The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
Psalms 145:8 (NIV)
slow to anger and rich in love.
In this verse the Psalmist recites Exodus 34:6 when Yahweh came down on Mt. Sinai and described himself to Moses. Yahweh made it clear that he was not a God who ruled by fear but by love. He was not impatient with people, looking for a way to inflict retribution on them.
The Psalmist reminds us of God’s self-revelation with a cascade of adjectives designed to make us rest and rejoice in the compassionate love of God. These are God’s attitudes toward us and it is important to recall these on a regular basis. Do you think of God as gracious toward you? Do you think of God as compassionate toward you? Do you think of God as slow to anger toward you? Do you think of God as rich in love toward you?
Try repeating this verse five times and add your name at the end with the words “toward [name]”. Embrace it and let it sink in. If you sense resistance to it in your heart then explore the root behind that until you can overcome the barrier. We all need to be anchored in God’s compassion for us.
