Nevertheless

Our story on Sunday was about Josiah and the recovery of the Torah and the celebration of the Passover (2 Kings 22). Josiah tore down the places of worship for the Baals and Ashtoreths. He got rid of the mediums and spiritists. He restored the temple and the feasts to Yahweh.

Nevertheless ...

Nevertheless the Lord did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. And the Lord said, "I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, 'My name shall be there.'" (2 Kings 23:26-27)

Whaddya mean, "Nevertheless"?? The people returned to the Lord their God. They repented. They celebrated the Passover as it hadn't been celebrated before. But God is still ticked? What's up with that? He will still pour out His wrath. He's still getting rid of them.

What about forgiveness? What about grace? What about mercy?

I did not like that "Nevertheless"!

But here's what Pastor said. Judah, the temple, Israel -- they are types of Christ. They show us who God is and what He's like and what He does.

The people repented. But God couldn't just say, "Ah, okay. No biggie. I won't be mad any more. We'll just forget about it." No. His anger at sin is real. Sin must be atoned for; it cannot merely be set aside. So, nevertheless,

It pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.

The fierceness of His wrath was poured out upon His Son --the true Judah-- because of all the ways we provoked Him with our unbelief and our idolatry.

Many hands were raised to wound Him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced Him
Was the stroke that justice gave.

God had promised that Jerusalem, that the temple, that the Holy of Holies, would be the place of His saving presence. And yet He promises here in 2 Kings that He will cast off this place. How can both be true?

Mark the Sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the Word, the Lord's Anointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.


The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.