8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim?
How could I surrender you, O Israel?
How could I make you like Admah?
How could I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned within Me;
My compassion is stirred!
9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger;
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.
For I am God and not man—
the Holy One among you—
and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the LORD;
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
and like doves from the land of Assyria.
Then I will settle them in their homes,
declares the LORD.

12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,
the house of Israel with deceit;
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

Though Israel deserves to face God’s fierce anger, though they deserve total destruction, God will not do it. Why? Because of his compassion. Any human ruler would not show such compassion. But God’s compassion is far greater than human compassion. Yes, he will discipline his people but then he will transform them. At last, they will follow him. He will roar like a lion, that is, he will speak his powerful word and call his people out of slavery. They will come trembling, trembling in awe before his greatness, trembling at his word. He will settle them in their homes.

Ultimately, this is a picture of what God has done for his people through his Son – and we Gentiles are included. We deserved destruction, but God’s compassion for us in Christ is beyond our understanding. He roars the gospel message to the world, and we come trembling before him and his word. He brings us out of slavery to sin and causes us to follow him. He gives us an eternal home in the New Jerusalem. Praise God for his compassion on sinners like us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assistant Ministers.