2 Kings 13:1-9: a reflection

1In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years. 2He did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin. He didn’t depart from it. 3The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually. 4Jehoahaz begged the LORD, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5(The LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel lived in their tents as before. 6Nevertheless they didn’t depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7For he didn’t leave to Jehoahaz of the people any more than fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them and made them like the dust in threshing. 8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria; and Joash his son reigned in his place.

Though Jehoahaz was an unfaithful king who did evil, when Israel was oppressed and he cried out to God, God heard him and gave Israel deliverance. Jehoahaz begged the LORD, the account says, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel. And God gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped the hand of their oppressors. What is striking is that this mercy came to an unfaithful people, through an unfaithful king, simply because they cried out and God saw their oppression. God's mercy responded to their cry even though they had not deserved it. This shows God's mercy reaching even the undeserving who cry out to him. God heard the cry of an unfaithful people and showed mercy. God's mercy responds to the cry of the undeserving. Even the unfaithful, crying out, found God's mercy. God saw their oppression and had mercy, though they did not deserve it.

Notice how undeserved this mercy was. Jehoahaz did evil, walked in the sins that led Israel astray, and did not turn from them; the people too remained unfaithful. By their deserving, they had no claim on God's help. And yet, when they were oppressed and Jehoahaz cried out to God, God heard, saw their oppression, and had mercy, giving them deliverance. God's mercy responded to their cry, not because they had earned it, but out of his compassion for their oppression. This reveals the greatness of God's mercy: that he hears the cry even of the undeserving, that his compassion is moved by our need even when we have not been faithful. This is a comfort for us, for we are often unfaithful, and can feel we have no claim on God's help. But God's mercy is not confined to the deserving; he hears the cry of the undeserving who turn to him in their need, and is moved by compassion. We can cry out to God even when we have been unfaithful, trusting his mercy. God hears the cry of the undeserving and is moved by compassion. God's mercy is not confined to the deserving. Even when we have been unfaithful, we can cry to God's mercy. God's compassion responds to our cry even when we lack claim on him.

That is worth resting in, for God's mercy reaches even the undeserving who cry out to him, hearing their cry and moved by compassion, as God heard unfaithful Jehoahaz and delivered Israel. We can feel we have no claim on God's help because we have been unfaithful, and hesitate to cry out to him; but God heard the cry of an unfaithful king and people, saw their oppression, and had mercy. God's mercy is not confined to the deserving. When you feel undeserving, do not hesitate to cry out to God; his mercy hears the cry of the undeserving. Rest in the truth that God's mercy reaches even the undeserving who cry out to him, as Jehoahaz, an unfaithful king who did evil and did not turn from it, cried out to God when Israel was oppressed, and God listened, saw their oppression, and gave them a savior so that they escaped their oppressors; for God's mercy is not confined to the deserving, and though we are often unfaithful and can feel we have no claim on his help, God hears the cry of the undeserving who turn to him in their need, moved by compassion for their trouble rather than by their deserving, so that even when we have been unfaithful we can cry out to God, trusting that his mercy hears the cry of the undeserving and is moved by compassion for our need.

Lord, though Jehoahaz was an unfaithful king who did evil, when Israel was oppressed and he cried out to you, you heard him and gave Israel deliverance. Jehoahaz begged the LORD, the account says, and the LORD listened to him; for he saw the oppression of Israel. And you gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped the hand of their oppressors. What is striking is that this mercy came to an unfaithful people, through an unfaithful king, simply because they cried out and you saw their oppression. Your mercy responded to their cry even though they had not deserved it. Show me how undeserved this mercy was. Jehoahaz did evil, walked in the sins that led Israel astray, and did not turn from them; the people too remained unfaithful. By their deserving, they had no claim on your help. And yet, when they were oppressed and Jehoahaz cried out to you, you heard, saw their oppression, and had mercy. Your mercy responded to their cry, not because they had earned it, but out of your compassion for their oppression. This reveals the greatness of your mercy: that you hear the cry even of the undeserving, that your compassion is moved by our need even when we have not been faithful. This is a comfort for me, for I am often unfaithful, and can feel I have no claim on your help. But your mercy is not confined to the deserving. Take that to my heart, for your mercy reaches even the undeserving who cry out to you. When I feel undeserving, keep me from hesitating to cry out to you; help me cry out to you even when I have been unfaithful, Lord, trusting that your mercy hears the cry of the undeserving and is moved by compassion for my need, as you heard Jehoahaz and delivered Israel.