Today’s devotion comes from 2 Kings 17:1-6.
“In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned nine years. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him. Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute. But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.
Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.
In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.” 2 Kings 17:1-6.
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We like to think we are independent and free. But, our actions have substantial bad or good consequences on others. This is the theme of today’s devotion.
In today’s Scripture, the action by Hoshea king of Israel of stopping payment of tribute to the king of Assyria had a very bad consequence for Israel. The king of Assyria decided to invade Israel and carry them away from their land into exile in Assyria.
In the following Scripture, the LORD details His sovereign reasons for why “this came about”. See 2 Kings 17:7-23. But, just because the LORD’s “sovereignty rules over all” (Psalm 103:19) does not negate man’s responsibility for his actions, nor does it negate certain consequences according to the will of the LORD.
Do good! “… Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:5.
“Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12.
But, there is hope!
“But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:15-21.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 