The decline and fall of the twin nations of Israel and Judah took several generations. A people favored by God, led out of captivity by his own hand and blessed with abundant resources, they frittered away the Lord’s favor and protection.

At the end of the story a succinct recap appears: The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.

The recipe for societal failure? Despise the words of God and mock his messengers. The Lord sent prophet after prophet to coax his people back. At times certain leaders reversed course, but these interludes proved short-lived. Eventually the whole mess got dumped in the trash.

Of course, not really the whole mess. A minority never left the Lord. A populace gone sour simply overwhelmed them. God eventually restored a remnant to Israel, but merely as citizens of a subjugated nation under the heels of others.

I find a personal lesson embedded in this ancient account. Today, as in antiquity, despising God’s words is madness. The Lord who was so patient and compassionate with his people back in the day carries the same patience and compassion to me. If I hold the words of God in contempt I invite disaster. If I embrace those same teachings I discover life. As always, it’s my choice.

2 Chronicles 16:15-16

Photo by Emir Aydın