Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 30
For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him. (2 Chronicles 30.9)
Devotional Thought: I'm still waiting for the politician who will put aside politics and demagoguery to "reach across the aisle" to accomplish something good for the country. I'm not feeling it just yet, are you?
Hezekiah was feeling it. Israel had long since been divided into warring factions of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and Israel (the Northern Kingdom). There were times of peace and even cooperation, but more often than not the two nations were at odds with one another. King Hezekiah sought to change that, to "reach across the aisle" to his political foes.
In Hezekiah's invitation, we see God's way of doing business...
Grace. "The Lord your God is gracious." Hezekiah knew that Israel didn't deserve God's blessing. But he also recognized Judah did not either. God was extending grace. Grace is unmerited favor, getting what you don't deserve. God gives us grace when he offers salvation in Jesus' name! We don't deserve it. We can't earn it. But God gives it!
Mercy. "The Lord your God is merciful." Mercy is unearned forgiveness - not getting the punishment you deserve. The peoples of Israel and Judah deserved death. God offered them life. Jesus took the punishment for our sins. By his stripes we are healed!
Faithfulness. "He will not turn away his face from you." This is unheard of forgetfulness. It is reaping what God sows. God is faithful even when we are not. God loves us with an undying love!
Justice. "If you return to him." God would not force Judah nor Israel to return to him. This shows God's unwavering fairness. We reap what we sow. We can choose to reject God's invitation (v. 10).
Grace. Mercy. Faithfulness. Justice. That's God's way of doing business!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for faithfully showing me grace and mercy. Help me to respond to your way of doing business! Amen.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 79:8-13
8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!
10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
12 Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Comments