“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
Perhaps the idol was made of wood. Maybe it was cast out of bronze. Perhaps the idol was crudely made. Maybe it was the most intricate statue that a skilled craftsman could render. Perhaps it was the tchotchke type, mass produced for the tourists who would make a site-seeing trip to the city. “Get yer idol here! Only available today at this price! You won’t find one like it outside of Samaria!” Maybe it was truly one-of-a-kind, a treasure. Gold with ruby eyes and other precious stones adorning it. The specifics don’t really matter. Compared to God, they were all of equal value. Worthless.
The material didn’t matter. The craftsmanship didn’t matter. Whether it was 1 of millions just like it or if it were completely unique. Made of gold. Made of silver. Made of bronze. Made of wood. Made of straw. None of these details were important. They were all worthless. Worthless idols that could not and would not compare to the one, true God.
The Israelites knew better.
They were the chosen ones. The select. They had the proper lineage. Descended from the right people. Abraham was among their ancestors. Isaac too. Jacob as well. They knew of Joseph and how their family line was rescued from extinction and starvation. Even though Joseph had been mistreated, wrongly accused, and imprisoned, they saw how God brought blessing and prosperity to a whole nation through him. They knew how the Egyptians had turned. The heard the stories of slavery of captivity in Egypt. They knew how God had delivered them from their oppressors. Moses. The plagues. How their direct ancestors had been spared. The blood. The Passover. The lambs. They knew of the escape and the sea. Crossing it on dry ground. Walls of water standing on either side. They heard the lessons of the discontentment and complaining. How their forefathers had moaned about manna and longed for meat. How they even griped that they would have been better off in Egypt, in slavery. They knew how the lack of faith had kept them out of the Promised Land. How only two believed in the power of God to deliver the land into their hands and how the people wandered through the desert for 40 years as a result. They knew the commandments that had been given. The tablets in the Ark of the Covenant. They knew the guidelines, the expectations. They knew about finally entering the land flowing with milk and honey. Joshua. Jericho. Walls tumbling. They saw God’s faithfulness. God’s provision. As they grew and wanted a king, they knew about Saul. How pride had got the best of him. How he had turned from God. They remembered David. His heart. A heart that was after God’s own. Solomon. His wisdom. The Temple. Story after story after story. Lesson after lesson after lesson. They knew.
And yet…
“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
They followed worthless idols.
They became like that which they had followed.
Worthless.
It’s amazing to think about. It’s amazing to ponder. I didn’t even cover everything that God had done in the history of Israel. I didn’t share all of the stories that had happened prior to this point. There wasn’t a mention of Elisha above or his predecessor, Elijah. No mentioning of any of the judges. Samuel wasn’t in that brief synopsis. Still, even if this is all they had known, even if they hadn’t heard all of the other stories that I left out, wasn’t this enough? Wasn’t this sufficient? How could they possibly follow after idols? Even if they didn’t remember the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, even if they didn’t remember the fire from God that licked up the water on the altar versus the complete silence from Baal, hadn’t they learned enough? Hadn’t they known enough? How could they have done such a thing?
“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
Perhaps it was their success that got in their way. Perhaps the very blessings that God had bestowed upon them turned out to be their downfall. They became too comfortable, too confident. Or maybe they didn’t believe what they had been told. Old wives stories. Fairy tales. God didn’t really do that. That’s just a way that uneducated folks explained how we got here. Or maybe they just thought that God wouldn’t follow through. “Sure, sure. God wants us to follow after him and him alone, but everyone else has the limited edition Samarian idol. God will understand. It won’t be a big deal.” Perhaps they just forgot. They went a week without observing the sabbath. Then two, then a month. The next thing you know they weren’t going at all. Prayers had ceased. Stories had stopped. Maybe they just forgot about God.
Ultimately, the reason, though helpful, isn’t the most important part. The fact remains.
“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
Despite their long history. Despite knowing all the times that they had succeeded and all the times that they had failed, they no longer followed the Creator. They no longer served the Lord. They no longer feared God or kept God’s commandments. They no longer sought the Lord’s council or asked the question about what God might desire. Instead, they turned to other “gods”, to other idols, to things that had no ability to offer them anything of worth, and they became like that which they served. Worthless.
What a sad state. What a depressing line of Scripture.
“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
This week we are celebrating Independence Day in our country. As we do so, we have the opportunity to look back over the history of our nation. The good things. The bad things. The things that are in between. We have the opportunity to remember the sacrifices, the cost that has been paid, the lives that have been offered. We have a chance to remember those who were selfless, those who served, those who pointed to a better way to live, those who lived for God (sometimes alongside our country and its agenda and sometimes in spite of our country and its agenda). We also have the chance to remember those who acted selfishly, who were oppressive, who took instead of gave, who served things that were not from God’s hand or according to God’s plan. Let’s be honest. Within the history of our nation, just like within the history of Israel and their nation, there are things we can celebrate and things we can mourn. There have been successes as well as failures. Positive as well as negative. Good as well as bad. Every swing of the bat has not been a home run. Nor have they all been a strike. It’s important and good that we look back and remember it all. Even more important? That we remember and that it makes a difference.
The Israelites had every opportunity to see God at work through the history of their nation. They had every opportunity to learn from their ancestors and from what God had done in the past. Even so, they chose to forego what had come before to serve idols of zero worth. In so doing, they, themselves, became worthless.
Friend, you and I have an opportunity to learn from their mistake. We have an opportunity to look back on the history of our nation and to learn, to remember, to discover, to grow. Not only that, but we also have an opportunity to look back on a much broader scale, to behold the ways that God has worked throughout time, to consider the ways in which God has moved in other countries, other nations, other circumstances. As we look back and as we remember, let us not make the same mistakes as the nation of Israel. Let us not forget where worth is found and Who we should be following.
As many have sought to find worth in status, in social media followers, in financial portfolios, in housing plans, in vocation, in location, in ______, let us not do the same. Let us not give our hearts or follow after any other idol. For anything that we pursue above God, apart from God, or outside of God’s plan has the same amount of value. Zip. Zero. Zilch. In terms of our worship, in terms of our hearts, in terms of Who or what we choose to follow, there are two categories. God & everything else. One is of infinite value. The other? Not so much.
There’s a saying that I’m sure you have heard. “You are what you eat.” That’s not precisely true. I can eat Brussels sprouts until the day I die and never turn into one. There’s another saying that I’m still trying to work out, but it goes more like “Your worth is in your worship.” If you worship the one, true God, the Creator of all, the Alpha and Omega, the one who is worthy, you, too, will find your worth in God. However, if you choose to worship, to follow, to give your heart to anything else, your worth will be defined by that as well.
“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
Worship that which is worthy. Find your worth in God. Follow after God all of your days.
Fortunately for the Israelites, hope was still to come through them and for them. One was still to be born within their tribe, along the line of David. The Messiah, the Savior, Jesus was on the way. Even though they messed up, even though they became worthless by following worthless idols, God did not forsake them. Instead, God offered a way. That way was Jesus. God has done the same for you. As we approach Independence Day and we remember all that our country has done, collectively, as well as all that we have done individually, know that God has still provided a way. Even if you feel worthless or have followed after that which has no worth, know that you may still find your value in Jesus. Turn now towards God and follow Him.
“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”
~2 Kings 17:15
Your worth is in your worship.
Make sure you are worshipping the One who is worthy.
~ Pastor Chris
