II Kings 17:18

"Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only."

At last, the children of Israel and all their wickedness had reached the place of no return. How long can you offend God before He sends forth judgement? His lovingkindess is rich, His mercy is enduring and longsuffering is far beyond anything that we know and yet, there is a point that is reached that has gone to far in sin and evil. God is also just and holy and must deal with and answer the such evil with punishment and vengance. He had been faithful to warn, to beseech them, to encourage them to forsake the gods of the people and turn to Him. And when they did He was there and blest; and when they turned from Him they reaped their own rewards of their evil. Therefore - a singular word connecting all that has been said to that which shall be said; We have read in the previous verses all the sinfulness and wicked devices of the children of Israel. From verses 7 - 17, it is listed of all that they did in disobedience and willfulness against His commands. Now we come to this first word of this verse and after all the listings of the sins, now, "therfore', we will see the response to their actions. the Lord was very angry with Israel - who can stand against the wrath of God? Note, He was not just angry as we have read in other verses, but He is 'very angry'. There is a greater level of degree of His anger found here. Is it not bad enough to make the Lord angry? But what shall be done when He is very angry? And against His own people. It is expected of the lost, for they are constant in their sin and disobedience, that He would be very angry with them. But toward His own people to be very angry, what causes such a thing to be? It is far worse for them that know to do good and do it not. Jesus declared to those that had heard and seen His works and messge, that judgement would be far worse for them than those that had not seen and heard Him. The severity of His anger is understood and the wrath of it is beyond our comprhension. And removed them out of his sight - oh what hope is there now, when cast forth from His all seeing eye; It is that God can see everything, yet He restrains Himself from seeing here. When God purposefully removes from seeing them, there is no help to be consdiered. His mercy is all that will remain for such. And yet, we know that for eternity, those in hell, who have been cast forth from His sight, there is no mercy. Forever banished from Him, removed for their evil and sin, oh what a plight for the lost. 'Take this unprofitable servant and bind them hand and feet and remove them from My sight forever.' Oh dearly beloved, is this your plight? Have you sinned and sinned and sinned agianst Him, pushing His anger to very angry till at last He removed you from His sight? Will you not wake up and know that eternity is hanging in the balances for your soul forever? Cry out for mercy, confess and repent before it is too late. And brethern, can we not see the case for billions around us and their lost estate. Can we go left unaffected by such words to know what awaits those that we love and care for?