Psalm 78:38

 

Psalm 78:38

He restrained His anger

This verse should make us stop still for a moment and take in the importance of what is being said. The times that Moses had to plead for God’s people, that His wrath might be removed and that He would not fulfil the threats of punishment over their unbelief and wrongdoing. After the episode with the Golden Calf, God wanted to destroy the people, but Moses prayed fervently and begged Him “To turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.” We read that, “The Lord relented and did not bring on His people the disaster He had threatened.” Exodus 32:12-14.

We humans are fickle folk, we make promises and break them, we have good intentions and fail to fulfil them, we apply self-discipline but cannot keep to our own rules. We are constantly picking up the pieces of our own waywardness. Our relationship with the Lord God should be plain sailing, but it never is. We try so hard to please Him but end up flat on pour faces begging His forgiveness. Thankfully, the Lord is indeed merciful, and He does forgive if the penitence is genuine. Imagine how it would be for us if God was vindictive, if He held us to our words and if He rightfully demanded judgement for our faults. How long would we stand before His righteous anger was stirred into action? No. He is the same God of old, He restrains Himself and does not deal with us as we deserve. 

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.” Psalm 103:8-11. Hallelujah!

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