God’s mercy would not be meaningful without God’s justice. Sin cannot go unpunished forever. And even our failures can be used to accomplish God’s ultimate plan. Moses predicts the following:
[63] And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. [64] And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.” — Deuteronomy 28:63-64
Sure enough, Jerusalem is destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar, and Jeremiah reflects back on it in his Lamentations:
"The Destruction of Jerusalem" — David Roberts, Public Domain Image
“The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.” — Lamentations 2:17
We are so used to the meek and lowly Jesus that we forget the High and Mighty Jehovah God. Our adversary the devil seeks to destroy, but he is only a created being. When justice is meted out he does not give Satan an ounce of credit.
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” — Amos 3:6
“Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?” — Lamentations 3:37-38
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword (Hebrews 4:12). A two-edged sword cuts both ways. His judgement cuts to the heart and exposes us for who we are, but his mercy binds us up and makes us live forever to his praise.
Selah.
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