The Amazingly Gracious Nature of God

Aim: To experience the amazingly gracious nature of God—as Christ's church.

Doctrine: God is incredibly kind—especially to sinners who are in the covenant. This divine patience is truly remarkable, given the wayward idolatry of God's ungrateful people.

Exegesis: Lovely facets of the amazingly gracious nature of God: the Lord is merciful—even in the midst of our horrible stubbornness (vv. 16-17); the Lord is faithful—even in the midst of our abominable stupidity (vv. 18-19); the Lord is generous—even in the midst of our self-imposed sufferings (vv. 20-21).

Further application: How the church positively enjoys the amazingly gracious nature of God: by casting ourselves entirely on Jesus, by faith, we get all of God; and by Him, overwhelm our flesh.

Key phrase: v. 17b ''But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them.''