Slow to anger

INTRODUCTION: God alone is maximally worthy to be praised (Psalm 18:3). We give praise due to people, but we often don't consider the greatness, majesty, and lovingkindness of our God.

Consider that Yahweh is slow to anger:

"Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth..." Exodus 34:6 NASB

"‘The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’" Numbers 14:18

“They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; So they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; And You did not forsake them." Nehemiah 9:17

"But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth." Psalm 86:15

"The Lord is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness." Psalm 145:8

And we are to be like him in this regard:

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger..." James 1:19

We often to fail to forget that not only is God amazingly patient with us, but because his Spirit abides with us and teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, we can rest in him and trust that he will give us the ability to become "slow to anger" just like he has been with us.

CONCLUSION: You are alive because God is slow to anger. If you are in Christ, you are loved because God is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness (חַסְדְּךָ֗). He has exercised an amazing amount of patience in light of your vile and depraved condition up until the point that he drew you to himself and made his son attractive to you (John 6:37-44; 65). Think on this.