David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Chronicles 28, 2 Kings 16-17, Psalm 27.

2 Chronicles 28:8-15

The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters [from Judah]. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. ⁹ But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. ¹⁰ And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the LORD your God? ¹¹ Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.”

¹² Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim … stood up against those who were coming from the war ¹³ and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the LORD in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” ¹⁴ So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. ¹⁵ And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

Imagine Jesus talking with Peter, James, and John.

I’ve been thinking about the day when the men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their own relatives—women, sons, and daughters. Do you remember that account from Israel’s history? They intended to carry them away and treat them shamefully. What a tragic day that was.

Of course, there is no record of Jesus ever saying such a thing. But he was there. Before his incarnation, the eternal Son of God witnessed it all. Their rage had reached to heaven. It was a horrific chapter in the history of God’s people—tragic, shameful, almost beyond imagination.

When I read passages like this, I find myself reacting the way I did as a child while watching The Wizard of Oz. When the flying monkeys appeared, my mother would gently remind me, “It’s not real.” Sometimes I read the Old Testament that way. Surely this couldn’t have happened. Surely people couldn’t treat one another so cruelly.

But they did.

Yet notice what happened next.

Some of the leaders of Ephraim confronted the victorious army, and the captives were released. Then we read these remarkable words:

“The men… took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho…” (2 Chronicles 28:15)

Does that sound familiar?

Years later, Jesus would tell a story about a Samaritan who found a man beaten, robbed, and left for dead. He bandaged his wounds, cared for him, placed him on his own animal, and brought him to safety. I cannot help but wonder whether Jesus was calling to mind this remarkable account when he told the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In both accounts, God’s mercy interrupts human misery through ordinary people willing to act.

Notice who the heroes are. They are the ones who see a neighbor in need and act.

After all, this is what Christ has done for us. He took on our flesh. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, welcomed the outcast, and laid down his life for the sins of the world. He has clothed us with his own righteousness, and one day he will bring us safely home.

Until that day, he places people in our path who need the same kindness, compassion, and mercy he has first shown to us. Our acts of kindness and compassion do more than meet human needs—they reflect the very heart of God. Whenever we take the opportunity to relieve another person’s suffering, God uses us to interrupt human misery with his mercy.