“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1). Such a plea comes from one who expects his prayer to be answered. “The God of my salvation” (v. 14) is the One David petitions. He is a loving, and merciful God. He is the One who “gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). His righteousness is demonstrated in the setting forth of His Son as a propitiation for sins (cf. Romans 3:25). God in the flesh died so that we might live (cf. Romans 5:19). The way to Him has been paved, and made available for all to travel (cf. John 14:6). For those who have yet to turn from a life of sin to a life lived in righteousness He continues longsuffering, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Yes, “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15)! “He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). His pedagogical grace has appeared to all men exposing darkness and instructing righteousness so that we might look for the appearing of Jesus in good hope (cf. Titus 2:11-14). Our God is wonderful and gracious!

Yet the inspired Psalmist writes in another place, “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken” (Psalm 37:12-15). Another inspired pen writes, “The Lord is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked. Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper does not fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. Neither let those who pass by them say, ‘The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord!’” (Psalm 129:4-8).

The skeptic will say there is contradiction. A God who desires all men to be saved cannot at the same time utter words of imprecation. This is apparently the same One who commanded, “I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). However, in all this God remains impartial and loving? Yes!

“The Lord is righteous” (Psalm 129:4). He is not inconsistent. He hates the ways of the evil, but beckons them to repent. It would be inconsistent, and uncharacteristic, for God to promise evil to flourish. Rather, “He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked” (Psalm 129:4). It is not that He delights in a lost soul, but it is in His nature, and should be our nature, to love justice. There is only “the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’” (Romans 2:5-6). He has created us with a purpose – “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” – and has revealed His judgment – “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). It remains “a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you” (2 Thessalonians 1:6). These are not neglected men, but those “who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2:12). It is a just thing for God to take pleasure in righteousness, and disdain the antithesis. It is a loving thing for Him to exclaim His nature of such to His creation who will be judged accordingly! “For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psalm 1:6).