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11/12 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 25; Hebrews 7; Amos 1; Psalm 144
Amos 1:7
So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour her strongholds.
WRATH
The Old Testament wrath of God was real. It was good, just, and holy because God is a good, just, and holy God. Since Christ came and went to the cross, however, our perspective of God’s holy anger against sin must be seen with gospel discernment. As sinners saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, each time we see the wrath of God’s justice expressed upon the sinful enemies of God, we should consider four things.
First, Jesus suffered God’s pure and holy wrath on behalf of sinners when He hung upon Calvary’s tree. The wrath Christ suffered far exceeded the wrath due to any sinner or any sinful nation because of the infinite worth and precious purity of the Savior suffering. Therefore, we see the superlative holiness of God through the wrath so deserving of nations such as Gaza, and upon sinners such as Goliath of Gath.
Second, we see the wrath of God that you and I so rightfully deserve, yet by faith in Christ, we have been spared by God’s mercy for trusting in Jesus, who received God’s holy wrath in our stead.
Third, we see then that rejection of God’s grace through Jesus Christ is worthy of far greater judgment than that exacted by YHVH God upon the rebels recorded in the Old Testament.
Fourth, and finally, if evangelism is the church’s great commission in proclaiming the glories of Jesus Christ, using Old Testament illustrations of God’s wrath, such as the flood of Noah’s day or God’s judgment upon Gaza, are ridiculous to use when the wrath of God poured out upon God’s one and only Son is infinitely more profound. When we use the Old Testament illustrations to express God’s wrath, it demonstrates our lack of faith in the superlative excellence of Christ’s sacrifice. This is why Paul declares so emphatically,
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
The wrath of God poured out on Christ
Was far more fatal than
Judgment sent on a nation’s pride
Or lusts of sinful man.
