2 Kings 25:27: “Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison.”

August 19th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

King Jehoiachin and the people of Judah refused to walk with God, and it had severe consequences on the city of Jerusalem and all of Judah. The temple was stripped of its holy vessels. The city was burned to the ground. Judah was conquered. And all but the poorest and most infirm were taken away captive to Babylon.

After some years in Babylon, an unexpected turn of events took place: a new king of Babylon was installed. The new king dealt graciously with Jehoiachin, releasing him from prison and supplying all his needs. Sounds a little bit like our heavenly Father doesn’t it? This man who did not deserve grace received grace. That fact encourages us today too.

Grace is God’s undeserved gift bestowed on us, often at times when our attitudes least match up with such a gift. We certainly never merit grace, but it surprisingly seems to come at times when even our mood is wrong. Paul writes of this to the Romans: “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). This reminds us of the simple but profound truth that God is for us. His kindness does more than just make us feel secure and accepted. It changes us. It transforms us. It leads us to repentance. It accomplishes in us what we cannot accomplish on our own. But of course God never forces us. We must respond to His kindness by repenting and being restored.

“LORD, we see Your kindness and ask You to forgive our sins and walk with us this day, in Jesus’ name.”