Psalm 99:8–9 (NKJV): You answered them, O Lord our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, Though You took vengeance on their deeds. 9 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy. **** Here is the steadfast love of the Lord in spectacularly glorious, technicolor display. It is a full-orbed love that always does what is best despite the difficulties of the moment or the exigencies of the circumstances. God loves in a manner that is always best for us; He always provides for the real need instead of our perceived desires; so when we are in need of correction and rebuke, He can always be trusted to satisfy that need in the most direct and effective means possible. This might be painful for us, it might make God seem mean or petulant in our minds; it might even make us think that God doesn’t really love us… after all, if He loved me, wouldn’t He give me what I want? Isn't this the working definition of love in this culture? "Love is you doing what I want and giving me everything I demand…" isn't it? Although we think this is true, it is most definitely NOT what love is. Love is ALWAYS more concerned with the loved than self, and ALWAYS concerned for what is actually BEST, not just what is peevishly wanted in the moment. So as the Psalmist attests, God loves us and is to us God-Who-Forgives… But He is STILL the God who takes vengeance upon our deeds! The God who corrects us; the God who loves us enough to NOT let us have our way… and there is no disparity in this! There is only hard truth and startling beauty. The difficulty lies in our understanding, in our foolish demand that love satisfies our selfishness. God calls us to grow past this childish fancy and trust that He is always doing what is best; that He is always working to produce our good and display His glory; and that He is always to be trusted because of His own perfect nature. Worship Him in the beauty of holiness, and trust that His corrective measures are actually our greatest need. When God seems to show you anger, realize that this is your interpretation, NOT the fact. Understand that it is love in purity which is unwilling to compromise for the short-term comfort of his children. And above all this trust that whatever He is doing is for your blessing and best possible good!
Older
Top
