Have you ever wondered why YHVH
extended mercy to some people such as David, Solomon, ???? even though
they broke the Law? Have you ever wondered why YHVH was so harsh on
others even though they tried to obey the law, but failed. YHVH’s Law
and Israel’s history holds the key for unlocking the truth that
dictates and defines the perimeters of YHVH’s mercy.
The definition of Mercy: A disposition to show kindness or
compassion. Mercy implies compassion that forbears punishing even when
justice demands it. (Merriam Webster, Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate
Dictionary (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.).
Mercy implies forbearance to punish
even when the commands within YHWH’s Law demand it. In other words when
a person brakes YHWH’s law, YHWH can withhold or forgive punishment
even though his law demands retribution of certain crimes. If, for
instance, a person like King David committed adultery, YHWH could show
mercy under certain circumstances and withhold the judgment his law
ordains. What we will see, however, is that YHWH’s law even establishes
stipulations for how and under what circumstances his mercy may and can
be applied.
Mercy seat - Exod 26:33-35- ordained
YHVH’s mercy within his covenant since the mercy seat set above the ark
of the covenant (thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that
thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony:
and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most
holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the
testimony in the most holy place. And thou shalt set the table without
the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the
tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north
side. (Exod 26:33-35)
One of the first concepts or rather
conditions YHWH associated with his mercy was obedience to his
covenant:
Know therefore that YHWH thy God, he
is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them
that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.
(Deut 7:9)
Notice the concept of Israel’s
covenant being associated with YHVH’s mercy. We don’t often think of
the Sinai Compact guaranteeing YHVH’s mercy for those who follow his
covenant, but it did. When a person rebelled against his covenant as
King Saul did, we see that he fell outside the perimeters of YHVH’s
protection. YHWH states that he took away his mercy from Saul:
2 Sam 7:15- But my mercy shall
not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away
before thee.
King Saul had rebelled against YHVH’s
command to utterly destroy Amalek and kill Agag their king. Saul had
shown open rebellion against YHVH’s commands so he took away his mercy
from King Saul. King Saul not only bore the concequences of his
actions, but his sons did as well. When the battle raged sore, all his
sons were killed as YHWH deferred mercy to Saul’s sons.
Today there are many examples of
people living outside the protection of the covenant that gurrantees
YHWH’s mercy. YHWH states that children inherit
their forefather’s iniquity. Congenital diseases are a great example of
how this natural law works in our day to day lives. Many children today
are born with sexually transmitted diseases. In 1997 alone, 1200
children in the United States were born with syphilis.100 The World
Health Organization estimates that over 3,600,000 have been born with
HIV, many of which have died.101 Though the child does not merit
diseases inherited from his parent’s actions, it is the way genes and
disease work. It is the legacy the parent leaves for his or her unborn
child. While we may complain about how “unfair” genetics are to the
unborn, inheritance is a very non-arbitrary process.
III. The Character of Mercy At Mt. Sinai YHWH told Moses, “I will
make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of
YHWH before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and
will show mercy on whom I will show mercy” (Exod 33:19). When Moses
ascended the mount, YHWH fulfilled his promised by defining justice and
mercy as his most important character trait.
And YHWH passed by before him, and
proclaimed, YHWH, YHWH God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and
abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the
guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and
upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth
generation” (Exod 34:6-7). The Second Commandment contains further
information, which helps to clarify this definition. “For I YHWH thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children unto the third and fourth generation (a) of them that hate me;
And showing mercy unto thousands (b) of them that love me, and keep my
commandments. (Exod 20:5-6)
If a person (b) loves YHWH, and keeps
his commandments, then humanity’s Judge will be “merciful, gracious,
and longsuffering” with him. If, however, a man’s children (a) hate
YHWH and they are the third or fourth generation descending from the
person who has shed innocent blood, children will bear their
forefather’s unexpiated judgment. This can be witnessed in the many
times YHWH gave the kings of Israel three generations to repent from
“walking in the ways of Jeroboam who caused Israel to sin,” which we
will see just a little later in this discussion. This attribute of
righteousness and equity is so important YHWH reiterates it again in
the Ten Commandments:
And YHWH descended in the cloud, and
stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of YHWH. And YHWH passed
by before him, and proclaimed, YHWH YHWH God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (a) Keeping mercy
for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that
(b) will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, (c) unto
the third and to the fourth generation. (Ex 34:5-7)
Though YHWH forgave perversity,
rebellion, and the trespass of his Law for those who repented, he still
allowed humanity to reap the consequences of their choices, often
allowing children to learn from their parent’s mistakes. Notice the law
YHVH established for his mercy toward Israel:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to
them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of
them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Ex 20:5)
These verses define the extent and the
limit of YHWH’s mercy as a righteous judge who will not clear the
guilty. YHWH will show (a) mercy to all who love him, and he will
forgive their iniquity when they turn from their sins.8 Although he is
merciful to the righteous, YHWH will not clear those who (b) do not
repent or turn from their sins. When YHWH does render judgment upon the
wicked, he waits until (c) three or four generations have continued to
walk in their forefather’s atrocities. In other words, three to four
successive generations would have to rebel against the Creator and
continue in their father’s crimes before YHWH renders judgment! This judgment method is evidenced
throughout Scripture. When YHWH established his covenant with Abraham,
he waited four generations (Gen 15:16) until the Amorites’ sins reached
total degradation.
But in the fourth generation they
shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet
full.
In the fourth generation, he employed
Abraham’s seed to spew the Amorites and other lawless nations out of
the Promised Land.9 YHWH’s application of his mercy is consistently
evidenced again in his promises to Jehu and Nebuchadnezzar, who both
fulfilled YHWH’s commands: Nebuchadnezzar to render destruction and
deportation upon Jerusalem (Jer 25:9, 27:6) and Jehu to overthrow
Ahab’s seed (1 Kgs 19:16-17, 2 Kgs 10:11). To reward their obedience to
his will, YHWH promised both men that their sons would enjoy safety
through his mercy until their third (Jer 27:6-7) and forth generations,
respectively (2 Kgs 10:30, 15:12).
2 Kgs 10:30-And YHVH said unto Jehu,
Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine
eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in
mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the
throne of Israel.
Jer 27:7 -And all nations shall serve
him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land
come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of
him.
When a man lives righteously in YHWH’s
sight, the Creator shows mercy toward his children when the children
turn from their forefather’s righteousness (Ex 20:6; 34:7; Num 14:18;
Deut 7:9-12). For his mercy’s sake, YHWH often allows three or four
successive generations to rebel against him (Ex 20:6; 34:7) before he
renders judgment against those Houses. This grants children ample time
to turn from their wickedness. When Jehu fulfilled Elijah’s prophecy,
for instance, YHWH granted his House four generations (even if they
were wicked) for sake of Jehu’s righteous obedience in rendering
judgment against Ahab’s wicked house (2 Kgs 10:30). When Solomon
rebelled, YHWH showed mercy to David (1 Kgs 11:11-13; Ps 18:50; 2 Chr
6:42) by waiting until the third generation to tear Ephraim out of his
son’s hands. When Manasseh grew so wickedly perverse, YHWH mercifully
gave him into captivity so that he could humble himself and repent,
rather than putting him to death. When Manasseh repented, his life
continued but YHWH stated he would no longer maintain his mercy to
David’s offspring (2 Kgs 24:4). When Manasseh’s third and fourth
generations rebelled they were deported, permanently exiled, or put to
death, and the bloodguilt of their House*(vol 1 ch 17.II.B-E) fell upon
their heads for their unwillingness to repent from their
unrighteousness. In many cases, Israel’s forefathers
who lived during the Judges era never lived righteously in YHWH sight,
so YHWH withheld mercy when their children rebelled. In these instances
the third and forth rebellious generations met with judgment. When a
wicked man abuses and oppresses other people, it is unmerciful to
withhold judgment and allow innocent people to suffer at his hand. For
the people’s sake, the Creator will refrain from extending mercy to the
offender and judge him (Ps 72:4, Isa 33:22, Ezek 34:22). Ahab would
provide a case in point. YHWH deceived him into battle that he should
fall and be killed (1 Kgs 22:22-23) and his life cut short from the
evil he fostered and perpetuated upon his people.
II. Mercy according to Israel’s
covenant The best testament of YHWH’s mercy can
be witnessed in Israel’s history. When Solomon turned from following
YHWH he built an altar in front of YHWH’s temple where many Israelites
sacrificed their infants as atonement for sin to the evil god Molech.4
King Josiah had abolished the Hinoam altar, but it had been rebuilt in
Jeremiah’s day and all its atrocities reestablished. Judah’s wickedness
reached such degradation that YHWH proclaims her wickedness surpassed
the Amorite that he had cast out before Israel:
For the children of Judah have done
evil in my sight, saith YHWH: they have set their abominations in the
house which is called by my name, to pollute it. And they have built
the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom,
to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded
them not, neither came it into my heart. (Jer 7:30-31)
They were as fed horses in the
morning: EVERY ONE neighed after his neighbor’s wife. (Jer 5:8)
For the House of Israel and the House
of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith YHWH. They
have belied YHWH, and said, It is not He; neither shall evil come upon
us; neither shall we see sword nor famine. (Jer 5:11-12)
For among my people are found wicked
men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they
catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses are full of
deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen
fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge
not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the
right of the needy do they not judge. (Jer 5:26-28)
YHWH patiently dealt with Israel and
did not destroy his people. When he rendered judgment upon Jeremiah’s
generation, YHWH did not destroy her rather he placed Israel in
captivity and deported her until “she accepted the punishment of her
iniquity” (Lev 26:41). YHWH was “slow to anger” (Ps 103:8) and withheld
his Although YHWH’s patience with Israel
demonstrates his mercy, longsuffering, and forgiveness of humanity, no
biography demonstrates YHWH’s mercy and his grace toward humanity more
than the mercy he showed to David’s house. After King Hezekiah
contracted a deadly skin disease, he asked YHWH to heal and grant him a
longer life. YHWH heard Hezekiah’s bed-ridden prayer and healed him (2
Kgs 20:1-7), which resulted in a son named Manasseh. Of all Judah’s
kings, Manasseh was the vilest. Scripture vividly describes Manasseh’s
many bloody crimes:
But they hearkened not: and Manasseh
seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom YHWH destroyed
before the children of Israel. Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood
very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside
his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in
the sight of YHWH. (2 Kgs 21:9, 16)
So Manasseh made Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom
YHWH had destroyed before the children of Israel. And YHWH spake to
Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore YHWH
brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria,
which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and
carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the
YHWH his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his
fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard
his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.
Then Manasseh knew that YHWH he was God. (2 Chr 33:9-17)
Manasseh killed innocent men,
degrading Jerusalem to a status comparable with Sodom and Gomorrah.
Though Manasseh was guilty and full of iniquity, YHWH did not kill him
as the Law demanded.5 Rather, the Creator mercifully sent him into
exile so his punishment could humble his proud and rebellious heart.
During Manasseh’s exile, he indeed acknowledged his wickedness and
asked for forgiveness. YHWH heard him (though he was in Assyria) and
restored his kingdom unto him. YHWH mercifully disciplined Manasseh. He
did not render due judgment unto him as the Law demanded, rather the
Creator withheld the death sentence even though the Law demanded his
death! YHWH applied a lesser sentence to try Manasseh to see if he
would humble himself and repent, which he did, and YHWH freely restored
him to his former estate.6
IV. Judgment of the third and forth
generation Although many situations demonstrate
YHWH’s mercy, King David, one of the few kings who followed YHWH
whole-heartedly best demonstrates YHWH’s lawful mercy. When David
sought to build the temple and make a permanent house for his God (2
Sam 7:1-3), YHWH returned the favor and did unto David as David had
sought to do for his Creator, making David a sure and permanent house
by extending a covenant of light to him (2 Sam 7:11-17). YHWH loved Solomon
from the day of his birth (2 Sam 12:25) and afforded him wisdom to
govern Israel. He gave the nation peace on all sides to establish the
nation’s borders, gathering all Israel gathered to him. But Solomon
rebelled, turning to serve other gods. Rehoboam continued in Solomon’s
sins and in the third generation (from David) YHWH fractured the
kingdom of Israel into two nations. All the kings of Samaria (Israel’s
Northern Kingdom) followed idolatry. None of her kings ever returned to
YHWH. The Southern Kingdom, however, forsook
iniquity from time to time so YHWH extended his mercy unto them. Notice
how accurately the history of Judah’s kings exemplifies YHWH’s judgment
of the third and forth generations of evildoers. The following chart
summarizes YHWH’s assessment of the kings’ lives, whether it had been
good or evil in his sight.
Mercy shown to King David’s offspring David-
Very Good (1 Kgs 15:15) Solomon – Good,
became evil (after YHWH appeared to him twice; 1 Kgs11:1-10) Rehoboam - Evil (1
Kgs 14:21-24) Abijam-
Evil (1 Kgs 15:3)
Asa-
Good (1 Kgs 15:11) Jehoshaphat – Good
(1 Kgs 22:43), but did evil by confederating with the House of Ahab (1
Kings 22) Jehoram – Evil (2
Kgs 8:18) Ahaziah-
Evil (2 Kgs 8:27) Joash- Good (2 Kgs
12:2), became evil after Jehoiada the priest who raised him died (2 Chr
24:17-24). Amaziah – Good (2
Kgs 14:3), became evil at end of life (2 Kgs 14:8, 11-12). Azariah – Good (2
Kgs 15:3) till pride lead to evil profaning of the Temple (2 Kgs 15:5). Jotham-
Good (2 Kgs 15:34-35) Ahaz-
Very Evil (2 Kgs 16:2-4) Hezekiah- Very Good
(2 Kgs 18:3-7) Manasseh – Utterly
Evil (2 Chr 33:2-10) until taken captive by Assyria, then repented, and
supposedly died good (2 Chr 12-16). YHWH would not pardon the sins of
David’s sons any longer - 2 Kgs 24:3-4. 1st -Amon – Evil (2
Chr 33:22-24) Manasseh’s son – (2 Kgs 21:18-19) 2nd -Josiah – Good
(2 Chr 34:2-4) Amon’s
son (2 Kgs 21:24) 3rd -Jehoahaz- Evil
(2 Kgs 23:32)
Josiah’s son (2 Kgs 23:30) 3rd -Jehoiakim-
Evil (2 Chr 36:5) Josiah’s
son (2 Chr 36:1-5) 3rd -Zedekiah10-
Evil (2 Kgs 24:19) Josiah’s son (2 Kgs 24:17-20
– Jehoiakim’s brother) 4th -Jechoniah-
Evil (2 Kgs 24:9)
Jehoiakim’s son (2 Kgs 24:6) YHWH promised David that he would have
mercy upon his seed. (In contrast to Saul and the kings of Israel whose
prodigies were cut off after one or two generations). Though Solomon
rebelled, YHWH waited to render justice during Solomon’s day for
David’s sake (1 Kgs 11:12). Instead, YHWH mercifully withheld judgment
until the third generation. YHWH diminished Rehoboam’s kingdom to two
tribes (3 Kdmgs 11:30-32) but enabled Rehoboam to strengthen his
kingdom for the sake of Jeroboam’s greater sins (2 Chr 11:17). Abijam,
the third generation from David, continued in Rehoboam’s sins, and YHWH
him left without any offspring. Asa and Jehoshaphat turned from Solomon
and Rehoboam’s sins to the God of David. Jehoram married Athaliah
(Ahab’s daughter) and their son Ahaziah continued in the sins promoted
by Ahab’s House. While Joash, Amaziah, and Azariah had
greatly served YHWH in their younger years, in their old age they
forsook YHWH and served other gods. Ahaz was so evil that he offered
his own son as a sacrifice (2 Kgs 16:3). Throughout the lives of all
these idolatrous and wicked kings YHWH had pardoned the sins of David’s
sons, willingly forgiving their sins and showing them undeserved grace
by extending mercy for the people’s sake, for the sake of the covenant
of peace he had promised to David, but most of all he extended mercy
based upon the merciful and righteous limits established in his Law. YHWH extended his mercy until the
reign of Manasseh, who was the most heinously wicked Judean king. YHWH
testifies this wicked king had “filled Jerusalem one end to the other
with innocent blood” (2 Kgs 21:16). Not only did he seek to familiar
spirits, he sacrificed his son to Molech (2 Chr 21:6) and placed an
idol in the holy place where YHWH dwelt! For these sins YHWH testified
against Manasseh, saying that he would not pardon the sins of Judah’s
kings anymore:
Surely at the commandment of YHWH came
this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of
Manasseh, according to all that he did; And also for the innocent blood
that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which YHWH
would not pardon. (2 Kgs 24:3-4)
How merciful was
YHWH with Israel’s kings? YHWH had forgiven David’s sons until Manasseh
whose sins “YHWH would not pardon.” The Law established judgment when
iniquity continues for three and four consecutive generations. Jehoahaz
was the third generation from Manasseh. He did not turn from his evil
ways, so YHWH extended mercy to his brother Eliakim (whose name Pharaoh
changed to Jehoiakim). Josiah’s second son did not turn from his evil
ways either, so YHWH extended mercy and opportunity to establish
righteousness to Eliakim’s son, Jeconiah. Coniah, (another name for
Jeconiah or Jehoiachin) the fourth generation from Manasseh, was so
evil he only lasted three months. So YHWH extended mercy to Josiah’s
third son, Mattaniah (whose name Nebuchadnezzar changed to Zedekiah). YHWH extended mercy to three brothers
in the third generation from Manasseh and to one son in the fourth
generation. The Creator afforded the maximum opportunity for Manasseh’s
sons to turn from their evil and avoid judgment. When these four kings
refused to humble themselves, YHWH removed the nation and her kings out
of his sight! YHWH even withheld the lawful death judgment against
Judah’s last king (Zedekiah) and Jerusalem’s inhabitants, commandeering
them for exile rather than for slaughter.11 YHWH did not reattribute
justice as his Law demanded. Rather he applied the mercy his Law
ordained for this undeserving people. YHWH’s mercy is consistently witnessed
throughout Israel’s history. After YHWH entered into the covenant with
Israel, his people rebelled by erecting the golden calf – and YHWH
deferred his anger. During the days of the judges, Israel continued to
rebel by worshipping Canaan’s gods as their own – YHWH placed them in
captivity - again deferring his anger. Israel asked for a king in
accordance with the theology of other nations – and YHWH gave them
their own lusts, once again deferring his anger. During the Kingdom
years Judah became so reprobate that she compared to Sodom and
Gomorrah, but not until Manasseh killed many people, sought after
familiar spirits, and placed an “abomination of desolation” in the most
holy place that YHWH would defer due justice no longer. But even when
YHWH refused to pardon Manasseh’s sins, the nation’s punishment was
banishment from the Promised Land, not death! Surely YHWH did forbear to punish even
when justice demanded it.
Children without Mercy Let’s contrast the mercy YHVH extended
to David’s children for the sake of David’s righteousness to the lack
of mercy afforded to the children of the wicked. Job’s prophecy of the legacy of the
wicked man: This is the portion of a wicked man
with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of
the Almighty. If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and
his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. Those that
remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
David built upon Job’s doctrine,
prophecying:
Let his children be fatherless, and
his wife a widow. Let his children be continually (e) vagabonds, and
beg. let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Let
the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his
labour. Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there
be any to favour his fatherless children. (Ps 109:8-12) (Ps 109:9-10)
Job’s words regarding the ungodly (Job
27:11-18) followed the precept of mercy and righteousness established
in the Law, which stated: “For I YHWH thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation of them that hate me” (Ex 20:5). As previously
charted YHWH, for his mercy’s sake, withholds judgment upon a man and
his House until there have been three or four generations that have
consistently rebelled against him without turning from their
wickedness. David’s Psalm builds upon this precept citing the judgment
to be rendered against this wicked ruler’s children, stating they would
become (e) vagabonds and beggars (Ps 109:10). David and Job’s
doctrine build upon the concept of YHVH rendering judgment upon the 3rd
and 4th generations of those who hate YHVH and his way of life. Like
King Saul’s children, when sin and iniquity exist in their houses YHVH
applies judgment instead of mercy as their forefather has not
established a righteous account with YHVH for his house.
King Ahab is perhaps the best example
of YHVH rendering judgment upon a wicked man AND his wicked children.
Behold, I will bring evil upon thee,
and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that
pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation
wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. (1
Kgs 21:21-22) For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut
off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut
up and left in Israel: And I will make the house of Ahab like the
house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the
son of Ahijah. (2 Kgs 9:8-9)
Baasha and Jeroboam’s houses were so
wicked that they were left without any descendants. Iin ancient times
the existence of a man’s seed generations later demonstrated the
righteousness of his life. If a righteous man’s children were
unrighteous, YHWH would show them mercy for the sake of their
progenitor’s obedience. If a man lacked seed three or four generations
later or less, it exhibited his own unrighteousness because YHWH would
show no mercy to his children when they rebelled. Ahab’s line entered
David’s sure house and his offspring were shown mercy for the sake of
David’s obedience. YHWH’s mercy to David, however, could not disannul
or rescind the judgment passed upon Ahab’s wicked offspring. The annul
of 2 Kings 10:11 witnesses the judgment applied to Ahab’s wicked house
shortly before Ahab’s daughter usurped David’s throne.
So Jehu slew all that remained of the
house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and
his priests, until he left him none remaining. (2 Kgs 10:11)
The Chronicles of Judah also bestow an
account of this event: “And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was
executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of
Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to
Ahaziah, he slew them” (2 Chr 22:8). While Jehu was executing judgment
upon Ahaziah’s brethren, Ahab’s daughter (Athaliah) was herself
annihilating Jehoram’s offspring. After his father Jehoshaphat’s death,
Jehoram (Athaliah’s husband) slaughtered his brothers. His widow
followed suit after her son’s death and her children would have wholly
perished had not Athaliah’s daughter Jehoshabeath hidden Joash
(Ahaziah’s son and Athaliah’s grandson) in the temple for six years.
During the reigns of Joash, Uzziah, Hezekiah, Jehoiakim, and Jechoniah,
the seed of Ahab still existed even though YHWH had foretold: “The
whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that
pisseth against the wall” (2 Kgs 9:8). What happens when a
cursed line enters into a sure house like David’s? If YHWH promised to
obliterate Ahab’s house the way he had Jeroboam and Baasha’s, why did
YHWH wait to extinguish Ahab’s wicked lineage present within David’s
lineage?
“Yet YHWH would not destroy Judah for
David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him always a
light, and to his children” (2 Kgs 8:19).
For the sake of YHWH’s mercy and his
promise to David, YHWH withheld judgment against Ahab’s seed though it
persisted in David’s house. He would execute judgment and extinguish
Ahab’s wicked line in a later Judgment. But even when he slew
Zedekiah’s children and deported the nation, even then YHWH allowed
Ahab’s seed which persisted in David’s house to exist. . YHWH had
promised David that he would not take his mercy away from his children
as he had with Saul (1 Chr 17:13, 2 Chr 21:7). But as David’s seed grew
more evil, it became more merciful for YHWH to discipline David’s
children then let them continue in their self-depriving iniquities (Isa
43:14; Jer 2:19). So, he would let them finally receive the
consequences of their choices.
Obedience to the Covenant assures
mercy for you and your children: And I set my face unto YHWH God, to
seek by prayer and supplication, (f, see point above) with fasting, and
sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto YHWH my God, and made my
confession, and said, O YHWH, the great and dreadful God, keeping the
covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his
commandments;
Notice the association once again
between observing YHVH’s covenant and YHVH’s mercy towards the
observant.
“If YHWH were to mark
iniquities, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with YHWH that he
may be feared” (Ps 130:2,4). YHWH’s doctrine did justify Israel by her
obedience to his Law while he willingly forgave Israel time and time
again.
New Covenant: Mercy and Salvation The first song David delivered to
Israel’s priests and prophets after he had moved the Ark of the
Covenant to Mt. Zion called for the nation to remember YHWH’s marvelous
works and his judgments in the earth:
Remember his marvelous (a) works that
he hath done, his wonders, and the (b) judgments of his mouth; O
ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is YHWH our God; his judgments are in all the earth… For all the
gods of the people are idols: but YHWH made the heavens. Glory and
honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give
unto YHWH, ye kindreds of the people, give unto YHWH glory and
strength. Give unto YHWH the glory due unto his name: bring an
offering, and come before him: worship YHWH in the beauty of holiness.
Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it
be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and
let men say among the nations, YHWH reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the
fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then
shall the trees of the wood sing out at the (c) presence of YHWH,
because he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto YHWH; for he
is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, Save us, O God of
our salvation, and (d) gather us together, and deliver us from the
heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy
praise. (1 Chr 16:12-14, 26-35)
“He hath remembered his mercy
and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth
have seen the salvation of our God” (Ps 98:3).
For thou, YHWH, art good, and ready to
forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. (Ps
86:5)
YHWH is merciful and gracious, slow to
anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will
he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins;
nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high
above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As
far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so YHWH
pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth
that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the
field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone;
and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of YHWH is
from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his
righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant,
and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Ps 103:8-19;
See also Ps 78:38 and Ezra 9:13)
YHWH is steadfast and faithful to the
merciful limits established within his Law, a judge whose goodness and
mercy endures for all generations (Ps 100:5). YHWH is gracious, slow to
anger, and is ever ready to show mercy (Ps 103:8-19). He takes pleasure
in those who fear that God, as a righteous judge, will obey his own Law
by blessing and showing favor to those who trust that his mercy is for
them:
YHWH taketh pleasure in them that fear
him, in those that hope in his mercy. (Ps 147:11, See also Ps 33:18,
37:21, 103:17, 2 Chr 6:14)
For thou, YHWH, wilt bless the
righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. (Ps 5:12)
YHWH is not arbitrary. He will bless
and favor those who trust and obey him today just as he did with
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and King David two thousand years ago. YHWH’s
unchanging mercy and his judgments will endure unto all generations,
even ours.25 But it is in fearing YHWH that will finally bring the
salvation for which the latter day nation longs.
Covenants of light = Covenants of Mercy There are two covenants that greatly
effected Israel’s history and further defined YHWH’s truth. The first
covenant was with Phinehas, the grandson of the high priest Aaron. The
second covenant was offered to king David. These covenants were peace
treaties between YHWH and David and Phinehas’ offspring. Phinehas and
David were responsible for ruling the people and ensuring righteousness
and justice in the land. YHWH’s peace covenant granted great mercy to
these two houses when the nation rebelled. These two covenants differ
from the Abrahamic covenants in that actions by Phinehas and David had
already provided the sign for their covenant. So YHWH’s covenant(s)
were offered to these two men as requite for their righteousness.
He shall build an house for my name,
and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his
father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten
him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of
men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it
from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom
shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be
established for ever. According to all these words, and according to
all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
My mercy will I keep for him for
evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (Ps 89:28)
For thus saith YHWH; David shall never
want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; Neither shall
the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings,
and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.30 And
the word of YHWH came unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith YHWH; If ye can
break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that
there should not be day and night in their season; Then may also my
covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son
to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my
ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand
of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant,
and the Levites that minister unto me. Moreover the word of YHWH came to
Jeremiah, saying, Considerest thou not what this people have spoken,
saying, The two families which YHWH hath chosen, he hath even cast them
off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a
nation before them. Thus saith YHWH; If my covenant be not with day and
night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that
I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have
mercy on them. (Jer 33:17-26)
The value YHWH places on his covenant
with David is evidenced during Jehoram’s reign when David’s House
performed all Ahab’s wickedness, “yet YHWH would not destroy Judah for
David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light,
and to his children” (2 Kgs 8:19). YHWH established paralleled
covenants of light to Phinehas and David, ensuring “sure houses” within
both their pedigrees.
From both these covenants we see the
concept of mercy unto the 3rd and 4th generations. However, what
separated them from Israel’s compact was that even when YHVH did
execute judgment, he would still use mercy to allow even degenerate and
sinful offspring to exist so that David and Phineas would never want
for a man to stand before him.
New covenant Phineas’ covenant was called a
covenant of peace: Num 25:12- Wherefore say, Behold, I
giveunto him my covenant of peace:
Notice that the covenant YHVH will
make with Israel when he restores us to the land, is likewise referred
to as a covenant of peace:
Sing, O barren, thou that dist not
bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, thou that didst not
travail with children for more are the children of the desolate than
the children of the married wife…..Fear not; for thou shalt not be
ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to
shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not
remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine
husband; YHWH of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of
Israel, the God of the whole earth shall he be called. For YHWH hath
called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of
youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I
forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little
wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting
kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith YHWH thy Redeemer. For this
is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters
of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would
not be wroth with the, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart,
and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith YHWH that hath
mercy on thee….And all thy children shall be taught of YHWH; and great
shall be the peace of thy children. (Isa 54:1,4-10, 13; also see Hos
2:18-23)
For I YHWH love judgment, I hate
robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and
I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be
known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all
that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YHWH
hath blessed. (Isa 61:8-9)
Behold, I will gather them out of all
countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury,
and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I
will cause them to swell safely: And they shall be my people, and I
will be their God: and I will give them one heart, and one way, that
they may fear me for ever, for the good of them and of their children
after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I
will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear
in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will
rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in THIS LAND
assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. For thus siath
YHWH, like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so
will I bring upon them ALL the good that I have promised them. (Jer
32:37-42; See also Lev 26:45; Ezek 16:60-63, 34:25-31)
Ezek 34:25 - And I will make with them
a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out o the
land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the
woods.
End
When Israel’s (a) citizens were
indifferent to a case of murder and unconcerned with expiating the
victim’s death, then YHWH himself renders judgment. He holds (b) the
person committing crime personally responsible. If his children do not
repent from their father’s sins (c) but continued in their (d) father’s
whoredoms, then his children bear the father’s bloodguilt, and
atonement could be made within their households (in the third and
fourth generations). Perhaps no story provides as much detail about
bloodguilt than the account of David’s sin concerning Uriah when he
murdered and commited adultery.
Wherefore hast thou despised the
commandment of YHWH, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah
the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and
hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore
the (a) sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast
despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy
wife. Thus saith YHWH, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of
thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give
them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of
this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before
all Israel, and before the sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have
sinned against YHWH. And Nathan said unto David, YHWH also hath put
away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou
hast given (b) great occasion to the enemies of YHWH to blaspheme, the
child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. (2 Sam 12:9-14)
David had loved YHWH his whole life
and mightily sought to obey his Creator and walk in his ways. Yet, his
actions show that he had, in this instance, despised his Creator. When
Nathan showed his sin to him, David repented. As a righteous judge,
YHWH extended mercy unto David and did not kill him, as justice
demanded. David’s actions, however, procured “bloodguilt” upon his
house and in effect David procured the untimely deaths of his own
children when they rebelled against YHWH. As (a) consequence of his
bloodguilt, the “sword would never depart from his house.” David’s sin also affected the death of
his and Bathsheba’s child. The Law stipulated: “If a man shall take his
brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's
nakedness; they shall be childless” (Lev 20:21).6 YHWH’s judgment
prevented a life that resulted from an affair. If David’s child had had
lived, YHWH’s enemies would have (b) just cause to charge that YHWH had
showed bias and favoritism to David. His enemies could claim YHWH
wrought no justice for Uriah. If YHWH had not issued a judgment against
David’s adultery, sin could be found in the Creator, so he had no
choice but to give atonement for Uriah’s untimely death. Bathshebah had
been Uriah’s wife when the child was conceived, and David had no right
to an heir that rightfully should have been Uriah’s. Thus, David’s
actions had caused the death of his own child.
Mercy unto the Third and Fourth
Generations
Jehu
Promised 4 generations – 2 Kgs
10:30-And YHVH said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing
that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab
according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth
generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
Jehu ben Nishi First -
Jehoahaz -2 Kgs 10:35 Second - Jehoash -
2 Kgs 13:9 - Third - Jeroboam II
– (2 Kgs 14:16) Fourth- Zechariah
(6mos- 2 Kgs 14:29, 15:8) Overthrown by Pekiah
Nebuchadnezzar
Promised 2 generations- Jer 27:7 -And
all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the
very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall
serve themselves of him.
First - Amel-Murduk – Readily accepted
as Nebuchadnezzar’s son Second - Neriglissar – Known from
Babylon’s chronicles and Scripture to be a Captain (perhaps an
heir apparent) in Nebuchadnezzar’s army at Jerusalem’s fall. Jer 39:10-14. Third - Nabonidus/Belshazzar –
Believed to be Nebuchadnezzar’s Son in Law. Belshazzar
effectively ruled during Nabonidus’ absence. Babylon falls to Cyrus King of Persia
King David
Mercy shown to King David’s offspring David-
Very Good (1 Kgs 15:15) Solomon – Good,
became evil (after YHWH appeared to him twice; 1 Kgs11:1-10) Rehoboam - Evil (1
Kgs 14:21-24) Abijam-
Evil (1 Kgs 15:3)
Asa-
Good (1 Kgs 15:11) Jehoshaphat – Good
(1 Kgs 22:43), but did evil by confederating with the House of Ahab (1
Kings 22) Jehoram – Evil (2
Kgs 8:18) Ahaziah-
Evil (2 Kgs 8:27) Joash- Good (2 Kgs
12:2), became evil after Jehoiada the priest who raised him died (2 Chr
24:17-24). Amaziah – Good (2
Kgs 14:3), became evil at end of life (2 Kgs 14:8, 11-12). Azariah – Good (2
Kgs 15:3) till pride lead to evil profaning of the Temple (2 Kgs 15:5). Jotham-
Good (2 Kgs 15:34-35) Ahaz-
Very Evil (2 Kgs 16:2-4) Hezekiah- Very Good
(2 Kgs 18:3-7) Manasseh – Utterly
Evil (2 Chr 33:2-10) until taken captive by Assyria, then repented, and
supposedly died good (2 Chr 12-16). YHWH would not pardon the sins of
David’s sons any longer - 2 Kgs 24:3-4. 1st -Amon – Evil (2
Chr 33:22-24) Manasseh’s son – (2 Kgs 21:18-19) 2nd -Josiah – Good
(2 Chr 34:2-4) Amon’s
son (2 Kgs 21:24) 3rd -Jehoahaz- Evil
(2 Kgs 23:32)
Josiah’s son (2 Kgs 23:30) 3rd -Jehoiakim-
Evil (2 Chr 36:5) Josiah’s
son (2 Chr 36:1-5) 3rd -Zedekiah10-
Evil (2 Kgs 24:19) Josiah’s son (2 Kgs 24:17-20 –
Jehoiakim’s brother) 4th -Jechoniah-
Evil (2 Kgs 24:9) Jehoiakim’s son
(2 Kgs 24:6)
