Do not forget the covenant I have made with you.
This phrase emphasizes the importance of remembering the covenant established between God and the Israelites. The covenant refers to the agreements made at Mount Sinai, where God gave the Law to Moses (Exodus 19-24). This covenant was central to Israel's identity as God's chosen people and included promises of blessing for obedience and consequences for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28). The call to remember is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:23 and Joshua 23:11-16, where the Israelites are reminded of their obligations to God. Forgetting the covenant often led to idolatry and apostasy, as seen in the history of Israel and Judah, culminating in the exile. This phrase also foreshadows the New Covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who established a new relationship between God and humanity through His death and resurrection.

Do not worship other gods,
This command underscores the monotheistic foundation of Israel's faith, as articulated in the Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). Worshiping other gods was a direct violation of the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-4) and was a persistent issue throughout Israel's history. The allure of surrounding pagan cultures and their deities often led Israel astray, as seen in the worship of Baal and Asherah (Judges 2:11-13, 1 Kings 18:18-21). This command is a call to exclusive loyalty to Yahweh, who alone is worthy of worship. The prohibition against idolatry is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are warned against the worship of anything other than God (1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 John 5:21). This phrase also points to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is the true image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) and the one through whom believers have access to the Father (John 14:6).

1. Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, which was experiencing spiritual decline and idolatry, leading to its eventual exile by the Assyrians.

2. God (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God who had established a relationship with Israel, emphasizing exclusive worship and obedience.

3. Assyrian Exile
The event where the Northern Kingdom was conquered and its people were taken into exile due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience.

4. Prophets
Messengers sent by God to warn Israel of the consequences of their idolatry and to call them back to covenant faithfulness.

5. Covenant
The solemn agreement between God and Israel, which included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.Covenant Faithfulness
God calls His people to remember and uphold the covenant. This requires a commitment to exclusive worship and obedience to His commands.

The Dangers of Idolatry
Idolatry leads to spiritual decline and separation from God. Believers must guard against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism or self-worship.

Consequences of Disobedience
Disobedience to God's covenant results in severe consequences, as seen in the exile of Israel. This serves as a warning to remain faithful.

God's Patience and Warnings
God is patient and sends warnings through His prophets. Believers should heed God's warnings and repent when they stray from His ways.

The Importance of Remembrance
Remembering God's past faithfulness and His covenant helps believers stay grounded in their faith and avoid the pitfalls of forgetfulness.1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 17:38?

2. How does 2 Kings 17:38 emphasize the importance of obeying God's covenant commands?

3. What consequences did Israel face for not adhering to God's covenant in 2 Kings?

4. How can we apply the covenant principles from 2 Kings 17:38 in our lives?

5. What other scriptures highlight the significance of keeping God's covenant faithfully?

6. How does 2 Kings 17:38 challenge us to prioritize God's commands today?

7. What does 2 Kings 17:38 reveal about God's expectations for covenant faithfulness?

8. How does 2 Kings 17:38 emphasize the importance of exclusive worship of God?

9. What historical context led to the warning in 2 Kings 17:38?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 17?

11. What are the key themes in 2 Chronicles?

12. 2 Kings 17:24-29 - Does the portrayal of each nation setting up its own gods align with known cultural assimilation patterns or does it conflict with archaeological findings?

13. (Exodus 34:14) How do we reconcile the commandment against worshiping other gods with archaeological finds suggesting Israel's early polytheistic practices?

14. What was the purpose of Solomon's Temple?Do not forget the covenant I have made with you

• In 2 Kings 17, the northern kingdom is on the brink of exile because it treated God’s covenant as a casual agreement instead of a holy bond. Here the Lord reminds them, “Do not forget the covenant I have made with you”, echoing earlier pleas such as Deuteronomy 4:23 and Deuteronomy 6:12.

• Forgetting is more than mental lapse; it is a drift of heart. When the people stopped rehearsing God’s mighty acts (Psalm 105:5) and neglected regular obedience (Joshua 23:11-13), loyalty evaporated.

• The covenant came at great cost to God—He redeemed them from Egypt (Exodus 20:2) and promised steadfast blessing if they walked in His ways (Leviticus 26:9-12).

• Remembering therefore involves:

– Rehearsing His works (Psalm 77:11-12)

– Relying on His promises (1 Chronicles 16:15)

– Renewing practical obedience (Deuteronomy 29:9)

• For believers today, the same principle stands. Jesus declared, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20). Forgetting that covenant drains our worship of power and our witness of credibility (Hebrews 10:23).

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Do not worship other gods

• Idolatry was the inevitable outcome of covenant amnesia. “Do not worship other gods” reiterates the first commandment (Exodus 20:3-5) and the Shema’s call to exclusive love (Deuteronomy 6:14-15).

• In 2 Kings 17:29-33 the people blended pagan rituals with nominal allegiance to the LORD—a syncretism God never tolerates (Isaiah 42:8).

• Idolatry today may appear in subtler forms—money, status, pleasure—but the heart-issue is unchanged: anything that competes with the Lord’s rightful supremacy is a rival god (Colossians 3:5).

• Practical safeguards:

– Examine affections in light of Matthew 6:21, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

– Expose counterfeit gods with the truth of Jeremiah 10:10-11, which contrasts the living God with lifeless idols.

– Engage in wholehearted worship, as modeled in Romans 12:1-2, offering our bodies “as a living sacrifice.”

• The command carries both warning and promise: turning from idols invites the discipline seen in Israel’s exile (2 Kings 17:18), but wholehearted devotion ushers in covenant blessing (Psalm 16:4-6).

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summary

2 Kings 17:38 is a twin command: keep God’s covenant and refuse every rival. Remembering preserves relationship; rejecting idols protects purity. When these pillars stand, God’s people enjoy the full life He intends, free from the bondage that toppled Israel and centered on the Lord who faithfully keeps His covenant forever.

(38) Neither shall ye fear other gods.--This formula is repeated thrice (2Kings 17:35; 2Kings 17:37-38), as the main point of the covenant between Jehovah and Israel.

Verse 38. - And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget. The "covenant" intended is not the covenant of circumcision, which God made with Abraham (Genesis 17:9-14), but the covenant of protection and obedience made at Sinai between God and the entire people (Exodus 19:5-8), and most solemnly ratified by sprinkling with blood and by a covenant feast, as related in Exodus 24:3-11. This was the covenant which Israel had been warned so frequently not to "forget" (Deuteronomy 4:23; Deuteronomy 8:11; Deuteronomy 26:13; Proverbs 2:17), yet which they had "forgotten," or, at any rate, "forsaken," as already declared in ver. 15. Neither shall ye fear other gods. The writer has probably a practical object in his reiteration. He expects his words to reach the ears of the mixed race inhabiting Samaria in his day, and would fain warn them against their idolatrous practices, and point them to the pure worship of Jehovah. It is pleasing to remember that ultimately the mixed race was won to the true faith, and that the Samaritans of our Lord's time were as true worshippers of Jehovah, and as zealous followers of the Law, as the Jews themselves. The interesting community at Nablous still maintains Samaritan forms, and reads the Samaritan Pentateuch.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

forget
תִשְׁכָּ֑חוּ (ṯiš·kā·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7911: To mislay, to be oblivious of, from want of memory, attention

the covenant
וְהַבְּרִ֛ית (wə·hab·bə·rîṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

I have made
כָּרַ֥תִּי (kā·rat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

with you.
אִתְּכֶ֖ם (’it·tə·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Do not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

worship
תִֽירְא֖וּ (ṯî·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

other
אֲחֵרִֽים׃ (’ă·ḥê·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other

gods,
אֱלֹהִ֥ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT History: 2 Kings 17:38 And the covenant that I have made (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)