We've seen in the history of Samuel and Kings that the LORD often saves Israel from foreign superpowers. But I think it's fair to say that he doesn't usually bless his people through a wicked king. Wicked kings usually bring destruction upon a people. Certainly that is in large measure the story of Kings. But because God is compassionate and gracious, and because he keeps his covenant promises, we see in 2 Kings 14 something unusual.
Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria in the fifteenth year of Amaziah, king of Judah (2 Kgs. 14:23). "And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kgs. 14:24). And yet God used him to restore the border of Israel, according to his word through Jonah (2 Kgs. 14:25). Why? "For the LORD saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter; for there was none to help Israel. But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash" (2 Kgs. 14:26-27).
Israel could not be blotted out. She was the chosen line, the line of the messianic seed. And so God's purposes would come to pass through a preserved people. His steadfast sovereign love endures forever!
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