Psalm 145:8

Psalm 145:8

Slow to anger and rich in love

Do you remember how Moses carried two stone tablets down Mount Sinai and then smashed them in disgust when he witnessed the Israelites worshipping a Golden Calf? The Lord instructed Moses to return up the mountain the following day, alone and with two freshly chiselled stone tablets.  We read in Exodus 34:4-7 that “The Lord came down in the cloud and stood with Moses and proclaimed His name, the Lord. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished, He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” 

This is sobering, coming in David’s Psalm directly after the instructions to tell the next generations of the goodness and majesty of God. By copying part of the familiar words given to Moses, David is emphasising that the Lord God is not to be trifled with, and it is not just His creative works that reflect His glory, but His love and grace are revealed to men and women through His dealings with us. 

We should never underestimate the grace and love of God, He never acts impulsively, He is always patient with us and motivated by love for the creatures He has put in charge of this world. Our problem is that we have handed over control to our enemy and His enemy, the devil, and the Lord cannot and will not tolerate his interference forever. One day His patience will run out and then His anger will be revealed. 

 

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