Partial Obedience, Partial Repentance, Partial Belief

In recent days,* I have been struck again by the partialrepentance of the kings of Israel and the partial repentance of the kings ofJudah. Here are two examples from many.

Israel:

“Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, theGod of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins ofJeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit” (2 Kings 10:31). The lastsentence was said of every king of Israel.

Judah:

“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not ashis father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his fatherJoash. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued tooffer sacrifices and burn incense there” (2 Kings 14:3-4). This last sentencewas said of Amaziah and his son, his grandson, and his great-grandson. Amaziahwas one of the good kings of Judah.

Hezekiah, his great-great-grandson, turned things around:“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David haddone. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down theAsherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up tothat time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was calledNehushtan.)” (2 Kings 18:3-4).

Are we guilty of partial obedience, partial repentance,and belief in a partial Savior who gives partial forgiveness?

*Written November 2006.

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