God's mercy may delay, it does not fail.
The captivity in Babylon seems to be in the thought of the prophet, and it would be a long and weary time, during which the people, even the faithful among the people, might think God had "forgotten to be gracious," or "delayed his coming;" so assurances are given that, however it may please God to tarry, holding back the fulfillment of his promises, they are always "yea and amen," and at the last it wilt be found that "not one word hath failed of all that the Lord hath spoken." The historical connection of the passage is that the fall of Babylon, to which previous reference has been made, was to be designed, overruled, by Jehovah for the fulfillment of his promise and the restoration of his people. God is said to "yet choose Israel," because permitting them to go into captivity was an appearance of having temporarily cast them off. In illustration of the topic suggested by the passage, we note—
I. MERCY CAN PROMISE. Judgment is always blended with mercy. Mercy must get in its gracious and comforting word. Judgment without mercy is only crushing. Mercy holds before us the hope that enables us to endure the judgment, and learn the lessons of it. Show what the Captivity would have been to Israel without the promises, and the hope of return when the judgment had wrought its work.
II. MERCY CAN HOLD BACK FULFILMENT OF PROMISE. Illustrated in the forty years of wandering in the desert: an unexpected holding back, necessitated by the willfulness and murmuring of the people. Or by David, promised the kingdom, but required to wait for it, even after the death of Saul.
III. MERCY CAN KEEP FIRM TO CONDITIONS OF PROMISE. This is the real reason of the delay. All promises are conditional; and it could be neither wisdom nor kindness on God's part to show indifference to the conditions. Our not meeting conditions is the real reason for prolonged and renewed delays. God never really tarries. His deliverances and benedictions always come at the first possible moment. This may be shown in relation to the Captivity; and the promised Messiah only appeared "when the fullness of time was come."
IV. MERCY CANNOT BE SATISFIED WITHOUT FULFILLING, PROMISES AT LAST. We are to think of God's mercy as a most active attribute. It is watching for its opportunity; determined not to be frustrated; working to secure its ends; and, sooner or later, accomplishing its gracious purpose. Mercy will be finally triumphant.—R.T.