“And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Kings 13:23 Mean?
Despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, God remains gracious. He has compassion. He has respect toward them. And the basis isn't their repentance — it's His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The grace is anchored in the promise, not the performance.
"Would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet" — the qualifier "as yet" is ominous. The restraint is real but bounded. God hasn't destroyed them yet. The implication: the patience has a limit. The "as yet" anticipates 2 Kings 17 — the eventual destruction and exile of the northern kingdom. Grace has a timetable.
The covenant names — Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — are the theological anchors. God is gracious to Israel in the present because of promises He made to patriarchs in the past. The current generation doesn't deserve the grace. But the covenant that precedes them carries it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Does knowing God's grace toward you is rooted in covenant (not your performance) change your security?
- 2.How does 'as yet' (patience with a boundary) create urgency without panic?
- 3.Where are you relying on God's patience without changing the behavior that's testing it?
- 4.Does the covenant basis (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) make God's current grace toward you feel more or less personal?
Devotional
God was gracious. Had compassion. Had respect for them. Because of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Not because of anything they did.
Israel is failing. Badly. The kings are corrupt. The people are idolatrous. The covenant is being violated daily. And God — instead of destroying them — shows grace. Compassion. Respect. Not because Israel has earned it. Because Abraham did. Because the covenant is older than the failure. Because God's promise to the patriarchs outlasts every generation's unfaithfulness.
The basis of God's patience is His own promise, not your performance. The grace that covers you today was purchased by a covenant made before you were born. Abraham believed, and God made promises. Isaac inherited, and God continued. Jacob wrestled, and God persisted. And every generation since lives under the shade of promises they didn't make and can't break.
"As yet" — the two most sobering words in the verse. God hasn't destroyed them as yet. The restraint is real. But the qualifier says: there's a limit. The patience isn't infinite in its earthly expression. The grace will hold as long as the purpose requires. But "as yet" means the clock is running.
The northern kingdom will be destroyed (chapter 17). The patience will reach its boundary. The "as yet" will become "now." But between the covenant and the judgment, there's an ocean of grace — measured in centuries of divine patience toward people who did nothing to deserve it.
You're living in the "as yet." The grace that hasn't run out is grace rooted in something older than your failure. Don't waste the patience. The "as yet" is a gift with a boundary.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
The writer regards the captivity of Israel as God’s “casting them out of His sight” (see 2Ki 17:18, 2Ki 17:20); and…
And the Lord was gracious unto them - ויחן vaiyachon, he had tender affection for them, as a husband has for his wife,…
We must here attend,
I. The sepulchre of Elisha: he died in a good old age, and they buried him; and what follows shows,…
And[R.V. But] the Lord was gracious unto them Cf. for the sentiment, Mal 3:6, -I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture