Why Nations Crumble

MEMORY SELECTION: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” —Deuteronomy 30:19

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: II Kings 17:5-14

THE nation of Israel experienced a gradual and sad decline from the glorious days under King Solomon’s reign. The original twelve tribes became divided into two groups—the two-tribe nation in the south called Judah, and the separated ten-tribe nation called Israel, which was in the north. Judah, together with the tribe of Benjamin, attracted the devout element among the Jews largely because they possessed the “Holy City” and the “Temple.” The ten tribes, on the other hand, often became assimilated into the various cultures of their respective captors. They were, essentially, Israelites in name only.

The context of this week’s lesson opens thus, “In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.” (vs. 1) Hoshea, therefore, was the king of Israel and earned the distinction of being less evil in the sight of God than were some of his predecessors. “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.”—vs. 2

During this period of Israel’s history the Assyrian kingdom had gradually taken control of the Israelites, and King Hoshea occupied his throne only on the basis of paying annual tribute to the Assyrian king. This procedure had been going on for several years until Hoshea believed the alliance between his own kingdom and that of Egypt was sufficiently strong to refuse any further tribute money. He discovered his error when the Assyrian army speedily advanced and laid siege to his capital city, Samaria. The siege continued for about three years. At the end of that time there was a complete collapse of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, at which time the people were transported as captives hundreds of miles away. The object of the Assyrians was to break the national spirit of the Israelites and to reduce the people to servitude.

Later the two-tribe kingdom of Judah and Benjamin were also conquered and taken captive by the Babylonians. Thus were the children of Israel scattered abroad. They had received judgment from the hand of the Lord.

It is especially sad to note the breakdown in the blessed relationship that had been formed between God and the children of Israel. God had arranged the covenant, and they agreed to be bound by it. The Israelites desired to be God’s people and to serve and obey him faithfully. God agreed to look after their interests and especially favor them. He also warned of special chastisement and punishment if they failed to keep their part of the covenant arrangement. They were promised special blessings, but they also had a responsibility to be obedient to the covenant.

Israel’s history, therefore, is a direct indication of God’s hand in their affairs. Periods of prosperity and blessing indicate God’s favor, whereas defeat and trouble showed God’s disfavor.

The ten-tribe kingdom had acted perversely since the death of Solomon and the separation of the original twelve tribes. They, no doubt, were no worse than their neighbors, the surrounding nations, but their evil ways were more reprehensible because of the relationship they enjoyed as God’s specially chosen people. Indeed, they had received much from the bountiful hand of God in the way of special privileges, blessings, knowledge and opportunities that had been granted them as the posterity of Abraham and the inheritors of the great oath-bound covenant which had been made with him.

There is a lesson for those who now desire to be part of the Lord’s body. Just as the nation of Israel was cautioned to keep themselves from idolatry, so also are the Lord’s people of the present age admonished to set aside the spirit of worldliness that prevails all about us. We have received from the bountiful hand of God that promise of joint-heirship with our Lord in glory as prospective members of that body of Christ. And we have been richly blessed by the knowledge of God’s plan of salvation for the eventual recovery of the entire human race from the ravages of sin and death.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |