1 Kings 15:1-8: a reflection

1Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. 2He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3He walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4Nevertheless for David’s sake, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem; 5because David did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes, and didn’t turn away from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life. 7The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam. 8Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place.

Of King Abijam it is said that he did evil, walking in the sins of his father, his heart not wholly the LORD's. By his own record, he deserved no favor. Yet the account adds a striking thing: Nevertheless for David's sake, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him and to establish Jerusalem. Abijam was shown mercy, his line preserved, not for his own sake, for he was unworthy, but for the sake of David, God's faithful servant, and the promise God had made to him.

Notice the ground of the mercy shown to the unworthy Abijam: for David's sake. Abijam himself deserved no favor; his heart was not right with God. Yet God showed him mercy, preserving his line and Jerusalem, for the sake of David, whom God had loved, and the promise God had made to him. The mercy came not because Abijam merited it, but for the sake of another, David, and God's faithfulness to his promise. God's faithfulness to David overflowed in mercy to the unworthy Abijam, for David's sake.

That mercy for the sake of another points to the greater mercy God shows us for the sake of Christ. Abijam was shown mercy not for his own sake but for David's; and we, unworthy in ourselves, are shown mercy for the sake of Christ, God's beloved and faithful Son. We do not merit God's mercy; but for the sake of Christ, whom God loves, mercy overflows to us. Do not imagine that God's mercy to you rests on your own worthiness; it comes, as Abijam's did, for the sake of another, the sake of Christ, in whom God is well pleased. Rest in the mercy God shows you for the sake of Christ, not for your own merit, as he showed Abijam mercy for David's sake; for God's faithfulness to Christ overflows in mercy to us who are unworthy in ourselves, and we are shown mercy not for our own sake but for the sake of Christ, God's beloved Son.

Lord, of King Abijam it is said that he did evil, walking in the sins of his father, his heart not wholly yours. By his own record, he deserved no favor. Yet the account adds a striking thing: nevertheless for David's sake, the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him. Abijam was shown mercy, his line preserved, not for his own sake, for he was unworthy, but for the sake of David, your faithful servant, and the promise you had made to him. Show me the ground of the mercy shown to the unworthy Abijam: for David's sake. Abijam himself deserved no favor; his heart was not right with you. Yet you showed him mercy, for the sake of David, whom you had loved, and the promise you had made. The mercy came not because Abijam merited it, but for the sake of another. Your faithfulness to David overflowed in mercy to the unworthy Abijam. Let that mercy for the sake of another point me to the greater mercy you show me for the sake of Christ. Abijam was shown mercy not for his own sake but for David's; and I, unworthy in myself, am shown mercy for the sake of Christ, your beloved and faithful Son. I do not merit your mercy; but for the sake of Christ, whom you love, mercy overflows to me. Keep me from imagining that your mercy to me rests on my own worthiness; it comes, as Abijam's did, for the sake of another, the sake of Christ. Help me rest in the mercy you show me for the sake of Christ, Lord, not for my own merit.