As we read the Bible, we read many stories about the kings of Israelites. There were many kings in Northern kingdom of Israel and southern kingdom of Judah. However, there were only few kings who “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD.” The well-known kings are David and Hezekiah. They did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. But, were they perfectly “right” throughout their lives? No!
As you have read the Bible, David made a mistake of taking the faithful servant, Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba (2 Sam 11); Hezekiah was proud of his wealth and made a mistake of showing his storehouse (2 King 20). Yet, when they were condemned, they had humble hearts and repented right away. Although they have repented, there were sequences of their sins. David’s kingdom was divided into two kingdoms, and Hezekiah’s descendents were taken to Babylon. God told them that these things will happen, not in their time, but to their descendents because of their sins.
As I read the Bible, I was curious. Why the sequences of their sins had to fall on their descendents, not on them? If they repented and if they were forgiven, why there should be the sequences? Why God still had to punish the next generations?
I still do not know the exact answer. Yet, what I learned from studying the Patriarchs is this: God was still faithful. God made a covenant with David that if his sons obey the word of God, they will be blessed, and if not, they will be punished. God kept his promise. Although these kings made mistakes and God’s people were rebellious, God kept one light for David’s descendents (Kingdom of Judah). Although Israelites were taken as captives to Babylon, God kept them safe and let them return to the Promised Land. God fulfilled his promise that he made with Abraham and David through Jesus.
He gave us the New Covenant. Through Jesus Christ, God provided us the unconditional forgiveness and blessing. If you believe in Jesus, your failures of past will be forgiven and you will inherit the eternal blessing from God, Our Father! What a great God! Hallelujah!
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