Curious...Convinced...Committed...Conformed...Crowned

I. Consequence 17:1...Hoshea reigned in Samaria over Israel nine years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. 3 Against him came Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant...4 king found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria...therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison...6...took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria

II. Cause 7 For the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had worshipped/feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of the nations, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel 9 And the children of Israel did secretly things that [were] not right against the LORD their God...11 they burnt incense on all the high places, as did the nations whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: 12 For they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, You shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep my commandments...which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

sin...lack of blessing...lack of trust...more sin (independence is the essence of sin)

III. Dumb 14 However they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that [were] around them, of whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves...idol, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

IV. Dumber 19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight....23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria to this day.

V. Dumber Still 26...said to the king of Assyria: The nations which you removed, and placed in Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he has sent lions among them...27...one of the priests whom you brought from there; and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. 28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. 29 Yet every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made 33 They worshipped the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from there.

VI. Corrective 36 The LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm, him shall you fear, and him shall you worship, and to him shall you do sacrifice. 37...statutes...ordinances...law...commandment, which he wrote for you, you shall observe to do for evermore; and you shall not fear other gods. 38 And the covenant that I have made with you you shall not forget; neither shall you fear other gods. 39 But the LORD your God you shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. 40 Yet they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

VII. Desolation 23:36 Jehoiakim...reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. 37 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. 24:1 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal three years: then he changed his mind and rebelled against him. 2 And the LORD sent...against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins...4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon. 13 And he carried out all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house...14 princes...mighty men of valor...craftsmen and smiths: none remained, except the poorest sort of the people of the land. 16...brought captive to Babylon. 25:9 And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house 21...So Judah was carried away out of their land.

VIII. Consolation 25:27 in the 37th year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign released Jehoiachin out of prison; 28 And he spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;

1Ki 21:25 But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 29 See how Ahab humbles himself before me? because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil...

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What are some of the consequences we experience by not following God 100%?

2. Do we do any similar "Dumb" things? Why do we fail to be committed to that of which we are convinced?

3. Why is it difficult to learn from warnings and others' examples? How can we be more sensitive/smarter?

4. Is there a limit to God's patience with stiff-necked people? Can repentance come too late?

5. Would God rather bless us or discipline us? What must we do to clear the path so He can bless us?