2 Kings 24:1-6: a reflection

1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. 2The LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, bands of the Syrians, bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the LORD’s word which he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3Surely at the commandment of the LORD this came on Judah, to remove them out of his sight for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did, 4and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon. 5Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 6So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

This passage records the beginning of the end for Judah, as enemy forces come against it. And it names the reason plainly: this came on Judah at the command of the LORD, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all he did, and also for the innocent blood he had shed, for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. Judgment came, in part, for grave sins committed by a king generations before, sins of injustice and violence that God had not forgotten.

Notice the long reach of grave sin. Manasseh's sins, especially the innocent blood he had shed, had consequences that reached far beyond his own lifetime, contributing to the judgment that fell on the nation later. This does not mean the later generation bore no responsibility of their own; but it shows that grave sin, and especially injustice and the shedding of innocent blood, has long consequences, and is not overlooked by God. He remembers such wrongs; they do not simply vanish.

That is a sobering reminder of how seriously God takes grave sin, especially injustice and violence against the innocent. We can imagine that our wrongs, once past, are simply gone, with no lasting effect; but grave sin has long consequences, reaching further than we know, and God does not overlook injustice and the harm done to the innocent. Take seriously the weight of grave sin, and especially of injustice and harm to the innocent, in God's sight. Do not treat such wrongs lightly, in yourself or in the world, as though they had no lasting consequence; God remembers them, and they reach far. And where such wrongs are past, seek God's mercy and forgiveness, which alone can deal with what would otherwise reach on; for the God who does not overlook grave sin is also the God who forgives the repentant through Christ.

Lord, this passage records that judgment came on Judah in part for the grave sins of Manasseh generations before, especially the innocent blood he had shed, which you had not forgotten; grave sin had long consequences. Sober me with that. I can imagine that my wrongs, once past, are simply gone, with no lasting effect; but grave sin has long consequences, reaching further than I know, and you do not overlook injustice and harm to the innocent. Help me take seriously the weight of grave sin, and especially of injustice and harm to the innocent, in your sight. Keep me from treating such wrongs lightly, in myself or in the world, as though they had no lasting consequence; you remember them, and they reach far. And where such wrongs are past, help me seek your mercy and forgiveness, which alone can deal with what would otherwise reach on. Thank you that you who do not overlook grave sin are also the God who forgives the repentant through Christ; let me flee to that mercy.