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DIVINE LONGSUFFERING
TUESDAY, MARCH 1
Mark 12:1-12

Matthew 21:33-46

 

“What shall therefore

the lord of the vineyard do?”

 

DIVINE LONGSUFFERING
 
The parable of the wicked farmer was specifically addressed to the nation of Israel. Israel was a nation ruled by God. God appointed kings in Israel to rule on His behalf as shepherds. When the kings departed from God and His ways, the Lord sent His servants, the prophets, to call the people to repent and return to God. But they killed His prophets each time they were sent. In the divided kingdom, Ephraim had 20 kings—all of them bad, and Judah had 19 with a handful of good ones, the majority being bad. Those wicked kings were known for persecuting and killing God’s prophets (see Jer 20:1,2; 37:15; 38:6; 1 Kings 19:10; 22:24; 2 Chron 24:21).
 
Finally, God sent His only beloved Son, and they slew Him too, in order to seize His inheritance (cf. John 11:47-53). History led to prophecy. Not only did Jesus speak on how wickedly Israel had dealt with God’s prophets in the past, He also told them how they would shortly treat the Prophet of prophets in an even worse manner. They would arrest Him, take Him outside the walls of Jerusalem, and crucify Him. What would happen soon to Jesus does not spell defeat but victory. Quoting Psalm 118:22,23, Jesus said that their rejection of Him would bring about His people’s salvation. As Peter himself wrote, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Pet 2:6).
 
Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness and disobedience, God did not forsake Israel nor withdraw His promises—“for he is faithful that promised” (Heb 10:23). Neither did He destroy them after repeated offences against Him. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9).
 
THOUGHT: The longsuffering of God should lead us to repentance (Rom 2:4).
PRAYER: Lord, let me never put Thee to the test, but to repent quickly when Thou chastenest me.

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