Even though the Israelites and their kings continue to do evil on the eyes of the Lord, God is gracious and full of mercy.
Note:
1 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. (verses 1-2)
Yet, even though Jehoahaz does evil in the eyes of the Lord, the Lord is willing to "take him back":
4 Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. 5 The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before.(verses 4-5)
This cycle of sin and redemption seems to repeat itself (as we have seen many times).
10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.(verses 10-11)
22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy them or banish them from his presence.(verses 22-23)
Is our God not amazing? What strikes me here is that this cycle of sin, repentance, forgiveness, and redemption, is a cycle that is repeated in my own life as a believer. I have sinned before, I am sinning now, and I will continue to sin. Yet, God will never stop loving me and never stop forgiving me. I need God...badly!
My Prayer: That you have forgiven me and will continue to forgive me is amazing! That you love me knowing that I will continue to sin is amazing! You are a great God! I love you and ask that you forgive me that I don't trust you enough and don't obey you enough. And of course I sin....I worry and do so many other things that say are wrong. Please forgive me. Help me love you more, seek you out more, trust you more, obey you more.
