FROM THE PULPIT: ATTRIBUTES OF GOD; ARTICL #12 OF 16 THE PATIENCE OF GOD

This attribute of God refers to His ability or power of control which He has over himself, causing Him to bear long with the wicked and forbearing in their punishment. Nahum 1:3 declares, " The Lord is slow to anger and great in power." The word for long-suffering is often rendered "slow to anger (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 103:8).

We read in Romans 9:22 that the Lord is long-suffering to the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.... And also this same attribute is shown most readily in the flooding of the earth in the times of Noah when God waited for "a time" before rightly destroying all who mocked Him and His preacher of righteousness (I Peter 3:20, Gen. 6:3).

Many are the texts which reflect this divine attribute: Exodus 34:6, Ps. 86:15, Is. 48:9, Jer. 7:13-25, Ez. 20:17, Matt. 19:8... to name but a few. The lesson in Matthew 21:33 of the vineyard is marvelously used by Christ himself to show forth the patience of the creator .... one by one we see how those of the vineyard (husbandmen) beat and killed the servants sent by the patient Lord of the vineyard, then the Lord sent His son to those husbandmen and instead of reverencing Him they "slew" him. We see in this parable just how long-suffering or patient the Holy Sovereign is, yet also that His long-suffering must be balanced with His vengeance and judgment upon all that despise Him and His Son.

Another clear example of Jehovah's patience is seen in His dealings with the Israelites of old as they wandered in the wilderness. It is truly amazing that He did not utterly destroy them for all they're complaining and murmuring at His good providence towards them.

And what of us here today? Shall we not also meditate upon this glorious attribute of God and may it soften our hearts and tender our consciences, because if God should give us what we deserve it would surely be punishment and not grace. Looking closer at this divine characteristic may it cause us to become "swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger."

Next lesson: The Grace of God.