2 Kings 13:20-25: a reflection

20Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. 21As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a band of raiders; and they threw the man into Elisha’s tomb. As soon as the man touched Elisha’s bones, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 22Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23But the LORD was gracious to them, and had compassion on them, and favored them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them and he didn’t cast them from his presence as yet. 24Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his place. 25Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Joash struck him three times, and recovered the cities of Israel.

The prophet Elisha dies and is buried, and then a strange thing happens: some men, hastily burying another body during a raid, throw it into Elisha's tomb, and when the dead man touches Elisha's bones, he comes back to life. Even in death, the power of God that had worked through Elisha was not exhausted. It is an odd and striking sign that God's power outlasts the life of his servant, and that death does not have the final word.

But the deeper heart of the passage is a statement about God's mercy. Israel had been oppressed and was far from faithful, and yet, the text says, the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them. God's kindness to his undeserving people rested not on their goodness but on his own covenant faithfulness, his promise to their ancestors. He kept them because he had bound himself to keep them.

This is the ground of hope for all of us who are, like Israel, undeserving. God's mercy toward his people does not rest on their faithfulness but on his own covenant commitment. He keeps his own not because they have earned it but because he has promised, and he is faithful. For the Christian, that covenant is sealed in Christ, an unbreakable promise. When you are aware of how little you deserve God's kindness, take heart from this: he is gracious to his people for the sake of his covenant, not their merit. His faithfulness, not yours, is your security.

Lord, you were gracious to an undeserving Israel because of your covenant with their fathers, keeping them not for their goodness but for your own faithfulness. When I am aware of how little I deserve your kindness, remind me that your mercy rests on your covenant, sealed in Christ, and not on my merit. Thank you that your faithfulness, not mine, is my security. Keep me, for the sake of your promise. Amen.