A God of Balance
Often people have a disproportionate view of God. Some focus on his love, mercy, and grace while neglecting his justice and wrath. Others Focus on his justice and wrath and neglect his love, mercy, and grace. We must seek to know God and all of his character or else we do not truly know him. God is glorified through all of his attributes! He is glorified in his grace and glorified in his display of justice. Even in his display of justice there is an element of his mercy and grace. Even when things are destroyed they are not utterly destroyed. When there remains a remnant there is mercy and grace! Praise be to God!
Psalm 136 is a beautiful portrait of this.
136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,for his steadfast love endures forever;4 to him who alone does great wonders,for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,for his steadfast love endures forever;10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,for his steadfast love endures forever;17 to him who struck down great kings,for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,for his steadfast love endures forever.23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,for his steadfast love endures forever.26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,for his steadfast love endures forever.
Tags: balance, Christianity, justice, mercy Posted in Christianity, Saturday Psalm and Praise, hope
August 18th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I’m recalling an excellent bible study series we had on the attributes as described in Catechism 4 (WCF). The awesome fact that God is each of these things, all at once!!! That is why God is God and we puny creatures just can not fathom his depths!!!
Thanks Kristine.
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August 21st, 2009 at 9:04 am
His love endures forever. What else can we even imagine that endures forever!!! I can’t think of even one thing. Thanks for posting.