Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 19

I always find it interesting how so many Christians see God in the Old Testament as having a completely different will, nature and character than He does in the New Testament. Many portray God in the Old Testament as one who has either no mercy or at best was limited in mercy; That He was not very forgiving; That He did not heal or deliver; That He was into cursing more than blessing; and that He was just waiting for someone to step out of line and wham, the hammer came down in the form of sickness, disease and all manner of destruction. Well, let's consider some things from the Old Testament...

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let Israel now say, "His mercy endures forever." Let the house of Aaron now say, "His mercy endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD now say, "His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 118:1-4)

Other than the continuous praise that, "His mercy endures forever," we see something else right at the beginning of this Psalm that describes God's true nature, Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! He does not lack in mercy, in fact His mercy is great...
"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him" 
(Psalm 103:11)
Not only is He good, but His goodness is great...
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! (Psalm 31:19)

Next we see that God is ready to forgive ALL who call upon Him...
"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You."(Psalm 86:5) and...
"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared." (Psalm 130:3-4)

We also see that God's nature in the Old Testament is healing and deliverance...
"He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)

There is one Psalm that I believe is a good summation of God's true will, nature and character...
"Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
(Psalm 103:1-5)

WOW, what a wonderful Heavenly Father we have. Notice the word ALL; "Who forgives ALL your iniquities," That is, He is not only able but willing to pardon all of our sin. "Who heals ALL your diseases," That is, all forms of sickness and disease. If that was not enough, "Who redeems your life from destruction," That is, saving one's life from death when exposed to danger, or when attacked by disease. "Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies," That is, God's mercy and compassion is so abundant, it is something of beauty and honor as a royal crown. "Who satisfies your mouth with good things," Not just your physical mouth with food, but your desires, your entire life He brings delight to. "so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." The eagle is an emblem of vigor and as the moulting of an eagles feathers where its plume is renewed, so shall those be, whose God is the LORD, who place faith in His wonderful Word..

When looking at the Old Testament scriptures and meditating on what they say concerning God's true will, nature and character, it becomes very difficult at best to consider that the God of the Old Testament is anything less than loving, caring, nurturing, forgiving and flat out wonderful. However, it takes faith in the integrity of God's Word to come to this conclusion. We always must remember that Satan has not changed his tactic towards humanity. From the Garden of Eden and until Jesus returns, his greatest weapon of deception has been to defame God's nature and character. He wants people to reason in their minds, that is, to consider that there may be another truth. That God is holding back or is not disclosing the whole truth.

The Apostle Paul tells us that that these things are, strongholds, arguments and thoughts that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God and are to be assaulted and destroyed by using God's Word. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) His Word is truth and it is the ONLY gauge that the believer has to determine whether or not renegade reasoning is on the loose in their mind. The more one reads, studies and meditates on God's Word, the less chance there is for one to be deceived with Satan's wiles. Praise the LORD, for He never changes which also means that His faithful, never failing, Word never changes also!!!