The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 24:4,
"... the Lord was not willing to forgive."
In Exodus 34:6-7 God revealed himself to Moses. As he passed in front of Moses he said of himself, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation."
In this very revealing disclosure of himself, the Lord points to the two aspects of his nature to help us understand him. On the one hand he is compassionate, gracious, patient, loving, faithful and forgiving. On the other hand he is a just and righteous God who punishes people for their sin.
This comports with another passage where he reveals the same things of himself. We read in Jeremiah 9:24b, "'I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." We also read in Psalm 33:5, "The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
"... the Lord was not willing to forgive."
In Exodus 34:6-7 God revealed himself to Moses. As he passed in front of Moses he said of himself, "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation."
In this very revealing disclosure of himself, the Lord points to the two aspects of his nature to help us understand him. On the one hand he is compassionate, gracious, patient, loving, faithful and forgiving. On the other hand he is a just and righteous God who punishes people for their sin.
This comports with another passage where he reveals the same things of himself. We read in Jeremiah 9:24b, "'I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord." We also read in Psalm 33:5, "The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
The Lord wants us to know these two things of his nature: he is both loving and also just. His acts of love are demonstrated throughout his creation and most poignantly in his work of redemption of mankind. His acts of justice are also demonstrated throughout his creation, and of course, will be on full parade-ground display at the great white throne judgment where unbelievers will be cast into that fiery lake of burning sulfur, Revelation 21:8.
Nothing more clearly manifests these two chief character traits of our God as the cross of Jesus Christ. On the one hand we see our loving Savior give his life on our behalf, offering himself up to pay the sins for every human being who has ever lived. No greater expression of love can be given - that one give his life for others. On the other hand, we witness God the Father accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ of that payment for our sins as the satisfaction of his sense of justice. God truly is loving and just.
At times, within ecclesiastical circles, it seems the love of God has been the focus - to the neglect of appreciation of his justice. Love does not trump justice in God's economy and justice does not trump love. Each work hand-in-hand and each support the other in ways that confound us mortals.
In our passage above, we see that Judah had plumbed the depths of God's nature through her sin and rejection of him and found where God's mercy and forgiveness yielded to the threshold of his justice. No more forgiveness, only wrath.
Such will be for all who spurn the love of God today. Those who reject the love of God and his offer of salvation through faith will find the wrath of God's justice awaiting them on judgment day.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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