Tue, 27 September, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.
38 Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.
Yesterday in the first half of Psalm 78, the Psalmist reviewed how Israel was blessed by God, yet was not faithful. Today, the Psalmist continues by telling us that in spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness, God was compassionate with them, remembering their weakness.
What do we learn from this?
God is also compassionate with us. This doesn’t excuse our sin, and we need to strive to obey God in all areas of our lives. But God knows that we are weak and so He spares us from His wrath.
This is such a comfort to us. When we read about Israel, we see how much we are like them. We doubt God will do what He has promised. We disobey. We have such little faith in Him. But yet, God remembers our weaknesses and has compassion upon us. He does not destroy us in our sins, but He spares us and provides atonement for His people.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Because of God’s compassion for us, He provided atonement for our iniquities. Jesus Christ is our atonement. He died as a substitute for all those who trust in Him for salvation. It is because he paid the price of the sins of His people that God can have compassion on His people. Their sins have been atoned for, and the atonement comes from God.
