Judgement and Mercy by Brenna Stringfellow

Burrows

Burrows talks about how there’s a beginning and end which is sin, the Last Judgement, which is salvation for some, but without the sin there would be no History. It talks about how God’s people suffer exile again into Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, then their return by the ruling of Cyrus which is all in the book of Daniel. On page 174, it states, “Punish entailed the need for deliverance and implied a deliverer,” which was Jesus. 

Psalms 

I loved reading this passage because it just reminded me of how even if we mess up God is merciful and will always show mercy to his people even if they do go astray for a little while.

Amos 

This book is all about God being wrathful and casting his judgement on Israel because really he’s just fed up with everything, like I am for the semester currently. Although the main focus is God bringing his wrath down upon the people, it shows a little hint of mercy quite like in Psalms. Despite the evil of the people, God still kept his promise to Abraham and therefore wouldn’t destroy the house of Israel. 

Isaiah 

Chapter 9 starts off talking about the birth of Jesus Christ and then some more judgement when Ephraim is warned and God still is taking his wrath out on Israel. In chapter 10 God used the Assyrians to punish Israel by his own permission. Once  Israel is conquered there are a few that remain faithful to God, and eventually it will be restored. 

Daniel 

In chapter 1 Daniel’s request was approved because he remained faithful and committed to God. Chapter 3 is all about the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because the refuse to worship the golden image. In that furnace there appeared a 4th person which is, “like the Son of God.” Chapter 6 is about Darius signing a decree preventing any man from worshipping any God for 30 days, Daniel continuing to worship God regardless, and then Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den. Daniel goes untouched because God, “Shut the lions’ mouths,” and Darius then issues a new decree in which all are to worship the God of Daniel. These 3 chapters in Daniel all have their own way of showing Gods mercy into his people that are faithful unto  him. 

All 5 selections have laces of God’s Judgement and wrath upon his people, but also the mercy he shows to them as well. That mercy can come through being faith to him, or, eventually, through Jesus. Israel’s rebellion is hard evidence that shows what will happen when God is disobeyed. Really God still was immensely merciful to the Israelites because he kept holding back his wrath to give them tons of second chances, in which they continuously failed to uphold, except a select few. 

I commented on Cade and Joshua's post.