Judges 16 & 17, John 7: 45-53, John 8: 1-11, Psalm 78: 32-39
Psalm 78: 36-39 (ESV)
“But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him
with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not
faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their
iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not
stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that
passes and comes not again.”
In verses 36 through 39 from Psalm 78, we read about the compassion
of Father-God to his children. In this historical Psalm written by Asaph who as
a singer and musician during the reigns of David and Solomon, we read about how
the people of Israel still sinned even after God provided them with quails for
meat while they were in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Then when God told
the people of Israel that they would not enter the promised land they repented,
and they praised God with their mouths, but their praises were not sincere. The
people praised God, but Asaph writes the people were not steadfast and did not follow
God’s laws which was part of the covenantal relationship with him. But because
God is compassionate, he did not destroy them and restrained his own anger. Father-God
remembered that his children were frail and mortal, and that human life was transient
and short like the wind. These verses tell us that our Father-God has infinite
patient and compassion for us children, and that he will show us mercy while he
waits for our repentance. This doesn’t mean that Father-God will not punish us
for our sins, but he will hold back his anger because he desires our repentance
above all else.
These verses also show us that we need to mirror God’s compassion
and mercy in our relationships with other people. We must always ask Father-God
for his discernment and guidance when people sin against us. It doesn’t mean we
don’t get angry at other people, but we need to show compassion and forgiveness
as God has shown us compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
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