Context No. 4307 of 4322 · 2 Kings

2 Kings 13:20-25: in context

20Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 21As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha’s bones, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 22Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favored them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them and he didn’t cast them from his presence as yet. 24Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place. 25Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.

In a time when Israel was oppressed and undeserving, this passage records a striking statement of God's mercy: the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them and turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them. Their rescue rested not on their own worthiness, for they had done evil, but on God's faithfulness to the covenant he had made with their fathers.

What stands out is the ground of God's compassion: because of his covenant. Israel had not earned this mercy; they had been unfaithful and were suffering the consequences. Yet God remained gracious to them, not because they deserved it, but because he keeps his promises. His covenant faithfulness, not their merit, was the reason he did not destroy them but showed them compassion.

Our hope does not rest on our own worthiness, which is unstable at best, but on God's faithfulness to his promises. He is gracious to his people because of his covenant, because he keeps his word, not because we have earned it. This is a firmer ground than our own performance. The God who was faithful to Israel for the sake of his covenant is faithful to us for the sake of the new covenant sealed in Christ.

Does my hope rest on my own worthiness, which is unstable at best, or on God's faithfulness to his promises, who was gracious to undeserving Israel because of his covenant, and is faithful to me for the sake of the new covenant sealed in Christ?

Sources

2 Kings 13:23: "But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favored them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
2 Timothy 2:13: "If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he can't deny himself."
Deuteronomy 7:9: "The LORD your God is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations."