Shall the Lawful Captive be Delivered?

In our family scripture study, the Nephites just finished having another war, but this time, it wasn't against the Lamanites. This time, they and the Lamanites were fighting against a separate group called the Gadianton Robbers. After a tremendous battle and a handful of smaller ones, the Nephites and Lamanites defeated the Gadianton Robbers.

And now it came to pass that when they had taken all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of God to be preached unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and enter into a covenant that they would murder no more were set at liberty.
3 Nephi 5: 4

This verse stuck out to me, not because they preached the gospel to their prisoners (they've done that before), but because they then let the prisoners go.

A reoccurring theme throughout the Book of Mormon is Deliverance. The good guys frequently escape bondage and/or destruction in the Book of Mormon, but this time, the shoe is on the other foot. This time, it's the good guys letting the former bad guys go after they've promised not to repeat the offense. This didn't sound very wise to me, but it did sound familiar.

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
Isaiah 49: 24

 God is, in some ways, a gatekeeper. He judges between the righteous and the wicked, and the righteous go where the righteous belong and the wicked go where the wicked belong. It's totally just and fair. In that case, we who have sinned would become lawful captives. We broke the law. We go to jail. End of Story. Or is it?

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 

But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
Isaiah 49: 24-25

God is always fair and just, but He's also merciful. Even though we have sinned, and we deserve whatever punishment He sets out for us, He doesn't want us to suffer. He'd much rather that we learn from our mistakes, accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, repent, and enter into a covenant to keep the commandments. Then, even though we don't deserve it, He will set us free.

God is good. And He wants His people to be good. He wants us to seek His forgiveness and to grant our forgiveness to whomever needs it, whether they deserve it or not. It probably wasn't easy for the Nephites to let the former robbers go. I'd probably hold a grudge against them, but that isn't God's way. God's message to all is repentance, and forgiveness for all who repent. I'm thankful for that.  I'm grateful that I believe in a God who believes in deliverance.