April 14, 2026 - 2 Kings 17

722 B.C. – The fall of the northern kingdom of Israel.  “And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (17:7).  The Lord had done so much for Israel.  Yet, she was so ungrateful.  A good reminder, specifically, that we should always be grateful to the Lord for his goodness toward us and, more generally, we should always show gratefulness and thankfulness whenever we receive good from others.  Rather than follow the path of Israel – “Israel had sinned against the Lord their God” – may our lives reflect the words of Thomas Kelly’s hymn:

In Thy Name, O Lord, assembling,

We Thy people now draw near;

Teach us to rejoice with trembling,

Speak, and let Thy servants hear,

Hear with meekness,

Hear Thy Word with godly fear.

While our days on earth are lengthened,

May we give them, Lord, to Thee;

Cheered by hope, and daily strengthened,

May we run, nor weary be;

Till Thy glory,

Without clouds in heav’n we see.   –Thomas Kelly (19^th century)