This verse from 2 Chronicles 36:15 is a summary statement emphasizing God's relentless mercy and warning towards the people of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Let's break it down:
"Yahweh, the God of their fathers..." This phrase connects Yahweh (God's personal name) to the covenant made with their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). It highlights the historical relationship and the promises God made to them. Despite their disobedience, God is still identified as their God, indicating a lingering commitment.
"...sent to them by his messengers..." These messengers are primarily the prophets. God didn't leave His people without guidance or warning. He actively communicated with them through prophets who spoke His words.
"...rising up early and sending..." This is a Hebrew idiom emphasizing diligence and urgency. It means God sent his prophets repeatedly and persistently, not just once or twice. It signifies God's active involvement and care for His people. He didn't passively observe their decline. The "rising up early" suggests the importance and priority of the message. It also implies the urgency of the situation.
"...because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place;" This is the motivation behind God's actions. "Compassion" speaks to God's deep empathy and concern for His people. He saw their suffering and the potential destruction of Jerusalem (His "dwelling place" – the Temple). His actions stemmed from love and a desire to spare them from the consequences of their choices. The "dwelling place" refers not only to the physical Temple but also symbolizes God's presence and relationship with His people. The destruction of the Temple would represent a severing of that relationship.
In summary, the verse means:
God, remembering His covenant with their ancestors, repeatedly and urgently sent prophets to warn the people of Judah because He deeply cared for them and His Temple in Jerusalem. He didn't want them to suffer the consequences of their sin and wanted to preserve His presence among them. This verse highlights God's mercy, patience, and persistent effort to turn His people from their destructive path before it was too late. It underlines that the coming judgment wasn't arbitrary but a result of their rejection of God's warnings and their refusal to repent.
This verse from 2 Chronicles 36:15 is a summary statement emphasizing God's relentless mercy and warning towards the people of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Let's break it down:
"Yahweh, the God of their fathers..." This phrase connects Yahweh (God's personal name) to the covenant made with their ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). It highlights the historical relationship and the promises God made to them. Despite their disobedience, God is still identified as their God, indicating a lingering commitment.
"...sent to them by his messengers..." These messengers are primarily the prophets. God didn't leave His people without guidance or warning. He actively communicated with them through prophets who spoke His words.
"...rising up early and sending..." This is a Hebrew idiom emphasizing diligence and urgency. It means God sent his prophets repeatedly and persistently, not just once or twice. It signifies God's active involvement and care for His people. He didn't passively observe their decline. The "rising up early" suggests the importance and priority of the message. It also implies the urgency of the situation.
"...because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place;" This is the motivation behind God's actions. "Compassion" speaks to God's deep empathy and concern for His people. He saw their suffering and the potential destruction of Jerusalem (His "dwelling place" – the Temple). His actions stemmed from love and a desire to spare them from the consequences of their choices. The "dwelling place" refers not only to the physical Temple but also symbolizes God's presence and relationship with His people. The destruction of the Temple would represent a severing of that relationship.
In summary, the verse means:
God, remembering His covenant with their ancestors, repeatedly and urgently sent prophets to warn the people of Judah because He deeply cared for them and His Temple in Jerusalem. He didn't want them to suffer the consequences of their sin and wanted to preserve His presence among them. This verse highlights God's mercy, patience, and persistent effort to turn His people from their destructive path before it was too late. It underlines that the coming judgment wasn't arbitrary but a result of their rejection of God's warnings and their refusal to repent.