2 Chronicles 36:15-17

"And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place: but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: He gave them all into his hand."

After the reign of Solomon, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel. The second book of Chronicles documents the reigns of the kings of Judah from Solomon until the nation was carried away by King Nebuchadnezzar (here called the king of the Chaldees). Sad to say, the kings of Judah had a checkered history with regard to devotion to the LORD. Some followed Him with a whole heart, and others completely rejected His ways and chose the ways of the idols of the nations around them.

It is not egotistical for the God of the universe to demand devotion to Himself. He made us. It is egotistical of us to expect that we can do whatever we please with His blessing! We fall so far short of His ways. Given who He is, and who we are, we could not rightly blame Him for giving up on us. But the verses above show a side of the situation that we do not often consider. See it in the first sentence? "He had compassion on His people ..." He wanted so much that they would turn to Him. But they despised His words and misused His prophets. "All day long (it says elsewhere) I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." Can you imagine a loving father stretching His hands forth to the ones he loves? It is the stretching of a loving, caring, compassionate person. Arms held open wide. The image drips with compassion, care, and love.

Regardless of modern philosophy, the most loving thing a father can (and must) do at some times, though, is to discipline his wayward children. To not discipline them is equivalent to hating them (says the Proverbs). So it is with God. Under circumstances as described here even the most compassionate man might finally give up. He might throw up his hands not knowing what else he can do. While one might conclude from these verses that this is what God finally did, the fact is that just a few verses after these He promises to bring them back to the land. In His compassion for His people He did bring them back. In spite of their complete and utter rejection of His demands and commands, His compassion shows through even in His judgments.

In the last 2600 years since the book of Isaiah was written God has not changed. Compassion is still one of His characteristics. Today He still stands with arms opened wide to a disobedient and gainsaying people (that's us). But now He does not hold us responsible for ignoring His prophets, as Israel did. Now He holds us responsible for ignoring His only Begotten Son. What greater indication of God's compassion is there than His having judged His own sinless Son for our sin? Of how much sorer punishment should we be counted worthy if we count His sacrifice as nothing by taking it lightly, or by downplaying its significance?

Praise God, He is compassionate. He is holding outstretched arms toward sinning people who need to run to Him, and not away. He has provided a great salvation to we who are in great need. Praise Him for His great compassion.

HJK