[Biblemat] S:> Why Israel Failed: They Never Fully Reformed Themselves

[Ethan R. Longhenry]

http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html

                      Why Israel Failed:
             They Never Fully Reformed Themselves

I. Introduction
   A. Recognition of Israel's failure
      1. Israel in the flesh, overall, a failure
      2. They did not keep their obligation in the covenant
      3. God first punished them, exiled them, and then entirely 
         destroyed their religious system in 70CE 
         (cf. Matthew 24:1-36)
      4. Parable of the Vineyard shows what happens 
         (Matthew 21:33-44, Mark 12:1-11)-- original occupants 
         (Israel) removed, new inhabitants (Christians) enter
      5. Failure of Israel due to many reasons together-- perhaps 
         a few failures could be endured, but the combination caused 
         downfall
      6. Nevertheless, we can learn from each instance of failure
   B. 1 Corinthians 10:6
      1. Failure of Israel is designed to be a lesson for us
      2. We must learn so that we may not fall into the same 
         temptations!
   C. Many failures can be listed
      1. In the wilderness, Egypt never left them
      2. When conquering the land, they did not fully conquer
      3. They did what was right in their own eyes
      4. They rejected God's form of government
      5. They adapted God's commands
      6. They conformed to the other nations
   E. Let us continue to examine failures of Israel

II. Reformations: Judah
   A. While Israel often sinned, it is not as if they always sinned 
      at high levels
      1. It is not just a simple progression-- its history has ups 
         and downs
      2. The history of the kings indicates these ups and downs
   B. There were many kings who were faithful, with some caveats
      1. 1 Kings 15:11-14: Asa faithful in heart.but the high places 
         remained
      2. 1 Kings 22:41-46: Jehoshaphat faithful, but high places 
         remained, he allied himself with Israel, etc.
      3. 2 Chronicles 24:2, 17-19: J(eh)oash faithful for a time, 
         then goes to idols
      4. 2 Chronicles 25:2: Amaziah did not follow God with his 
         whole heart
      5. 2 Chronicles 26:4, 16: Uzziah (Azariah) followed God fully 
         until he became proud in heart, and then sinned by offering 
         incense in the Temple
      6. 2 Chronicles 27:1-2: Jotham followed God, but people acted 
         corruptly
   C. Hezekiah and Josiah were known for how they fully reformed 
      Judah
      1. 2 Chronicles 29 / 2 Chronicles 34
      2. Both kings removed high places and idolatrous practices
      3. Both kings re-institute proper festivals
      4. Both are highly commended (2 Kings 18:5, 2 Kings 23:21-23)
   D. While these kings were good, their descendants both turned 
      aside
      1. Manasseh acted extremely corrupt, and despite his repentance 
         God determines to exile Judah (2 Chronicles 33)
      2. After Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah 
         all turn aside, and Babylon comes, exiles Judah, and 
         destroys Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 36)
   E. Reformation of practice, then, was either not complete or not 
      lasting in Judah

III. Reformation: Israel
   A. In the Kingdom of Israel, there is one instance of 
      reformation: Jehu
   B. Jehu commissioned to be God's instrument of vengeance upon 
      house of Ahab (1 Kings 19:15-17)
   C. 2 Kings 9: Jehu kills kings of Israel and Judah and Jezebel
   D. 2 Kings 10: Jehu kills Ahab's children and all Baal priests 
      and worshipers
   E. While this reformation was good, it was not complete
      1. Baal worship was removed (2 Kings 10:28)
      2. The golden calves of "YHWH" remained in Dan and Bethel, 
         however (2 Kings 10:29)
   F. God blesses Jehu with having more generations on the throne of 
      Israel than of any other, but his kingdom will not be 
      everlasting (2 Kings 10:30-32)
   G. While it was good to remove the Baal worship, the reformation 
      was not complete, and God's anger was not fully taken away
   H. Israel led into exile (2 Kings 17)

IV. The Need for Complete and Enduring Reformation
   A. There is much that we can learn from the example of Israel
   B. While God appreciates any reformation, if it is not complete, 
      it is not enough!
      1. Romans 12:1-2: complete
      2. Galatians 2:20: "crucified with Christ"
      3. James 2:10-12: any transgression makes one a transgressor
      4. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27: full focus on the race
      5. The change is to be complete, and not partial
   C. God can equip us to make complete change in our lives
      1. 1 Corinthians 10:13: we can survive any temptation
      2. 2 Corinthians 9:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17: full sufficiency 
         from God and His Word
   D. We cannot expect to reform only certain aspects of our lives 
      and be found pleasing to God
      1. It is good to get rid of many sins...
      2. ...but if many sins remain, the job is not yet done!
      3. We cannot get complacent!
   E. Such is true also in terms of the church and standing for 
      the truth
      1. Christ's church is the pillar and support of the truth 
         (1 Timothy 3:15)
      2. If the church is not standing for the truth, and is not 
         completely holding to God's teachings, then it is not 
         Christ's church!
      3. There are many denominations that have reformed somewhat 
         perhaps, but have not completely returned to the teachings 
         of Christ
      4. As with Jehu and Israel, or many kings of Judah, so with 
         them: if it is not complete, it is not going to end well!
      5. cf. Matthew 7:21-23
   F. Even if we stand as reformed persons, we must be concerned 
      with the next generation
      1. Hezekiah and Josiah are great examples of reformers with 
         zeal for God
      2. ...yet their children did not remain in that truth and 
         committed great sin!
      3. Their example attests to the sad reality that apostasy and 
         return to the world may only be a generation away!
      4. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Exodus 12:24-27: importance of 
         explanation of truth to children
      5. Ephesians 6:1-4: command for fathers to raise children in 
         the discipline and admonition of the Lord
   G. May we not be as Israel, but maintain many generations of 
      faithful children of God!

V. Conclusion
   A. Israel failed in not fully reforming
      1. Many times kings or the people came up short
      2. Even if reformation were done it did not last beyond a 
         generation
      3. Result: all exiled from God's land
   B. Let us not walk by the same example!
      1. Let us be fully reformed people for Jesus
      2. Let us maintain the full truth of God's will
      3. Let us teach the children the truth that they may remain
         within it
   C. If God exiled Israel for their sin, God will exile us for 
      ours-- from Heaven!
   D. May it never be!
   E. Invitation/songbook

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
MSN Messenger ID: deusvitae at hotmail.com
Yahoo! Messenger ID: discipuliiesus

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