Apostles of Jesus focus on finding disciples and teaching them. [2]
The Lord discipled King Jehoahaz even when he was an unwilling participant in the matter. The Lord allowed Jehoahaz to be oppressed. Then, Jehoahaz prayed. The Lord heard him. The Lord delivered him.
Jehoahaz “did evil in the sight of the Lord” and “the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all their days. So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before.” [3]
What does the Lord do for those He loves? He disciplines them. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” [4] The Lord wants you and me close to Him.
Jehoahaz and his people were neither destroyed nor cast out from God’s presence because of God’s promise to Abraham. That promise was a Seed that would come from Israel who would have descendants like the stars of heaven. That Seed is Jesus Christ. Jehoahaz was saved from destruction because of the righteousness of another given unto him, namely, Jesus Christ. [5]
“Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.” [6]
Praise God for His grace that maintains us in a good relationship with Him.
Psalm 138 is about thanking God because He is good and mercy endures forever. Psalm 138 provides 23 reasons to give thanks to the Lord for His enduring mercy including this one in verse 23: “Who remembered us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever.”
“Thank You Lord for Your goodness and mercy towards us.”
The early church disciplined members who needed discipline. For example, there was a man in the Corinthians Church who was having an immoral relationship with his father’s wife, likely his stepmother. Paul instructed the Church to “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” [7]
There is much focus nowadays on providing relief to bodies that are suffering, but not enough focus on saving souls that are in danger of an eternity without God. The worst calamity anyone can experience is eternity in hell. True compassion is to do whatever it takes to save the erring one’s soul from hell. This is what the Lord does. He allows suffering and oppression to soften the hearts of those who have hardened their hearts to Him. His goal is not to inflict harm, but to break down the individual’s sinful nature and bring them to repentance, ultimately leading to their restoration and salvation.
And what does the Lord do for the repentant sinner. He fills him or her with His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit fills us with love. This renewal of the soul is comparable to a resurrection from the dead so that one can truly live again. Live a life of love for God and others!
What is God’s love like? “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” [8] To love as the Lord loves is a wonderful blessing!
[1] Matthew 4:19; 28:19-20
[2] Acts 19:1, 9
[3] 1 Kings 13:2-5
[4] Revelation 3:19
[5] Genesis 15:5-6; Galatians 3:16, 19, 29
[6] 1 Kings 13:22-23
[7] 1 Corinthians 5:1-5
[8] 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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