And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew some of them." (33) They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. (34)Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. - II Kings 17:25, 33-34.

It is as needful to warn you against the false as to urge you to the true. Conversion, which is a divine change, is imitated, and the spurious palmed off as genuine. This answers the devil's purpose in several ways; it eases the conscience of the double-minded, adulterates the church, injures its testimony, and dishonors true religion.

I. THEIR FIRST ESTATE. "They feared not the Lord."

1. They had little or no religion of any sort.

2. They were not troubled about serving the true God.

3. Probably they even ridiculed Jehovah and his people.

4. But they were near a God-fearing people, and near to king Hezekiah, under whom there had been a great revival. Such influence creates a great deal of religiousness.

II. THEIR SHAM CONVERSION. "They feared the Lord:"

1. They were wrought upon by fear only: the "lions" were their evangelists, and their teeth were cutting arguments.

2. They remained in ignorance of the character of Jehovah, and only wished to know "the manner of the god of the land." Outside religion is enough for many; they care not for God himself.

3. They were instructed by an unfaithful priest; one of those who had practiced calf-worship, and now failed to rebuke their love of false gods. Such persons have much to answer for.

4. They showed their conversion by outward observances, multiplying priests, and setting up altars on high places.

5. But their conversion was radically defective, for:

· There was no repentance.

· No expiatory sacrifice was offered on God's one altar.

· The false gods were not put away. "Every nation made gods of their own" (verse 29). While sin reigns grace is absent.

· They showed no love to God. They feared, but did not trust or love.

· They rendered no obedience to him. Even their worship was will-worship."They feared the Lord, and served their own gods": a very significant distinction.

· They did not abandon false trusts: they looked not to the Lord. Give cases:

· The religious drunkard. See him weep! Hear him talk! He has a dread of God, but he serves Bacchus.

· The unchaste hypocrite, whose real worship goes to the vilest lusts, and yet he dreads to be found out.

· The pious Sabbath-breaker. Very devout, but serves out poison on Sundays, or prefers recreation to regeneration.

· The saintly skinflint. He has "a saving faith" in the worst sense.

· The slandering professor. Under pretense of greater holiness he abuses the righteous.

III. THEIR REAL STATE. "They fear not the Lord."

1. They own him not as God alone. The admission of other gods is apostasy from the true God. He will be all or nothing.

2. They do not really obey him; for else they would quit their idols, sins, and false trusts.

3. He has no covenant with them. They ignore it altogether.

4. He has not wrought salvation for them.

5. They act so as to prove that they are not his. See the future history of these Samaritans in the book of Nehemiah, of which these are the items:—

· They desire to unite with Israel for the sake of advantage;

· They become enemies when refused;

· They grow proud and judge the true Israel. They say they are better than "those who profess so much." They measure the corn of the sincere with the bushel of their own deceit. In real conversion there must be

· Idol-breaking. Sin and self must be abandoned.

· Concentration. Our only God must be adored and served.

· Christ-trusting. His one sacrifice must be presented and relied upon.

· Full surrender. Our heart must yield to God and delight in his ways.