The history of the Southern Kingdom of Israel teaches us an important aspect of God’s character. They had the Law with the blessings if they obeyed and the grave results if they broke the Law. 1 What does God teach us about His character in the exile of the Southern kingdom?
# God’s covenant
God’s covenant included the Southern kingdom. Because of sin, they rejected and neglected the Covenant. Nothing would change their disastrous course, ‘The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised His words and scoffed at HIs prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy. He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged….’ 2
# Was God unfair and cruel?
The written book of the Law was a constant reminder of the requirements of the Covenant. Why didn’t God just pass over their rebellion, since they are His own people? God couldn’t. If He did, people would begin to doubt the truth of His word. Eventually it would mean that God might decide to pass over His promise of eternal life. If God could ‘forget’ one part of His promises, why not another part?
# Can we trust Scripture?
Yes, when God speaks (in Scripture) He acts, ‘God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfil?’ 3
Whenever God warned people to obey and they refused to change, God always acted.
# God punishes, but His compassion doesn’t stop.
Doing what He promised is a victory for God’s righteousness, integrity and faithfulness. Yet He never closes the door to those who are sorry for their rebellion and disobediences: ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ 4
What is the lesson?
The historical examples in the Bible teach about God’s faithfulness. When He speaks, He acts. That is wonderful news, because it means our hope of eternal life is very secure: God will ‘deliver.’
- Leviticus 26:14-46 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68
- 2 Chronicles 36:15-17
- Numbers 23:19
- Lamentations 3:22-23