2 Kings 1:13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
Two times already the king had sent two captains of fifty to Elijah that he should come down from the hill and see the king. And twice Elijah called down fire from heaven which consumed the captain and his fifty. But when the third captain of fifty came to Elijah he came as a beggar seeking mercy. He humbled himself and begged for his life. The angel of the Lord told Elijah to go down with him. And he did.
The Lord honored the approach of the third captain. He came as a humble beggar seeking mercy from the man of God. We are not sure of the reason why he called down fire on the first two captains and fifty. But we do know why he spared the third captain’s life and went with him: he prayed for mercy.
This event is an example for us Christians today. Our response to God’s holy conviction of sin calls us to a humble, begging approach to God for mercy. The sure promise is that the Lord will show mercy because of the death of Christ on the cross. Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: the tax collector fell on his knees and beat his chest, praying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man went home justified, rather than the other.
When the hammer of God’s Law strikes our heart and pronounces us guilty, we respond by coming to God in a humble posture, begging mercy for Jesus’ sake. By faith we are forgiven and the Lord spares us judgment and declares us justified, holy and righteous. Daily repentance marks the life of a Christian.