God's Justice and Mercy: A Theological Reflection

 

Summary

In reflecting on the nature of God's justice and mercy, we journey through the historical shifts in theological emphasis from the eighteenth century to the present. Initially, the Great Awakening highlighted the sinfulness of humanity and the wrath of God, a perspective that later softened to emphasize God's love and human goodness. However, the advent of "crisis theology" in the twentieth century reintroduced the importance of understanding God's wrath as a serious biblical theme. This sermon explores the tension between God's justice and mercy, using biblical narratives to illustrate the gravity of sin and the holiness of God.

The stories of Nadab and Abihu, and Uzzah, serve as stark reminders of God's holiness and the severe consequences of disregarding His commands. These narratives challenge us to reconsider our understanding of sin and justice. The seemingly harsh punishments meted out by God are not arbitrary but are rooted in His holy nature and the seriousness of sin. The sermon emphasizes that God's justice is not cruel but is a necessary aspect of His character, which upholds the moral order of the universe.

Moreover, the sermon challenges the modern tendency to dismiss the Old Testament depictions of God's wrath as primitive or incompatible with the New Testament's message of love and mercy. Instead, it argues that the real mystery is not why God punishes sin, but why He shows mercy at all. God's forbearance and grace are highlighted as extraordinary, given humanity's persistent rebellion.

The sermon concludes with a call to recognize the difference between justice and mercy. Mercy is not owed; it is a gift. We are reminded to be grateful for God's grace, which allows us to live despite our sins. The prayer at the end is a plea for forgiveness for taking God's mercy for granted and a request to remain in awe of His grace.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Dual Nature of God's Character: Understanding God's character requires acknowledging both His justice and His mercy. The historical shifts in theological emphasis remind us that neither aspect should be neglected. God's wrath is not a defect but a reflection of His holiness and righteousness. [01:15]

2. The Seriousness of Sin: The stories of Nadab, Abihu, and Uzzah illustrate the gravity of sin and the holiness of God. These narratives challenge us to reconsider our casual attitudes toward sin and to recognize the profound implications of defying God's commands. [05:41]

3. The Mystery of Mercy: The real mystery is not why a holy God punishes sin, but why He shows mercy. God's forbearance and grace are extraordinary, given humanity's persistent rebellion. This perspective shifts our focus from questioning God's justice to marveling at His mercy. [19:44]

4. Justice vs. Mercy: Mercy is not something God owes us; it is a voluntary act of grace. Understanding the difference between justice and mercy helps us appreciate the depth of God's love and the gift of His grace. [29:51]

5. Living by Grace: We live by God's grace, not by our own merits. Recognizing this truth should lead us to humility and gratitude, rather than presumption or entitlement. Our prayers should reflect a deep appreciation for God's mercy and a desire to remain amazed by His grace. [31:43]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:37] - Historical Shifts in Theology
- [01:15] - Crisis Theology and God's Wrath
- [02:33] - The Shadow Side of Yahweh?
- [03:27] - Nadab and Abihu's Transgression
- [05:01] - Aaron's Reaction
- [06:36] - God's Holiness and Reverence
- [08:21] - The Story of Uzzah
- [10:06] - Misinterpretations of God's Wrath
- [12:12] - The Role of the Kohathites
- [14:07] - Uzzah's Presumptuous Sin
- [16:19] - Marcion and the Canon of Scripture
- [18:49] - The Mystery of Iniquity
- [20:22] - The Terms of Creation
- [22:43] - Cosmic Treason
- [24:19] - God's Gracious Forbearance
- [26:45] - Justice and Mercy in Practice
- [29:51] - Understanding Mercy
- [31:43] - Living by Grace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Leviticus 10:1-3 - The story of Nadab and Abihu.
2. 2 Samuel 6:6-7 - The story of Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant.
3. Romans 9:15 - "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

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Observation Questions:

1. What actions did Nadab and Abihu take that led to their punishment, and how does the text describe God's response? [03:27]

2. In the story of Uzzah, what was his immediate reaction when the Ark of the Covenant began to fall, and what was the consequence of his action? [09:29]

3. How does the sermon describe the shift in theological emphasis from the Great Awakening to the twentieth century's crisis theology? [01:15]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the modern tendency to dismiss Old Testament depictions of God's wrath? [10:51]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the significance of God's holiness in the stories of Nadab, Abihu, and Uzzah? What does this suggest about the nature of sin? [06:36]

2. The sermon mentions the "mystery of mercy." How does this concept challenge our understanding of God's character and actions? [19:44]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's justice and mercy are both essential aspects of His character? How does this duality affect our perception of God? [30:38]

4. How does the sermon address the idea that God's mercy is not something owed to us? What implications does this have for our relationship with God? [29:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you took God's mercy for granted. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for His grace in your daily life? [31:43]

2. The sermon emphasizes the seriousness of sin. How can you become more aware of the gravity of sin in your own life, and what steps can you take to address it? [05:41]

3. Consider the modern tendency to view Old Testament depictions of God's wrath as primitive. How can you reconcile these depictions with the New Testament's message of love and mercy in your personal faith journey? [10:51]

4. How can you balance the understanding of God's justice and mercy in your interactions with others, especially when faced with situations that require forgiveness or discipline? [26:45]

5. The sermon suggests that mercy is a gift, not a right. How can this perspective change the way you approach prayer and your expectations of God? [29:51]

6. Identify an area in your life where you might be presuming upon God's grace. What practical steps can you take to live more humbly and gratefully? [24:19]

7. How can you ensure that your understanding of God's character remains balanced, acknowledging both His justice and His mercy, in your spiritual growth and community involvement? [30:38]

Devotional

Day 1: The Balance of Justice and Mercy
Understanding God's character requires acknowledging both His justice and His mercy. Throughout history, theological perspectives have shifted, often emphasizing one aspect of God's nature over the other. In the eighteenth century, the Great Awakening focused on humanity's sinfulness and God's wrath, while later movements highlighted God's love and human goodness. However, the reemergence of "crisis theology" in the twentieth century brought back the importance of God's wrath as a serious biblical theme. This dual nature of God is not contradictory but complementary, reflecting His holiness and righteousness. God's justice is not a flaw but a necessary part of His character that upholds the moral order of the universe. [01:15]

"For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you personally experienced both God's justice and mercy in your life, and how can you hold these two aspects of His character in balance today?


Day 2: The Weight of Sin
The stories of Nadab, Abihu, and Uzzah serve as powerful reminders of the gravity of sin and the holiness of God. These narratives challenge us to reconsider our often casual attitudes toward sin and to recognize the profound implications of defying God's commands. Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized offering and Uzzah's irreverent act of touching the Ark of the Covenant resulted in severe consequences, not because God is arbitrary, but because His holiness demands reverence. These stories illustrate that sin is not a trivial matter but a serious offense against a holy God. [05:41]

"But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness." (Isaiah 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a specific area in your life where you may have become complacent about sin. How can you seek God's help to address this area with the seriousness it deserves?


Day 3: The Enigma of Divine Mercy
The real mystery is not why a holy God punishes sin, but why He shows mercy. Despite humanity's persistent rebellion, God's forbearance and grace are extraordinary. This perspective shifts our focus from questioning God's justice to marveling at His mercy. God's mercy is not something we are entitled to; it is a gift that He freely gives. Understanding this mystery should lead us to a deeper appreciation of His grace and a greater sense of gratitude for His love. [19:44]

"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love." (Micah 7:18, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a time when you received mercy instead of the punishment you deserved. How can you express gratitude for God's mercy in your life today?


Day 4: The Gift of Mercy
Mercy is not something God owes us; it is a voluntary act of grace. Understanding the difference between justice and mercy helps us appreciate the depth of God's love and the gift of His grace. While justice is about giving what is deserved, mercy is about withholding punishment and offering compassion. This understanding should lead us to a greater appreciation of God's love and a deeper sense of humility. We are called to live in gratitude for the mercy we have received and to extend that mercy to others. [29:51]

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs mercy. How can you extend God's love and compassion to them today?


Day 5: Living in Grace
We live by God's grace, not by our own merits. Recognizing this truth should lead us to humility and gratitude, rather than presumption or entitlement. Our prayers should reflect a deep appreciation for God's mercy and a desire to remain amazed by His grace. Living by grace means acknowledging our dependence on God and allowing His love to transform our lives. It is a call to live in a way that honors the gift of grace we have received and to share that grace with others. [31:43]

"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" (James 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's grace. What practical steps can you take to live more fully in His grace today?

Quotes

"If we look at the period of the eighteenth century on the American frontier we notice that there was a recurring motif during the Great Awakening in the preaching that was found at that time, and there was a -- sort of a dual emphasis. On the one hand the message of the preachers was that man is very, very, very bad and that God is very, very, very mad." [00:00:07]

"Now there were some extremists in that group who said that what we see in the Scriptures, particularly in the Old Testament at certain times and places, is an expression of something that is irrational in the character of God himself. In other words, they said that yes, we do see unavoidably and unmistakably a manifestation of the anger of God in the pages of the Old Testament, but that anger is not so much a manifestation of God's righteousness or of His holiness as it is a manifestation of a defect within God's own character." [00:01:53]

"Now Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, took their censors and put fire in them and added incense, and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Now in this understated, terse description of the death of the sons of Aaron, it seems to indicate for us an example of this swift and capricious manifestation of God's wrath." [00:03:32]

"When the Almighty comes down and said, 'Look, Aaron, I know that this is crushing to you that I have taken the lives of your sons, but do you remember when I established the priesthood? Do you remember the day I set you apart and consecrated you for that holy task that I said that there are certain principles I will not negotiate with my priests? I will be regarded as holy, from any -- by anyone who dares to presume to minister in my name. And before the people I will be treated with reverence.'" [00:07:12]

"One of the most blood-curdling stories in the Old Testament is the story of Uzzah, the Kohathite. You all know the story of Uzzah. You tell it to Fuzzy-Uzzah -- no, that's about a bear. It's the story of the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant. Remember the Ark of the Covenant was the throne of God. It was the most sacred vessel in the holy of holies, and it had fallen into the hands of the Philistines; and then through a series of amazing incidents it had been returned to the Jewish people and kept in safe-keeping for awhile until it was the appropriate time had come to pass for the Ark of the Covenant to be restored to its place in the sanctuary." [00:08:14]

"The presumptuous sin of Uzzah was this ladies and gentlemen: He assumed that his hands were less polluted than the dirt. There was nothing about the earth that would desecrate the throne of God. The earth was lying there on the ground doing what God has called earth to do -- being dirt, turning to dust when it's dry and turning to mud when it's mixed with water. It obeys the laws of God day in and day out, doing exactly what dirt is supposed to do. There is nothing defiling about the earth. It was the hand of man that God said, 'I don't want on this throne.'" [00:14:19]

"The real mystery of iniquity, the real puzzle is not that a holy and righteous God should exercise justice. What is mysterious about a holy creator punishing willfully disobedient creatures? The real mystery is why God, through generation after generation tolerates rebellious creatures who commit cosmic treason against His authority." [00:19:04]

"Remember the rules that were set forth at creation, when God, the omnipotent ruler of heaven and earth breathed into dirt the breath of life and shaped a creature in His own image and gave that creature the highest status in this planet and the greatest blessing and gift that He owed them -- not at all -- the very gift of life, and stamped His image on that piece of dirt and gave them life. He said, 'The soul that sins shall die.' All sin was viewed in creation as a capital offense and not that this punishment would be death sometime after you've had your threescore and ten, but what are the terms of creation? 'The day that you eat of it you shall surely die.'" [00:20:22]

"Instead of destroying mankind in the moment of that act of revolt and rebellion of God's authority, God reached forth and extended His mercy. Instead of justice, He poured out His grace, and the history of the Old Testament, beloved, is the history of repeated episodes of the manifestations of God's gracious forbearance and merciful forgiveness towards a people who disobeyed Him day in and day out." [00:24:19]

"Ladies and gentlemen, we need to understand the difference between justice and mercy. The minute you think that God owes you mercy a bell should go off in your brain that warns you and tells you that you're no longer thinking about mercy, for by definition mercy is voluntary. God is never obligated to be merciful to a rebellious creature. He doesn't owe you mercy. As He has said, 'I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy.'" [00:29:51]

"A holy God is both just and merciful, never unjust. There is never an occasion in any page of sacred Scripture where ever, ever punishes an innocent person. God simply doesn't know how to be unjust. I thank Him every night that He does know how to be non-just because mercy is non-justice, but it is not injustice." [00:30:38]

"When you say your prayers, don't ever ask God to give you justice. He might do it, and if God were to deal with us according to justice, we would perish as swiftly as Nadab and Abihu and Uzzah and Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament; but we live, beloved, by grace, by His mercy, and let's never forget it." [00:31:43]

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Transcript
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