2 Kings 17:14-18 ESV
14 But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them. 16 And they abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.

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14 Ngunit ayaw nilang makinig, kundi pinatigas ang kanilang ulo na gaya ng kanilang mga ninuno na hindi sumampalataya sa PANGINOON nilang Diyos.15 Kanilang itinakuwil ang kanyang mga tuntunin at ang kanyang tipan na ginawa niya sa kanilang mga ninuno, at ang mga babala na kanyang ibinigay sa kanila. Sila'y nagsisunod sa mga walang kabuluhan at naging walang kabuluhan at nagsisunod sa mga bansa na nasa palibot nila, na iniutos ng PANGINOON na huwag silang gumawa ng tulad nila.16 At kanilang itinakuwil ang lahat ng mga utos ng PANGINOON nilang Diyos, at gumawa para sa kanilang sarili ng mga larawang hinulma na dalawang guya, at nagsigawa ng sagradong poste, at sinamba ang hukbo ng langit, at naglingkod kay Baal.17 Kanilang pinaraan sa apoy ang kanilang mga anak na lalaki at babae at gumamit ng panghuhula at pangkukulam, at ipinagbili ang kanilang sarili upang gumawa ng masama sa paningin ng PANGINOON, na siyang ikinagalit niya.18 Kaya't ang PANGINOON ay galit na galit sa Israel, at inalis sila sa kanyang paningin. Walang naiwan maliban sa lipi ni Juda lamang.

OBSTINACY

Israel had provoked the Lord to so much anger because of their idolatry. It is an abomination that was rooted deeper and deeper into their lives both individually and nationally. God had been wooing them back through the prophets. “But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God. They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them.”[v.14,15] They spiralled down in sin until they hit rock bottom. They “made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD”[v.16,17]

“You can’t stop a bird from landing on your head. But you can keep it from building a nest” [ Martin Luther King Jr.] Christians aren’t sinless, are they? We couldn’t prevent our impulses from sinning at all times, could we? That is why, Jesus has told us to pray for forgiveness. [Matt 6:12]. And, John also declared the need of confession, saying, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”[1 John 1:9]

God doesn’t expect us not to sin but not to make it as a lifestyle. We may sin but must settle it by confessing it right away. Hence, it’s our continual refusal to listen from His rebuke and correction that is the concern. The problem of Israel was not that they “could not” listen but they “would not” listen. “They went after false idols and became false.” They became obstinate and stoic as the idols they worshipped. A tragic reality that the psalmist had articulated in Psa 115:4-8;
“Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.”

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