II Kings 17

“They feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations” (v33).  The foreigners who moved into Samaria after its Israelite population was exiled thought that Yahweh was simply “the god of the land” (v26), a local deity they could add to their collection of idols.  The Israelites themselves had attempted this compromise (v7-8), mixing worship of the True God with idolatry.  But the idols demanded sexuality immorality and child sacrifice (v17), terrible sins in the Creator’s eyes.

We can only serve one King, and we are called to submit our whole selves, without compromise, to His loving reign.