Today's readings are 1 Kings 11.1-26 and 2 Corinthians 6.1-18.
Solomon has turned away from God. the Lord, therefore, appears to Solomon a third time, reminding him of the covenant of God. Because Solomon has broken the covenant God made with him, God is going to allow Solomon's kingdom to be taken from him. Yet look at God's mercy here. He could simply remove the kingdom from Solomon and cast his king out. What's more, God had no obligation to warn Solomon. He doesn't appear to most people in this way even once in their lives. But God came to Solomon and warned him one last time. In bringing judgment, furthermore, God did not remove the entire kingdom from Solomon, but left one house of Israel with him.
How does our Lord punish sin? He takes it seriously. There is no doubt about that. Yet in God's wrath his mercy and grace are shown. How did God punish Solomon's breaking of God's covenant? He did so by breaking the covenant himself and not being as severe as the covenant stated. He did so by graciously leaving Solomon with something.
In these last days God has visited the world in his righteous wrath for sin. He has poured out that anger on Jesus Christ, his only son, who is fully God and fully man, thus able to atone for sin as our sufficient substitute. God has exercised his vengeance upon himself rather than upon us who justly deserve God's penalty for sin.
Yes, God is the merciful God who does not treat us as our sins deserve.
Solomon has turned away from God. the Lord, therefore, appears to Solomon a third time, reminding him of the covenant of God. Because Solomon has broken the covenant God made with him, God is going to allow Solomon's kingdom to be taken from him. Yet look at God's mercy here. He could simply remove the kingdom from Solomon and cast his king out. What's more, God had no obligation to warn Solomon. He doesn't appear to most people in this way even once in their lives. But God came to Solomon and warned him one last time. In bringing judgment, furthermore, God did not remove the entire kingdom from Solomon, but left one house of Israel with him.
How does our Lord punish sin? He takes it seriously. There is no doubt about that. Yet in God's wrath his mercy and grace are shown. How did God punish Solomon's breaking of God's covenant? He did so by breaking the covenant himself and not being as severe as the covenant stated. He did so by graciously leaving Solomon with something.
In these last days God has visited the world in his righteous wrath for sin. He has poured out that anger on Jesus Christ, his only son, who is fully God and fully man, thus able to atone for sin as our sufficient substitute. God has exercised his vengeance upon himself rather than upon us who justly deserve God's penalty for sin.
Yes, God is the merciful God who does not treat us as our sins deserve.
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Dave Spotts
blogging at http://capnsaltyslongvoyage.blogspot.com
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