Double-minded people fear the Lord and serve idols. They seek deliverance from humans, follow vanity and do evil secretly. Those who trust and obey God’s commandments prosper, inherit the land, reject the world’s systems of support and receive deliverance from the Lord. In 2 Kings 16-18, various kings illustrate how double-mindedness results in instability, but single-mindedness on Christ promotes inheritance and deliverance.
Ahaz king of Judah made his son pass through the fire according to the abominations of the nations the Lord drove out. He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places. Rezin king of Aram and Pekah king of Israel waged war in Jerusalem but could not overcome him. Ahaz asked for help from Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria to be delivered from the kings of Aram and Israel. He sent them silver and gold from the Lord’s and king’s house. The Assyrian king captured Damascus and put Rezin to death (2 Kings 16:1-9). Those who disobey God seek deliverance from humans.
Ahaz sent the pattern of the Damascus’ altar so Urijah the priest could make it. Ahaz made burnt, meal and peace offerings on the altar. He commanded Urijah the priest to do these offerings for all the people. Ahaz wanted to use the bronze altar for himself. He cut off the borders of the stands and removed the laver from the house of the Lord because of the king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:10-20). Those who disobey God follow the world’s pattern.
The Assyrian king captured Samaria and carried Israel into exile to Assyria because they sinned against the Lord, feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations and kings. Israel did evil things secretly by serving idols, building high places, sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill to burn incense. The prophets warned them to turn from their evil ways and keep His commandments but they did not listen or believe in the Lord. They followed vanity and became vain like the nations around them. They worshiped the host of heaven, served Baal, practiced divination and enchantments and sold themselves to do evil. Only Judah was left. The Lord rejected and afflicted all of Israel’s descendants and gave them into the hand of plunders (2 Kings 17:1-23). Those who disobey God follow vanity and do evil secretly.
Assyria filled the cities of Samaria with strangers from the nations. The Lord sent lions to kill them. One of the exiled priests lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the Lord. They still made gods of their own and appointed priests of the high places. They should not forget the covenant and fear other gods, but fear Him since He would deliver them from their enemies. The various generations feared the Lord and served their idols (2 Kings 17:24-41). Those who are double-minded fear the Lord and serve idols.
Hezekiah did right like David and removed the high places, broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah and broke the bronze serpent Moses made. He trusted in the Lord by following and keeping His commandments. The Lord was with him and prospered him. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory. King of Assyria carried Israel into exile because they disobeyed the covenant of Moses (2 Kings 18:1-12). Those who trust and obey God’s commandments prosper and inherit the land.
When Sennacherib king of Assyria came against fortified cities of Judah, Hezekiah gave him silver from the Lord’s and king’s house along with gold from the doors of the temple. The king of Assyria asked what was his confidence and on whom he relied to rebel against him. He questioned his reliance on Egypt’s chariots and horsemen or trust in the Lord through worship before the altar in Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13-25). Those who rely on God reject the world’s systems of support.
The king of Assyria said that Hezekiah would not be able to deliver them by trusting in the Lord. None of the gods of the nations delivered them from the king of Assyria. Hezekiah told the people to be silent and not answer him (2 Kings 18:26-37). Those who trust in God receive deliverance from the Lord.
Ask God for a single-minded heart focused on Christ so you can inherit the land and receive deliverance.
