Psalm 99:8-9 - October 2, 2009

Ps 99:8-9 "O LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. 9 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy." NIV

Psalm 99:8-9 carries in it such a powerful balance between two opposing facets in the Lord’s way of dealing with his children. “O LORD our God, you answered them…” this passage is simple statement of God’s affirmation if His people even in their weakness. The context of this passage is a discussion of God’s response to the failures of His people and yet it displays God’s responsiveness to us when we come in humility even in times of failure. Too often earthly fathers and human leaders punish the imperfections of those they are in authority over with what has become known in American culture as “the silent treatment”, as they express their displeasure by putting up a wall of silence that is unresponsive to the efforts of the one who has fallen short as they seek to resolve the distance created in the relationship by their failure.
The wisdom of God is seen in the Lord’s leadership style as this Psalm identifies the polarized aspects of responding to the misdeeds or failures of others. The middle portion of verse 8 declares “you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.” This short phrase teaches such a balanced perspective of responding to sin. We can know the Lord’s character so clearly in this simple phrase and in that revelation our hearts can find peace. Verse 8 identifies God’s willingness to forgive those who cry out to Him in their sinfulness and failures as it describes the Lord as “a forgiving God.” This passage gives us great hope and comfort as we find rest in the knowledge that His wrath is appeased by His willingness to forgive.
What can equally be seen in this passage is the Lord’s way of dealing with us through discipline as a loving Father. In the same way that verse 8 identifies the Lord’s willingness to forgive it emphasizes that forgiveness does not imply that there will be no consequences for our actions. Many people have a hard time recognizing that punishment can be applied without anger. Because of the impatience of many earthly authority figures the nature of discipline has been confused in many people’s minds as always springing forth out of anger and unforgiveness. Psalm 99:8 is special in its capacity to separate the two. Yes the Lord forgives, and yes at times there will still be punishment. When the Lord disciplines us to train us it is not because He has not forgiven, nor is it because He is angry with us. This passage is a lesson for every parent that we can forgive and put away anger but still train our children in right behavior by applying proper consequences or punishment. In this it is so important that we communicate to our children with the same wisdom that the Lord imparts in this passage, affirming to them that even though they must be punished for their actions that if they have repented then they are forgiven and our love is not conditional but steady even when we disapprove of what they have done. Rest in the Lord today and in the knowledge of His wise stewardship of your life as He watches over you to teach you in the right way! Always look to God with an expectation of receiving mercy when you fail even though He may still allow you to experience the sting of His punishment so that you will be trained in righteousness.