Mind Your Manners

I. THE ORIGIN OF MANNERS (2 Kings 17:1-12)

A. Manners Defined

1. Various Bible words used
a. Manners
b. Customs
c. Practices
2. Common secular terminology—habits
3. Defined as common practice or that which one is accustomed to doing

B. Conflicting Sources

1. Their beginnings
a. Their fathers served and worshipped false gods (Joshua 24:2, 14, 15).
b. Abraham was called out of idolatry to worship and serve the one true and living God (Genesis 12:1-3).
2. Their time in Egypt (Joshua 24:14)

C. Present Struggles (2 Kings 17:1-12)

1. The circumstances of the struggles (2 Kings 17:1-6)
2. The behaviour of the Israelites (2 Kings 17:7-12)
a. They walked in the statutes of the heathen (2 Kings 17:8).
b. They behaved inappropriately in secret (2 Kings 17:9).
c. They built high places and burnt incense there (2 Kings 17:9, 11).
d. They set up images and groves (2 Kings 17:10).
e. They did as the heathen before them (2 Kings 17:11).
f. They wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger (2 Kings 17:11).
g. They served idols (2 Kings 17:12).

II. THE PROBLEM WITH MANNERS (2 Kings 17:13-34)

A. Their Strength Against the LORD (2 Kings 17:13-23)

1. Against the LORD’s commands (2 Kings 17:13-17)
a. The LORD’s commands (2 Kings 17:13)
1.) Turn ye from your evil ways.
2.) Keep my commandments and my statutes.
b. The people’s refusal (2 Kings 17:14-15a)
1.) They would not hear (2 Kings 17:14).
2.) They hardened their necks (2 Kings 17:14).
3.) They did not believe (2 Kings 17:14).
4.) They rejected God’s word (2 Kings 17:15a).
c. The people’s habits (2 Kings 17:15b-17)
1.) In a general sense (2 Kings 17:15b)
i. They followed vanity and became vain.
ii. They went after the heathen.
2.) Specifically (2 Kings 17:16-17)
i. They left the commandments of the LORD (2 Kings 17:16).
ii. They made molten images (2 Kings 17:16).
iii. They made a grove (2 Kings 17:16).
iv. They worshipped the host of heaven and served Baal (2 Kings 17:16).
v. They caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire (2 Kings 17:17).
vi. They used divination and enchantments (2 Kings 17:17).
vii. They sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD (2 Kings 17:17).
2. Against the LORD’s chastening (2 Kings 17:18-23)
a. Against His anger (2 Kings 17:18-19)
b. Against His judgments (2 Kings 17:20-23)

B. Their Ability to Adapt (2 Kings 17:24-34)

1. The Assyrians’ scheme (2 Kings 17:24)
2. The Lord’s judgment (2 Kings 17:25)
3. The people’s concern (2 Kings 17:26-27)
4. The people’s compromise (2 Kings 17:28-34)
a. A priest taught the people to fear the LORD (2 Kings 17:28).
b. Every nation made their own gods (2 Kings 17:29-31).
c. They mixed their manners with the fear of the LORD (2 Kings 17:32-34).

III. THE CALL FOR NEW MANNERS (2 Kings 17:35-39)

A. The Call to Forsake False Gods (2 Kings 17:35)

B. The Call to Worship God (2 Kings 17:36-39)

IV. THE BAGGAGE OF OLD MANNERS (2 Kings 17:40-41)

A. The Inability to Hear (2 Kings 17:40)

1. They did not hearken.
2. They did after their former manner.

B. The Inability to Change (2 Kings 17:41)

1. They feared the LORD.
2. They served their graven images.

C. The Generational Problem (2 Kings 17:41)

1. As did their fathers
2. So did their children
3. And their children’s children