Читать книгу Admiring and Applauding God - R. Bruce Stevens - Страница 14

Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

—Ps 78:38–39

• Perhaps you can recall a time when you were so angry that you acted in a shameful way.

• If anyone has a legitimate reason to be angry, it is God. Every sin is ultimately a sin against him. Imagine how many sins are committed daily by the billions of people of the world. Then consider the restraint he shows by not lashing out and destroying every sinner.

• It takes more strength to restrain justifiable anger than it does to express it. God regularly chooses to restrain his anger when he is sinned against.

• Praise God for his restraint and his great love, which causes him to delay judgment on sinful people: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9).