What Great Grace!

“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.” (2Ki 25:27-30 AV)

Grace undeserved is grace that is great!  Jehoiachin was the last of the Jewish kings.  No other king would or will sit on the throne of David until Christ does.  This king did evil in the sight of the LORD.   He rebelled against the king of Babylon who was the LORD’s arm of chastisement.  He was originally cast into prison.  It was only by the grace of a pagan king that Jehoiachin didn’t rot in his cell.  Jehoiachin deserved none of the above.  It was all of the grace of God.  He is a picture of a restored backslidden believer.  An example of the grace God can and does show to those who least deserve it.  And, that would be all of us!

When one stops to consider what we do deserve and compare it with what the LORD does, it is humbling to say the least.  In our wickedness and rebellion, we deserve a devil’s hell!  We deserve to be tormented for all of eternity for our stubborn and unrepentant heart.  The LORD would be completely justified in destroying our souls in hell.  When one considers that as a child of God, we know better, this thought becomes even more dramatic.

One more thought.  The daily rate did not change.  One has to wonder if Jehoiachin resented limited grace.  One wonders if he got used to the grace he was shown as though it was old hat and expected the daily rate to increase.  We can be that way.  If all Christ did for us was to die on the cross to cover our sin, that alone would be amazing grace.  We become discontented with the grace given and want more and more.  We should be grateful for the daily rate that does not change because the alternative was a prison cell!