Partial Obedience, Partial Repentance, Partial Belief

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

Israel:

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

Judah:

“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as
his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father
Joash. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to
offer sacrifices and burn incense there” (2 Kings 14:3-4). This last sentence
was said of Amaziah and his son, his grandson, and his great-grandson. Amaziah
was 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 had
done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the
Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to
that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called
Nehushtan.)” (2 Kings 18:3-4).

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

*Written November 2006.

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