2 Kings 17:29-41: a reflection

29However every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived. 30The men of Babylon made Succoth Benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, 31and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32So they feared the LORD, and also made from among themselves priests of the high places for themselves, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 33They feared the LORD, and also served their own gods, after the ways of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. 34To this day they do what they did before. They don’t fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes, or the ordinances, or the law, or the commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; 35with whom the LORD had made a covenant and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them; 36but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, and you shall bow yourselves to him, and you shall sacrifice to him. 37The statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever more. You shall not fear other gods. 38You shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods. 39But you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” 40However they didn’t listen, but they did what they did before. 41So these nations feared the LORD, and also served their engraved images. Their children did likewise, and so did their children’s children. They do as their fathers did to this day.

The peoples resettled in Samaria came to a strange, divided kind of religion: They feared the LORD, and also served their own gods. They added the LORD to their existing gods, worshiping him alongside the idols they had brought, keeping both. And the account repeats it with dismay: they feared the LORD, and served their engraved images. Theirs was a divided worship, a mixture, fearing the LORD while also serving other gods; and God, who requires undivided worship, was not honored by this mix.

Notice the divided worship: they feared the LORD and also served other gods. It was not that they rejected the LORD outright; they feared him. But they did not fear him alone; they served their own gods as well, mixing the worship of the LORD with the worship of idols. This divided worship was not what God required; he requires to be worshiped alone, not alongside other gods. To fear the LORD while also serving idols was to give him a divided devotion he would not accept; God will not share his worship with idols.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can fall into a divided worship, serving God while also serving other things. We can add God to our lives while also serving the idols of our hearts, whatever they are, worshiping him alongside other loyalties, giving him a divided devotion; but God requires to be worshiped alone, not mixed with other gods. Do not give God a divided worship, fearing him while also serving the idols of your heart; he requires undivided devotion, not to be worshiped alongside other gods. Examine whether your worship of God is undivided, or whether you serve him while also serving other things; give God the undivided devotion he requires, rather than the divided worship of those who feared the LORD and also served their own gods; for God will not share his worship with idols, and calls for a devotion given to him alone, not mixed with other loyalties.

Lord, the peoples resettled in Samaria came to a strange, divided kind of religion: they feared the LORD, and also served their own gods. They added you to their existing gods, worshiping you alongside the idols they had brought, keeping both. And the account repeats it with dismay: they feared the LORD, and served their engraved images. Theirs was a divided worship, fearing you while also serving other gods; and you, who require undivided worship, were not honored by this mix. Show me the divided worship: they feared you and also served other gods. It was not that they rejected you outright; they feared you. But they did not fear you alone; they served their own gods as well, mixing your worship with the worship of idols. This was not what you require; you require to be worshiped alone. To fear you while also serving idols was to give you a divided devotion you would not accept. Take that to my heart, for I too can fall into a divided worship, serving you while also serving other things. I can add you to my life while also serving the idols of my heart, whatever they are, worshiping you alongside other loyalties; but you require to be worshiped alone. Keep me from giving you a divided worship, fearing you while also serving the idols of my heart; you require undivided devotion. Help me examine whether my worship of you is undivided, Lord, or whether I serve you while also serving other things; help me give you the undivided devotion you require.