True Worship

Read 2 Kings 17-18
 
2 Kings 17:33 And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came…instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel…36 “But worship only the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt with great strength and a powerful arm. Bow down to him alone, and offer sacrifices only to him.”
 
2 Kings 17 is a fascinating look at God’s persistence to save his nation. It begins with a history of Israel’s gross disobedience, describing the great spiritual divide that grieves the LORD. One telling statement is 2 Kings 17:15b They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. How terrible to have such a legacy.
   Then 2 Kings 17: 24 begins the account of God’s judgment to exile Israel, the Northern Kingdom. He sent Assyria to defeat his people. Then foreigners began to replace the 10 tribes of Israel, as they were disbursed to other nations. Pagans rule when God’s people reject him.
   But God was still controlling matters in Israel. As new residents came from other countries, they brought their idolatry with them. In anger, the LORD God sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly. (2 Kings 17:26b)
   You could then say the Assyrian king’s response to this was more righteous than all the kings of Israel. He sent Israel’s priests back to Samaria to teach God’s law to the newcomers! A pagan king urged his people to know God. He recognized that obeying God was a matter of life and death.
   But these new residents did not worship the LORD God only. Each group of people mixed their old religion with the worship of God. Multiple ethics and moral systems were formed in Israel when each group continued to follow their own gods and also worshiped the LORD God. This is the beginning of the Samaritans, who became the enemies of the Jews as highlighted in the New Testament.
   But remember, God is persistent to save his creation. One day about seven centuries later, the Son of the LORD God would go to a Samaritan village. He would speak with a woman at a well. The conversation turned to worship: John 4:19 “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. 20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” 21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming – indeed it's here now – when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
   Yes, we must worship God only. This is the only way to remain with God. This is the only way of salvation.