ONE OF A CITY

ONE OF A CITY
Most folks who are familiar with the Bible know that there was a "church split" in the nation of Israel after the death of Solomon.

The dividing issue, from the human standpoint, was taxation. At least that was what was showing on the surface. There might have been several other issues "under the table" that didn't make it into the Scriptures.

From the Heavenly standpoint, however, there was a completely different reason for the split. It was DISOBEDIENCE and SIN on the part of all parties concerned.

God had it all planned out, long before it happened, and had sent a Prophet to inform the man who was to lead the Northern Ten Tribes away from the House of David, and further into sin. You can read all about it in 1 Kings 11.

2KI 17:21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.
2KI 17:22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;

Israel's kings were all bad, and led them further into disobedience and sin, until the Lord finally said, "It is enough", and sent them into Assyrian captivity.

2KI 17:23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

There is no Biblical record of those ten tribes EVER returning to be a recognized part of the family of Israel. When I was a child, they were referred to by the older folks as "The Ten Lost Tribes."

It seemed that a terrible calamity had happened to them, and it was a terrible thing for them to be carried into captivity from which they would never return. But we must bear in mind that it was done by the Hand of the Almighty. God USED ungodly men to accomplish what He had decreed would be done.

Judah, the southern kingdom, "walked the line" for a while, but soon forgot what the northern kingdom had suffered because of sin. They drifted into sin which would surpass what the northerners had been guilty of.

Let me give you a clearer picture of what was taking place.
Jesus told a parable to the people one day about two brothers. He was talking to Jewish leaders at the time.

MAT 21:28 ¶ But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

This is a picture of ten-tribed Israel's revolting. But eventually, centuries later, they did do the work of God. In the meantime, they had forgotten who they were. They had lost their identity. (How many generations of YOUR family history do you know?)

MAT 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not.

This represents southern Judah going through the motions of serving God, but getting nothing done.

MAT 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

The Jewish leaders KNEW what Jesus was talking about. He had "pinned it on them."

About a hundred years after Israel (the northern ten tribes) were sent into captivity, the southern kingdom (Judah) was in worse shape spiritually than Israel had been when they were captured and taken by the Assyrians.

JER 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

JER 3:11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

The Lord commissioned the Prophet Jeremiah to speak a message for the northern captives, inviting them to return to the paths of obedience and righteousness.

JER 3:12 ¶ Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever.

JER 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:


ZEC 1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

Hosea delivered almost the same message to the captives. Hosea was called upon to LIVE a prophecy about the mercy and love of the Lord.

HOS 14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
HOS 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

Jeremiah pleaded with Judah to break off their sin and disobedience, but they hated him and tried to kill him in various ways. They were keeping up a show of respect for God, but they were secretly doing abominations against God.

The Lord warned them through Habakkuk that the Chaldeans were coming, and that they were not a nice people to deal with.

HAB 1:6 For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs.

Judah's time of captivity was to start at 606 BC, and last for 70 years. Afterward, many of them returned and continued to maintain their identity as descendants of Israel. Jerusalem was finally destroyed in 70 AD. by the Roman general Titus.

But the picture is not all bad. Our God has an attribute that "just won't quit". God is addicted to Mercy and Compassion. He dearly loves to forgive a repentant sinner, regardless of what their past has been.

PSA 86:5 For thou, Lord, [art] good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

PSA 86:15 But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

MIC 7:18 Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

MIC 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

God, centuries ago, set in motion a plan which will bring the bulk of His People of old, back to Him. But it will be a different relationship than it was before. There will not be the burdensome ceremonies and rituals of the past. Instead, He will dwell in their hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah gives us a word picture of what God is planning to do for His people in the near future. It will be such a mighty move of the Spirit of God that it will eclipse the deliverance from Egypt by the Rod of Moses.

ISA 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Jeremiah gives us about the same picture.

JER 16:14 ¶ Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

JER 16:15 But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

ISA 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.