2 Kings 17:24-41
Following the conquest by the nation of Assyria, most of Israel was deported to Assyria. In their place, Assyria imported captives from other countries to live in Samaria, the main province of Israel at that time - 2 Kin 17:24 “And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities.” In our text, the religion of those who were imported is described at length... - 2 Kin 17:24-41. There are several characteristics of their religion we would do well to take note of, so let’s begin by reading the passage itself. With this passage fresh in our minds, how might the Samaritans’ religion compare with our service to God today?
In some cases, the comparisons may be a little too close for comfort! To begin with, note that their religion was a religion of “fear”. This is evident by the following statements:
1) “So they feared the Lord...” - 2 Kin 17:32 “They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.” “They feared the Lord, yet served their own gods...” - 2 Kin 17:33. “So these nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images...” - 2 Kin 17:41. That they had the wrong kind of fear is implied in vs. 34: “...they do not fear the Lord” -- Is this a contradiction? No, for remember that there is a proper fear of the Lord. This is taught by Jesus and His apostles - Mt 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”; Ac 10:34-35 “So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”; Ph 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” As taught by Solomon in the Old Testament - Pro 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”; 14:26-27 “In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”; Ecc 8:12-13 “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.”; 12:13-14 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” This “fear of the Lord”... is the kind of awesome reverence towards God that motivates us to turn away from evil and serve God faithfully at all times. Is not the kind that never thinks of God when things are going well, and then trembles at the prospect of facing God.
So the Samaritans had the wrong kind of fear. They would have never thought of God, had it not been for the lions - 2 Kin 17:25-26. When they did think of Him, it was only to tremble before Him. This is like so many people today who think of God only when they are ill, forgetting Him when they are well. They think of God during their calamities, but not during their joys; when faced with problems, but not when enjoying prosperity. Like some sailors who in a storm pray fervently to God for deliverance, making promises, but then get drunk or engage in immorality as soon as they get to land. If we turn to God only when things go wrong, our religion is no different than the Samaritans’! But with the proper kind of fear (awesome reverence), we will draw close to God through obedience; and when we do so, we will find Him to be so gracious and loving that we will serve Him out of love and not just a fear of judgment - 1 Jn 4:16-18 “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
We also notice that the Samaritans’ religion was a religion of “form”. Their hearts were not in their service to the Lord, as was evident by the fact they continued to serve their “carved images” - 2 Kin 17:33-34 “So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.” 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, possessing both a physical and spiritual nature, as man needs physical ways to express his spiritual devotion. Thus God has provided physical expressions even in New Testament worship, even though it is much more spiritual than that found in the Old Testament. The Lord’s Supper, singing, prayer, giving, etc., they all have “form”. But to go through the “form” without the “substance” (i.e., the right spirit, attitude) is “hypocritical” - Mt 15:7-9 “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
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 (Pro 15:13 “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”). Worship that is both “form” and “substance” will emulate the example of David, “I will praise You with my whole heart...” - Psa 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.” - Psa 146:1-2. “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is beautiful.” - Psa 147:1. Is our religion one of simply going through the “form”? Or does it have “substance” as well? If not, then our religion is no more pleasing to God than that of the Samaritans!
There is one final point about the Samaritans religion that needs to be made. We will make that point and examine what can happen to Christians today in the same manner.
