Psalms 78:36 “Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.”
After generations of Israel’s sinful behaviors and idolatries, and God’s cyclic chastisements and blessings, it would seem appropriate for Him to have utterly destroyed them from among the living. But, He plainly declared His Blessed Grace and Mercy when He said, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6); meaning, according to human reasoning, He should have, but He mercifully did not. The Psalmist explains it this way, “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.”! Paul explained it this way, nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39). The same Merciful and Gracious God, our Lord Jesus Christ, still reigns Supreme in our day, He sits upon His Heavenly Throne and rules as the Sovereign “Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14)! Therefore, let all the Children of God, reject the temptations that would draw us away into ungodly behavior and commit ourselves to, with all the energy we have, “Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (II Chronicles 20:21) and remain faithful to Him all the days of our lives!