What does "they do not fear the LORD" reveal about Israel's spiritual state? Immediate Context “They do not fear the LORD” appears in 2 Kings 17:34, describing the northern kingdom of Israel after Assyria resettled foreign peoples in Samaria: “Even to this day they persist in their former practices. They neither fear the LORD nor follow the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob”. The indictment captures the people’s settled spiritual posture—not a momentary lapse but an entrenched condition. What “Fear of the LORD” Means Scripture uses “fear” to convey more than trembling terror; it is a covenant word that blends awe, reverence, trust, and obedience. • Proverbs 1:7—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” • Deuteronomy 10:12—“What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul?” To fear the LORD is to acknowledge His absolute supremacy and respond with wholehearted loyalty. What the Absence of Fear Reveals The phrase unpacks Israel’s spiritual state in several layers: • Spiritual Amnesia—They had forgotten the mighty acts of God that formed them (Judges 2:10). • Covenant Rebellion—Ignoring His statutes shows deliberate breach of covenant vows (Exodus 19:5; Hosea 6:7). • Idolatrous Syncretism—The context (2 Kings 17:29–33) notes they “made gods of their own.” Mixing pagan worship with token Yahweh-worship voided true reverence. • Moral Disintegration—Where God is not feared, ethical boundaries collapse (Hosea 4:1-2). • Hardened Hearts—Repeated prophetic warnings produced no repentance (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). This settled resistance points to spiritual blindness (Isaiah 6:9-10). Visible Symptoms in Daily Life • Corrupt Leadership—Kings “did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 17:2). • Social Injustice—The poor were oppressed (Amos 2:6-7). • Religious Formalism—External rituals masked inner rebellion (Isaiah 29:13). • Reliance on Foreign Alliances—Trust shifted from God to political power (Hosea 7:11). These patterns flow naturally from a heart that no longer trembles before God’s holiness. Heaven’s Verdict and Discipline • Loss of Protection—God “removed them from His presence” through exile (2 Kings 17:18, 23). • Silence of Blessing—Without fear, prayers and sacrifices became unacceptable (Proverbs 1:28-29). • Redemptive Purpose—Discipline aimed to awaken true fear and repentance (Jeremiah 32:39-40). Contrast: What Fear Would Have Produced • Loyal Obedience—Deuteronomy 5:29: “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commandments always!” • Wisdom and Stability—Proverbs 14:26: “In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence.” • Ongoing Presence—Psalm 25:14 promises intimate counsel to those who fear Him. Key Takeaways for Believers Today • Reverence is not optional; it is the foundation of covenant faithfulness. • Idolatry begins when awe of God is exchanged for lesser fears—people, pleasures, or power. • A community’s moral health rises or falls with its collective fear of the LORD (Psalm 34:9-14). • God’s discipline, though severe, seeks to restore true fear and renewed relationship (Hebrews 12:10-11). “They do not fear the LORD” sums up Israel’s drift: forgetfulness of God’s works, rejection of His words, and replacement of His worth. Where holy fear is absent, spiritual collapse follows; where it is restored, life, wisdom, and covenant blessing return. |
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