are guilty of such worship if they...

Sing “Give Me The Bible”, but they never read it.

Sing “Here Am I, Send Me”, but are not willing to go or do.

Sing “Wonderful Story Of Love” with bored expressions on their faces (cf. Proverbs 15:13)


Worship that is both “form” and “substance” will emulate the example of David...

I will praise You with my whole heart… (Psalms 138:1)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. (Psalms 146:1-2)


Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful. (Psalms 147:1)


A RELIGION OF “COMPROMISE”• IN THE CASE OF THE SAMARITANS...

They had God and they had “gods”; they liked the latter best (2 Kings 17:41a)

• They gave God lip service, but they gave the “gods” their true service.


• SUCH CAN HAPPEN TO CHRISTIANS TODAY... When they seek to serve God, while

also try to serve the world But this is impossible according to

Jesus (cf. Matthew 6:24) When people try to serve both, the

world always wins...


• BUT GOD CANNOT TOLERATE “COMPROMISE”… He requires total commitment to Him,

no matter the price.5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deut 6:5)


14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. (Deut 6:14-15)


26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. (Lk 14:26)33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Lk 14:33)


To compromise with the world is to commit “spiritual adultery”! (James 4:4)4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (James 4:4)


Thus we need to heed Jesus’ admonition: 33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness... (Mt 6:33)


CONCLUSION• I believe it is easy to see the error of “The

Religion of the Samaritans.”

• And how much we need JESUS!

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THE RELIGION OF THE SAMARITANS 2 Kings 17:24-41 05/28/2006 by Dr. Dane Boyles