2 Kings 14:21-29: a reflection

21All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 22He built Elath and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers. 23In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria for forty-one years. 24He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight. He didn’t depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 25He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the LORD, the God of Israel’s word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher. 26For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter for all, slave and free; and there was no helper for Israel. 27The LORD didn’t say that he would blot out the name of Israel from under the sky; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 28Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 29Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

Jeroboam the Second was an evil king, who did not turn from the sins that led Israel astray. And yet, surprisingly, God used him to deliver Israel and restore its borders. Why? The text tells us: the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, and that there was no helper for Israel; and so, moved with compassion, he saved them, even through an unworthy king. God's mercy on his suffering people moved him to help them, even when they did not deserve it.

Notice what moved God to help: his compassion on his afflicted people. Israel did not deserve deliverance; their king was evil, their sins unrepented. But God saw their bitter affliction, saw that they had no helper, and had compassion, saving them even so, even through an unworthy instrument. His help flowed not from their worthiness, which was lacking, but from his own compassion on their suffering. He saw their affliction, and was moved to mercy.

That God is moved by compassion on the afflicted, even the undeserving, is a great comfort. We can imagine that God will help us only if we deserve it, and despair of his help when we are aware of our sin. But God saw Israel's affliction and had compassion, though they did not deserve it; his mercy was moved by their suffering, not earned by their goodness. When you are afflicted, and feel you do not deserve God's help, do not despair; God is moved by compassion on the afflicted, even the undeserving. He saw Israel's bitter affliction and saved them, though their king was evil; he sees your affliction too, and his compassion is moved by your suffering, not conditioned on your worthiness. Bring your affliction to the God who is moved by compassion, who saw Israel's suffering and helped them undeserving; his mercy is greater than your deserving, and he is moved to help the afflicted, even those who cannot claim to deserve it.

Lord, Jeroboam the Second was an evil king, and yet you used him to deliver Israel, because you saw that their affliction was very bitter, and that there was no helper for them; moved with compassion, you saved them, even through an unworthy king, though they did not deserve it. Show me what moved you to help: your compassion on your afflicted people. Israel did not deserve deliverance; but you saw their bitter affliction, saw they had no helper, and had compassion, saving them even so. Your help flowed not from their worthiness, which was lacking, but from your own compassion on their suffering. That you are moved by compassion on the afflicted, even the undeserving, is a great comfort. I can imagine that you will help me only if I deserve it, and despair of your help when I am aware of my sin. But you saw Israel's affliction and had compassion, though they did not deserve it; your mercy was moved by their suffering, not earned by their goodness. When I am afflicted, and feel I do not deserve your help, keep me from despairing; you are moved by compassion on the afflicted. You saw Israel's bitter affliction and saved them; you see my affliction too, Lord, and your compassion is moved by my suffering, not conditioned on my worthiness. Help me bring my affliction to you, who are moved by compassion, whose mercy is greater than my deserving.