Is God compassionate or ferocious (Lamentations 3:22)?
This and many other verses in Scripture describe God as merciful and compassionate, slow to wrath, and plentiful in kindness (cf. Ps 103:8 ; James 5:11; 1 John 4:16). By contrast, numerous passages in the Bible reveal God as wrathful and vengeful. God told Moses, “You shall destroy all the peoples whom the Lord your God delivers over to you; your eye shall not pity them” (Deut. 7:16; cf. 1 Sam. 6:19; 15:2-3; Jer. 13:14; Heb. 12:29).
Lamentations 3:1 - 66
ESV - 1 I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath. 2 He has driven and brought me into darkness without any light.
Anonymous
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
I think God is mainly compassionate: Isaiah 54:10 says, quoting God, "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." And see Micah 7:18: “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” I know there is a balance here though: Psalm 103 says in vv. 8-10, "The Lord is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love. 103:9 He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry. 103:10 He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve." We all just need God's grace because we are sinners: Romans 11:5: So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 11:6 And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.