The Lord Was Moved (2 Chronicles 33:13)


 

Wednesday, August 28, 2024


Psalms 143; 146

2 Chronicles 33:1-20

Romans 15:14-21


Observance: Augustine of Hippo, bishop and teacher (d. 430)


The Lord Was Moved (2 Chronicles 33:13)


In our passage from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, the apostle is making a small break in his preaching to tell his audience that he is not telling them anything they do not already know. This is perfectly understandable if we recognise that this letter is a sort of fundraising appeal for his missionary work: the apostle wants to get on and start planting the gospel in places where Christ is not known, and so he gives the church in Rome a run-down on what his theology is, so that they will feel comfortable in supporting him financially.


The fact that we have this fundraising appeal as part of inspired scripture can teach us something important: God wants us to keep being reminded of certain eternal truths. Reading through the story of King Manasseh can feel a bit same-y, and so perhaps this principle of needing a reminder applies here, too. A godly king dies, an evil king succeeds him, the evil king falls into the darkness he has prepared for himself, repents of his evil, and finds favour and forgiveness with God as a result.


There is no need to go over the specifics of Manasseh’s crimes; we have heard about them plenty enough already. But his biography here in Chronicles reminds us of something even more important: that if we find ourselves in distress and seek the favour of the Lord our God, humbling ourselves greatly before the God of our fathers, the Lord listens. More than that: The Lord was moved.


How tightly do you find yourself wracked by the pain of sin remembered? How comforting is it to know that the Lord from whom we ask forgiveness is moved by our pain? Jesus is God incarnate, having taken on a human nature, so that God himself knows exactly what it is like to suffer. God is with us; God knows us perfectly; God is moved by our distress; God loves us perfectly.


Lord, this work of kingdom building is not easy. When I stumble off the path, hear my cry of distress, and pull me back up into your loving embrace.

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