Judgment Delayed, Not Denied
4/10/26 Bible Thought (2 Kings 17)
Main Idea: Judgment delayed is not judgment denied.
A Look at the Text:
2 Kings 17 is a very important text in Old Testament history. In today’s chapter, we see the fall of Israel. The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC as a result of the ceaseless rebellion of God’s people.
God had warned the people ahead of time in Deuteronomy that if they rejected Him, He would cast them off from the Promised Land (see Deut. 28:15-68). Even more, God in His great mercy, sent prophet after prophet to the people to plead with them to turn from their wicked ways and return to God (2 Kings 17:13).
As we have seen in previous weeks, Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Amos, and surely countless other prophets were sent by God. God gave His Word in the Torah. God gave His Word through the prophet. Yet the people wouldn’t turn from their idols and return to Yahweh.
As such, judgment day came. God warned them again and again. He gave them plenty of chances. Eventually, He kept His promise to bring destruction. Just as God had promised blessings for covenant-faithfulness, so He promised judgment from covenant-disobedience. In the end, God was faithful to keep His Word—all of it. Israel was no more, and only Judah remained.
Bringing it Home:
Many people struggle with the idea of God’s judgment. With this, we must see that with God this is never the first response, but it is the last resort. God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast, covenant-keeping love (see Ps. 103:8). However, God being slow to anger does not mean that He does not get angry.
God pleaded with His people through both His written and spoken Word time and time again. Yet they remained resolute in their pursuit of idols. So God kept His Word, and this portion of the Promised Land was now called Assyria, not Israel.
Even at present, God has foretold a day of coming judgment when His Son will return in glory. Yet, God, in His great mercy, has delayed that day:
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Pet. 3:9).
God desires that people would turn from their wicked ways and come to Him. This is seen to be true in both the Old and New Testaments. There is a delay in judgment as the direct result of God’s confounding mercy.
Yet, just because the day is delayed does not mean that it is not coming:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed (2 Pet. 3:10).
The Father has revealed Himself in creation (Rom. 1:20) and in Christ (John 1:18). He has given ample evidence and ample time for people to return to Him.
There is a door of mercy wherein people can be forgiven, but one day that door will be shut, and the bridegroom will come suddenly. The God who is merciful is also just, and He keeps His Word. All of it.
Challenge:
Do I see the merciful patience of God in delayed judgment?