Context No. 3361 of 4322 · 2 Kings

2 Kings 13:1-9: in context

1In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years. 2He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from it. 3The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually. 4Jehoahaz begged the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5(The LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before. 6Nevertheless they didn’t depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them and made them like the dust in threshing. 8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.

Jehoahaz is an unfaithful king who does evil and leads Israel in the sins of Jeroboam, and God lets Syria oppress them harshly. But then something tender happens: Jehoahaz begs the LORD, and the LORD listens to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, and gives them a deliverer, so that they escape from under Syria's hand.

What is striking is that God shows this mercy even though the king and people do not truly reform; they keep the sins of Jeroboam even after being rescued. God's compassion responds to their cry and their suffering, not to their worthiness. He saw the oppression and would not leave them in it, though they were far from deserving rescue. It is a glimpse of a mercy that reaches down to people who have not earned it, moved simply by their misery and their cry for help. God hears the cry of the oppressed even when they are far from faithful, because his heart is drawn by their affliction.

Do I marvel that God's mercy reaches even those who have not earned it, hearing the cry of the suffering out of his own compassion rather than our worthiness?

Sources

2 Kings 13:4: "Jehoahaz begged the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel."
2 Kings 13:5: "The LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians."
Psalm 106:44: "Nevertheless he regarded their distress, when he heard their cry."