…but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

 according to the abundance of his steadfast love;

for he does not afflict from his heart…

Lamentations 3:33 (ESV)

In the book of Isaiah, God declared a certain work of His to be “strange.”  

God had repeatedly invited Judah to turn from their rebellion, yet the people remained obstinate and rebellious against Him. Therefore, God, through His prophet Isaiah, described His coming judgment: The LORD will rise up…to do his work, his strange work, and perform his task, his alien task (Isaiah 28:21).

God’s work of judgment is “strange” to Him. It’s a task alien to His nature. Scripture is clear that God’s act of judgment is always righteous and just, but as Lamentations states, God’s act of afflicting His people is not an act from His heart.  

Take that to heart! God does not long to render judgment. So, what does He long to impart?

One of God’s first description of Himself in the Bible and the most quoted verse in the Old Testament is, …The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin … (Exodus 34:6-7 KJV). God longs to impart mercy and grace!

God says of Israel, I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul (Jeremiah 32:41). God imparts goodness to His people with all His heart and soul!

God has promised that a day of final judgment will come. However, the Lord, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), has an unlimited supply of mercy, as well as love, grace, and goodness to impart right now. He is waiting patiently to issue in His final judgment, for He is not willing that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9)

Lord, you have shown us your heart of mercy. We praise you as holy and just, but we thank you for your overflowing acts of mercy and grace to us.

Jan Burkhart