The Samaritans had, as we saw in 2 Kings, a divided allegiance. Their adoration was divided between the idol gods of their native land and the God of the land in which they now dwelt. Jesus had said in the Sermon on the Mount,
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24 KJV)
The Christ had reference to the god of possessions (the idolatry of covetousness) which reigns in the hearts of many men today. Yet, what Jesus said of mammon was true of the idol gods of the Samaritans. They could not acceptably worship God with a divided allegiance.
Joshua faced this same problem as the nation of Israel had obtained all of the land which God had promised unto their fathers (Joshua 21:43-45). Before his death, the successor of Moses “gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before the Lord” (Joshua 24: 1). He reminded them that Abraham and his forefathers had lived in another land and served other gods; but, Abraham left them in his homeland when he obeyed the voice of God to go to another land. Joshua reminded them that it was Jehovah who had given them victory over the people who worshipped the gods of Canaan. He ends by saying,
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15 KJV)
Having rehearsed before the people the victories which God had wrought for them in conquering the promised land, there could be no other choice than to serve the One True and Living God, forsaking all others.
Elijah faced the problem of a divided heart in his day. Jezebel, the wicked wife of king Ahab, had slain many of the prophets of God although Obadiah had saved one hundred, fifty. She erected idols thoughout the country for the people to worship. Elijah had fled, but was now sent back by Jehovah to conduct the “Battle of the gods.” The people of the nation were gathered together and Elijah said to them:
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. (1 Kings 18:21 KJV)
He proposed a test to show beyond a shadow of a doubt who was truly god. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. (1 Kings 18:26-29 KJV)
Now it was Elijah’s turn. He built his altar and dug a trench around it. Then he had the people fill four barrels with water and pour them over the sacrifice, the wood, and the altar three different times. Twelve barrels of water were poured over the altar so that even the trench around the altar was filled with water.
And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. (1 Kings 18:36-39 KJV)
There can be no question as to the God who deserves our undivided allegiance. He is the same God whom Joshua chose to serve and whom Elijah called upon. He is the Creator of all that is, the Almighty, Lord of hosts, Lord God of all, the One True and Living God, Jehovah. When God had spoken unto the nation of Israel from Mt. Sinai, He told them:
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:2-6 KJV)
To worship God acceptably, one must have a singular allegiance. Our allegiance cannot be divided.