Living in the Vineyard

                                           Nevertheless

                                                            2 Kings 13:6

                         Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the

                         house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked

                         in them; and the wooden image also remained in Samaria. 

As we  study the book of 2 Kings, we find king after king over Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. God ultimately delivered Israel into the hand of Hazael king of Syria. Distressed and without hope, King Jehoahaz, the king of Israel pleaded with the LORD. The Word of God tells us;

                         Then the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped

                         from under the hand of the Syrians               __2 King 13:5

As I read this I thought of the times the Lord has delivered me. I, too, have cried out to the Lord and found His gracious forgiving hand upon me. 

Then I read 2 Kings 13:6. My heart sank as I read but one word. Do you see it? Does it catch your breath as it did mine? Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked in them. 

How I wish I could point my finger and shout with disgust, "How could you not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam after the Lord was so gracious and delivered you?" I cannot. Instead, I must see myself in this setting. I, too, have begged the Lord for deliverance and He has given it without accusations or judgment. Nevertheless, instead of turning from my wicked ways I have once again found myself back in the place I begged Him to deliver me from. Why? I did not run from that which brought me to the place of despair in the beginning. I stayed, thinking I was strong enough to not fall once again. 

Our Lord is gracious. With each temptation, as we call out to Him, He will  make a way of escape that we need not fall back into that from which we were delivered. The question we must ask ourselves; "Will I look for it?" "Will I, unlike the Israelites, remove what brought me to this place in the beginning?" May our answer always be absolutely without reservation, yes!! 

                    No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; 

                    but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be temped beyond what

                    you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape,

                    that you may be able to bear it.                             __1 Corinthians 10:13