MERCY AND JUSTICE IN THE BALANCES

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  (Matthew 23:37 NKJV)

Our Lord’s ministry began with an occurrence of blessedness, but it ended with a sevenfold woe, which He pronounced on the religious leaders of His time. He did not threaten, but pronounced the inevitable outworking of their evil ways.  Our Lord is both merciful and just.

Men often quote the punishment that follows sin as indicating some harsh or vindictive sentiment on the part of the divine being. They do not understand that, whereas human sentences are often arbitrary, God's judgments are natural, i.e. they are the inevitable result of wrong-doing. The penalty is part of the constitution of the universe. The final Judgment Day will only announce the penalty which man's sin has produced.

God is merciful as well as just, but if a man will tamper with explosives, He does not save his face or limbs. Our Lord was not excited by personal criticism when He pronounced the terrible judgments of this chapter. There were tears of sorrow in His voice as He said, this temple is no longer My Father's House, but "your house which is left unto you desolate."

We read of the "wrath of the Lamb," but it is the counterpart of love; not vindictive wrath, but the bitterness of disappointed love! Notice the gleam of light at the end of this chapter. Jesus seemed to hear the welcome which would be accorded to Him in that day when He shall finally appear to vindicate and save His brethren according to the flesh for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'  (Matthew 23:39 NKJV)

PRAYER

O Lord, make us, we implore You, to love You so that You may be to us a fire of love, purifying and not destroying. In Your name I ask it, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #104:
If you make your home in Me, then no evil will come your way.

Psalm 91:9-10 (WEB)
9 Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
10 no evil shall happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.