Way less flipping: 2 Kings 21-22:2, 2 Chronicles 33-34:7, Jeremiah 1-2:22
Today we read the story of King Manasseh - one of the most evil kings to have ever lived. He sacrificed at least one of his own children to idols and worshipped idols in the temple of the Lord.
But it's also a story that once again demonstrates God's completely undeserved mercy. There was likely no one was deserved God's wrath more than King Manasseh. And make no mistake - if he had died without repenting he would've received that wrath.
But he did not.
Why? Because God lowered His standards?
No. Because King Manasseh experienced true remorse and genuine repentance and God, in His great mercy, forgave him.
Honestly, the human side of me doesn't like it. In my oh-so-humanly-flawed opinion, Manasseh deserved the wrath of God. He did not deserve God's mercy.
And it's true. He didn't.
But neither do I. And neither do you. That's what makes mercy, mercy.
I cannot be thankful for the mercy God has shown me, and not be thankful for the mercy God showed to King Manasseh. I need to be thankful for God's mercy period.
I was actually planning to write about Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart and about Jeremiah 1:7-8 But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child'. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord. which also reminds me of 1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. but this is getting pretty long, and besides, John Piper can say it better than I can anyway.
Tomorrow's passage: Jeremiah 2:23-5:19
2 comments:
I know, Tammy, that part of me that enjoys it when someone who does evil "gets what's coming to them" sometimes has a hard time with God showing them mercy. Anyone else ever watch an interview with Ted Bundy from the day before he was executed? Based on that interview, I believe he truly repented and that he was a believer when he was killed for brutalizing and murdering all those women. Horrible thought, isn't it? And yet, we deserve damnation every bit as much as he did. Tough stuff.
Just a couple of random thoughts...
Did anyone else notice that Amon must have become a father at 16? He was 24 when he was killed and his son, Josiah, was 8. Also, how much parenting did these fathers do? Hezekiah - good. Manasseh - bad but repented later. Amon - bad. Josiah - good.
I think it is hard for us to truly understand how grace and mercy works. I know that I tend to focus on the justice end of it- "they deserve what is coming to them"- until I realize that I deserve what is coming to me too.
One thing that stood out for me was the fact that Josiah was just 8 years old. A year younger than my son?! How amazing that he could defy the legacy set before him and change the way his country is run. I guess what stood out for me was the fact that we have a choice to lean on what we have been brought up with, or to do our own thing. This can be positive of negative I guess.
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