A WEARY WORLD REJOICES: Mercy > Anger
Jonah 4:1-11
GOD’S ANGER AND WRATH WITH SIN
“The biblical doctrine of God’s
is rooted in the doctrine of God as the good, wise and loving creator, who hates—yes, hates, and hates implacably—anything that spoils, defaces, distorts, or damages his beautiful creation, and in particular anything that does that to his image-bearing creatures. If God does not hate racial prejudice, he is neither good nor loving. If God is not wrathful at child abuse, he is neither good nor loving. If God is not utterly determined to root out from his creation, in an act of proper wrath and judgment, the arrogance that allows people to exploit, bomb, bully and enslave one another, he is neither loving, nor good, nor wise.” —N.T Wright
GOD’S MERCY, COMPASSION AND UNFAILING LOVE
“The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, ‘Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and
! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’” —Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT)
hesed = kindness, mercy, loyalty, loving kindness, and unfailing love
OUR MERCY, COMPASSION AND UNFAILING LOVE FOR OUR ENEMIES
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be
to each other, tenderhearted, one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” —Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)