God Full of Compassion and Forgiving - Psalms 78:38

In Psalms chapter seventy-eight Asaph shared when Jehovah God slew the people of Israel in the wilderness, “they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant”, and in chapter seventy-eight and verse thirty-eight of Psalms Asaph shared how Jehovah God, “being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity” where we read,

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not:

yes, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

The verse begins, “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: ” Asaph began with the words, “but he” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover he, Jehovah God”, “being full of compassion” which means “existing as merciful and compassionate”, “forgave their iniquity” or “covered, purge, atoned, reconciled and propitiated their, the people of Israel in the wilderness, perversity, depravity, consequence or punishment”, “and destroyed them not” which means “and did not corrupt, mar, spoil or ruin them, the people of Israel in the wilderness”. Asaph said because Jehovah God was compassionate and merciful, He purged and made atonement for their perversity and depravity, and He did not corrupt or ruin them.

The verse continues, “yes, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.” Asaph added the words, “yes, many a time” or “even so and indeed, numerous and exceeding amounts of time” “turned he his anger away” which means “Jehovah God held back His ire or wrath which causes the wrinkling of the nose”, “and did not stir up” or “and in no way roused, awoke or incited” “all his wrath” which means “the whole and totality of his, Jehovah God's, heat, rage, hot displeasure and anger”. Asaph said Jehovah God held back His anger over and over again and did not allow the totality of His anger to be poured out upon the people of Israel.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Asaph spoke of the character of Jehovah God. God is compassionate and merciful. He did not allow His anger to destroy the people of Israel in the wilderness even though they defied Him over and over again. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and He sent Him into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and turn away His anger and wrath upon us even though we deserve to be punished.

Next time Asaph shares how Jehovah God, “remembered that they were but flesh”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".