SCRIPTURE: 2 Chronicles 36
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done. [2 Chronicles 36:15-16]
Is God an angry judge or an aggrieved lover, a hurting parent, a betrayed spouse?
How long does a betrayed spouse have to put up with the cruel infidelities of their partner – and not just secret but public, shameless behaviour.
With tears, loving intervention, repeated warnings, all flowing from a deep love and compassion for the foolish, destructive direction of their lives.
But at some point, God’s patience runs out, His wounded love (i.e. anger) can no longer be restrained.
And its not that God dumps cruel punishment on His people; rather He withdraws His restraining, protective hand from them and allows their actions to experience their natural consequence.
They are rejecting God, and God finally gives them what they want – life without God.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” [Matthew 23:37-39]
God wants to gather and protect us, to bless and prosper us… but we have to be willing.
What is the result when we kick God out of the house – our house is abandoned and desolate.
What is life like when God is not included in it – everything falls apart.
This is what finally happens in 2 Chronicles, the culmination of centuries of God’s compassionate warnings and appeals.
God finally lets go, and lets them have their way.

But in both passages, God shows that even when He lets go, He does not give up.
In 2 Chronicles 36, we see in the conclusion that after a period of time in exile, God stirs in the heart of King Cyrus to make it possible for the remnant to return to Jerusalem – God is willing to start over.
And in Jesus’ words, even though God withdraws for a season and their house is desolate, the time will come when they will hear about the Lord stirring again, and in desperate hope they will look to God and say, “blessed is the one who is coming in the name of the Lord!”
In other words, God will try again, He is planning to start over.

Today’s readings show both God’s wound love, His painful withdrawal (because His people were not willing), and His promise to try again.
Talk about unlimited patience and mercy…

PRAYER:
Lord, I know first hand that Your patience is great, Your mercy is beyond my deserving. Help me to heed Your gentle warnings now, rather than waiting to experience what life is like without You in it.