2 Chronicles 36:15-23: a reflection

15The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place; 16but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the LORD’s wrath arose against his people, until there was no remedy. 17Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or infirm. He gave them all into his hand. 18All the vessels of God’s house, great and small, and the treasures of the LORD’s house, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. 19They burned God’s house, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all of its valuable vessels. 20He carried those who had escaped from the sword away to Babylon, and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia, 21to fulfill the LORD’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. 22Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the LORD’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23“Cyrus king of Persia says, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me; and he has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.’”

Before judgment finally fell, God had sent messenger after messenger to his people, out of compassion, warning them again and again; but they mocked the messengers and despised his words, until there was no remedy. The LORD sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, the account says, because he had compassion on his people; but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until there was no remedy. God's judgment did not fall suddenly or without warning. Out of compassion for his people, God sent messenger after messenger, early and persistently, warning them and calling them back. But they would not listen; they mocked the messengers, despised the words, scoffed at the prophets, until their persistent refusal left no remedy. God warned long and compassionately before judgment came. This shows God's patient, compassionate warning, and the danger of despising it until too late. God warns patiently and compassionately, again and again, before judgment. Do not mock or despise God's warnings until it is too late. God's persistence in warning shows his compassion, not his eagerness to judge. Heed God's warnings while there is still remedy.

Notice God's patience and compassion before judgment, and the people's response. Judgment did not come suddenly or arbitrarily. Long before it fell, God, out of compassion for his people, sent messenger after messenger, rising up early and sending, warning them, calling them back, giving them every opportunity to turn. This persistence in warning was an expression of compassion, not eagerness to condemn; God did not want to judge his people, but to save them, and so he warned them again and again. But the people would not listen. They mocked the messengers, despised God's words, scoffed at the prophets, hardening themselves against every warning, until, at last, their persistent refusal left no remedy, and judgment fell. This holds a sobering warning. God's warnings, in Scripture and to our conscience, are expressions of his compassion, given so that we might turn and be spared. To mock, despise, or ignore them is dangerous; for there can come a point, after persistent refusal, where it is too late, where no remedy is left. God is patient, warning long and compassionately; but his patience is not to be presumed upon endlessly. We do well to heed God's warnings while there is still remedy, not despising or ignoring the compassionate warnings he gives, lest we harden ourselves until it is too late. Heed God's warnings while there is still remedy; do not despise or ignore them. God's persistent warning is an expression of his compassion, given so you may turn. Do not presume on God's patience until it is too late. Take God's warnings as compassion, and turn while you can.

That is worth taking to heart, for God warns patiently and compassionately before judgment, and it is dangerous to despise his warnings until too late, as the people mocked the messengers until there was no remedy. We can mock, despise, or ignore God's warnings; but God had sent messenger after messenger out of compassion, and only persistent refusal left no remedy. Heed the warning. Do not mock or ignore God's compassionate warnings; heed them while there is still remedy, turning to God rather than hardening yourself until it is too late. Heed God's patient, compassionate warnings while there is still remedy, not mocking, despising, or ignoring them until it is too late, as before judgment finally fell God had sent messenger after messenger to his people out of compassion, warning them again and again, but they mocked the messengers and despised his words until there was no remedy; for God's judgment did not fall suddenly or without warning, since out of compassion for his people he sent messenger after messenger early and persistently, warning them and calling them back, but they would not listen and mocked the messengers and scoffed at the prophets until their persistent refusal left no remedy, so that God warned long and compassionately before judgment came, which holds a sobering warning, since God's warnings in Scripture and to our conscience are expressions of his compassion given so that we might turn and be spared, and to mock, despise, or ignore them is dangerous, for there can come a point after persistent refusal where it is too late and no remedy is left, God being patient and warning long and compassionately but his patience not to be presumed upon endlessly, so that we do well to heed God's warnings while there is still remedy, not despising or ignoring the compassionate warnings he gives lest we harden ourselves until it is too late.

Lord, before judgment finally fell, you had sent messenger after messenger to your people, out of compassion, warning them again and again; but they mocked the messengers and despised your words, until there was no remedy. The LORD sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, the account says, because he had compassion on his people; but they mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until there was no remedy. Your judgment did not fall suddenly or without warning. Out of compassion for your people, you sent messenger after messenger, early and persistently, warning them and calling them back. But they would not listen; they mocked the messengers, despised the words, scoffed at the prophets, until their persistent refusal left no remedy. Show me your patience and compassion before judgment, and the people's response. Judgment did not come suddenly or arbitrarily. Long before it fell, you, out of compassion, sent messenger after messenger, rising up early and sending, giving them every opportunity to turn. This persistence in warning was an expression of compassion, not eagerness to condemn; you did not want to judge your people, but to save them. But the people would not listen. They mocked the messengers, despised your words, scoffed at the prophets, hardening themselves against every warning, until, at last, their persistent refusal left no remedy. This holds a sobering warning. Your warnings, in Scripture and to my conscience, are expressions of your compassion, given so that I might turn and be spared. To mock, despise, or ignore them is dangerous; for there can come a point, after persistent refusal, where it is too late. You are patient, warning long and compassionately; but your patience is not to be presumed upon endlessly. Take that to my heart. Keep me from mocking, despising, or ignoring your compassionate warnings; help me heed them, Lord, while there is still remedy, taking them as the expression of your compassion that they are, and turning to you while I can, rather than hardening myself until it is too late.