DCLM Daily Manna 17 December 2021
Topic: Uncommon Mercy
TEXT: 2 Kings 13:1-9
KEY VERSE:
“And the Lord gave Israel a Saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as before time.” – (2 Kings 13:5)
One night in 1935, Fiorello H. La Guardia, former mayor of New York, showed up at a night court in the poorest ward of the city. He dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench. One case involved an elderly woman who was caught stealing bread to feed her grandchildren. La Guardia said “I’ve got to punish you, ten dollars or ten days in jail.” As he spoke, he threw $10 into his hat. He then fined everyone in the courtroom 50 cents for living in a city “where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat”. The hat was passed around, and the woman left the courtroom with her fine paid, and an additional $47.50.
The incident in our text took place during the reign of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king over the northern kingdom. As the nation continued in their evil, the Lord’s anger prevailed and this time, they were delivered into the hands of the kings of Syria who oppressed them. But Israel continued in their sins even after the deliverance.
The mercies and compassion of God are a lesson for every one of us, especially as preachers and ministers of the gospel. We sometimes close the doors of our churches to returning prodigals, thinking they have gone too far and done too much to be forgiven. We cannot be more offended than God by the sins of the people. We must leave the doors of mercy and forgiveness open for anyone who desires to return.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You can’t be angrier at sin than God.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Zephaniah 1-3
