2 Kings 13:22-23 ESV

22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

-----

22 Pinahirapan naman ni Hazael na hari ng Siria ang Israel sa lahat ng mga araw ni Jehoahaz. 23 Ngunit ang PANGINOO'Y naging mapagpala sa kanila at nahabag sa kanila, at siya'y bumaling sa kanila, dahil sa kanyang tipan kina Abraham, Isaac, at Jacob; at ayaw niya silang lipulin, ni palayasin man sa kanyang harapan hanggang sa ngayon.


THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL.

In all the days of King Jehoahaz, Israel has experienced continual harassment from King Hazael, king of Syria. The Lord has permitted this not as a punishment but a chastisement to them because they were sinning against God. Punishment is done as an end in itself to those who are not related with Him. On the other hand, chastisement is to discipline an erring person who is related with God. God disciplines His children as a loving parent. Heb 12:7,8 says “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”

The graciousness and mercies of God are results of God’s faithfulness to His covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God’s dealings with them has been predominantly by His grace and mercies. Jeremiah said,
“ The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” [Lam 3:22-23]

But, God’s greatest act of grace and mercy was at the cross. As Paul declared, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”[Rom 5:6-8]

Let’s always glory in God’s grace and mercy alone. We are nothing apart from Christ. “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”[Titus 3:5-7]

Listen and FOLLOW on podcast
Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify
Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast
Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcast
Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audible

Follow us in various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio

#gospellightfilipino
#godswordfortoday
#bookof2Kings