2 Kings 15:8-12: a reflection

8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, as his fathers had done. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. 10Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him before the people and killed him, and reigned in his place. 11Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 12This was the LORD’s word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, “Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” So it came to pass.

The brief and troubled reign of Zechariah of Israel, who did evil and was quickly assassinated after only six months, ends with a quiet but significant note: it fulfilled exactly what God had spoken long before. God had told Jehu that his sons would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation; and Zechariah was that fourth generation. So the account closes: This was the LORD's word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. So it came to pass. God's word, spoken generations earlier, was fulfilled exactly, to the letter; what he had said came to pass just as he said. God keeps his word, both his promises and his warnings, and fulfills it precisely, even across generations. What God has spoken comes to pass; his word does not fail or fall to the ground. So it came to pass: God's word is sure, and is fulfilled exactly as he speaks it.

Notice the note the account ends on: God's word was fulfilled exactly. Long before, God had spoken a word to Jehu about his descendants; and now, generations later, that word came to pass precisely, as Zechariah, the fourth generation, reigned and fell. So it came to pass, the account says simply. God's word, spoken so long before, was fulfilled to the letter. This is a quiet testimony to the reliability of God's word: what he speaks, he brings about, exactly, even across generations, even in the details. His word does not fail, does not fall short, does not fall to the ground unfulfilled. Whether promise or warning, God keeps his word and fulfills it precisely. This gives us confidence in all that God has spoken: his word is sure, and will come to pass as he has said. What God has promised, he will do; what he has warned, will come. His word is as good as done. God's word is utterly reliable, fulfilled exactly as spoken.

That is worth resting in, for God's word is fulfilled exactly, and all he has spoken is sure. We can wonder whether God's word, his promises and his warnings, will really come to pass, especially when long delayed; but the word God spoke to Jehu was fulfilled exactly, generations later, so it came to pass. God keeps his word and fulfills it precisely, even across generations. What he has promised, he will do; his word does not fail. This gives us confidence in all God has spoken. When you wonder whether God's word will come to pass, remember that his word to Jehu was fulfilled exactly, so it came to pass. Rest in the reliability of God's word, which is fulfilled exactly as he speaks it, as the word he spoke to Jehu about his sons to the fourth generation came to pass precisely in Zechariah; for God keeps his word, both his promises and his warnings, and fulfills it to the letter even across generations, so that his word does not fail or fall short but comes to pass just as he has said, and we can have confidence that all he has spoken is sure and will be fulfilled exactly.

Lord, the brief and troubled reign of Zechariah of Israel, who did evil and was quickly assassinated after only six months, ends with a quiet but significant note: it fulfilled exactly what you had spoken long before. You had told Jehu that his sons would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation; and Zechariah was that fourth generation. So the account closes: this was the LORD's word which he spoke to Jehu, saying, Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. So it came to pass. Your word, spoken generations earlier, was fulfilled exactly, to the letter. You keep your word, both your promises and your warnings. Show me the note the account ends on: your word was fulfilled exactly. Long before, you had spoken a word to Jehu; and now, generations later, that word came to pass precisely. So it came to pass, the account says simply. Your word, spoken so long before, was fulfilled to the letter. This is a quiet testimony to the reliability of your word: what you speak, you bring about, exactly, even across generations. Your word does not fail, does not fall to the ground unfulfilled. Whether promise or warning, you keep your word and fulfill it precisely. This gives me confidence in all that you have spoken. Take that to my heart, for your word is fulfilled exactly, and all you have spoken is sure. I can wonder whether your word will really come to pass, especially when long delayed; but the word you spoke to Jehu was fulfilled exactly, so it came to pass. What you have promised, you will do; your word does not fail. When I wonder whether your word will come to pass, help me remember that your word to Jehu was fulfilled exactly, Lord, so it came to pass, and rest in the reliability of all you have spoken.