Judgment tempered with mercy

The Verse of the Day for September 26, 2015 describes one of the amazing facets of “the living God” who is serves as Judge in Hebrews 10:30-31:

For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The passage is rendered this way in the Amplified Bible:

Hebrews 10:30-31:

³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].

In recognizing the truth that God is the ultimate judge of humanity, we also recognize that He is also a God who tempers judgment with mercy in Lamentations 3:22-23:

²² It is of the Lord‘s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

²³ They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Nowhere is the righteous judgment of God balanced with His mercy and lovingkindness more brilliantly displayed than in this passage from Psalm 103:6-14

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all the oppressed.
⁷ 
He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
⁸ 
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.
⁹ 
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
¹⁰ 
He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve],
Nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.
¹¹ 
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].
¹² 
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
¹³ 
Just as a father loves his children,
So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].
¹⁴ 
For He knows our [mortal] frame;
He remembers that we are [merely] dust.

We close with a reading from Psalm 103 by Hillsong

Tags: Hebrews 10:30-31, Lamentations 3:22-23