Webster's dictionary defines mercy as compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power.Translation: Mercy is compassion given to someone who doesn't deserve it--or granted to one by someone else with greater authority.
When you've experienced mercy, what was your response?
Today's chapters had a few interesting examples of God's mercy. This one stood out to me most:
Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria—
a rule of seventeen years.
He lived an evil life before God...
Exasperated, God was furious with Israel
and turned them over to Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad son of Hazael.
This domination went on for a long time.
a rule of seventeen years.
He lived an evil life before God...
Exasperated, God was furious with Israel
and turned them over to Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad son of Hazael.
This domination went on for a long time.
Then Jehoahaz prayed for a softening of God's anger,
and God listened.
He realized how wretched Israel had become
under the brutalities of the king of Aram.
So God provided a savior for Israel
who brought them out from under Aram's oppression.
The children of Israel were again able to live at peace in their own homes.
But it didn't make any difference: They didn't change their lives...
and God listened.
He realized how wretched Israel had become
under the brutalities of the king of Aram.
So God provided a savior for Israel
who brought them out from under Aram's oppression.
The children of Israel were again able to live at peace in their own homes.
But it didn't make any difference: They didn't change their lives...
A few things I noticed in this brief story? God was gracious enough to listen to an evil king--and even beyond listening, He provided an escape. You would think that life would be different for slaves granted freedom.
I picture it like a near-death experience: People who face death often re-think their lives...if they survive, they are changed forever. They have a different value for what's really important.
You would think that the freed slaves granted mercy by God Himself would face life with a different perspective. But they didn't. Mercy changed their circumstances, but they didn't allow it to change their lives.
When you and I are granted mercy--by God or other people--it should move us. Compassion and grace are not meant to be discarded or treated with a flippant response. When our lives are touched by mercy, our lives should be redefined. Mercy should make a difference.
Tomorrow: 2 Kings 15-17
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