Wisdom 12:17-27: a reflection

17For when men don’t believe that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, and in dealing with those who think this, you confuse their boldness. 18But you, being sovereign in strength, judge in gentleness, and with great forbearance you govern us; for the power is yours whenever you desire it. 19But you taught your people by such works as these, how the righteous must be kind. You made your sons to have good hope, because you give repentance when men have sinned. 20For if on those who were enemies of your servants and deserving of death, you took vengeance with so great deliberation and indulgence, giving them times and opportunities when they might escape from their wickedness, 21with how great care you judged your sons, to whose fathers you gave oaths and covenants of good promises! 22Therefore while you chasten us, you scourge our enemies ten thousand times more, to the intent that we may ponder your goodness when we judge, and when we are judged may look for mercy. 23Therefore also the unrighteous that lived in a life of folly, you tormented through their own abominations. 24For truly they went astray very far in the ways of error, Taking as gods those animals which even among their enemies were held in dishonor, deceived like foolish babes. 25Therefore, as to unreasoning children, you sent your judgment to mock them. 26But those who would not be admonished by mild correction will experience the deserved judgment of God. 27For through the sufferings they were indignant of, being punished in these creatures which they supposed to be gods, they saw and recognized as the true God him whom they previously refused to know. Therefore also the result of extreme condemnation came upon them.

This passage marvels at how God, though sovereign over all, exercises his rule with gentleness and forbearance. Though he could judge at once, he judges with mildness, and governs with great forbearance, giving even his enemies times and opportunities to turn from their wickedness. And the passage draws a lesson from this: You taught your people, by such works, that the righteous must be kind. God's patient, gentle exercise of his sovereignty is meant to teach us to be kind and forbearing in our own dealings.

Notice two things: God's gentle, forbearing rule, and the lesson it teaches. God is sovereign over all, able to judge at once; yet he judges with mildness, forbears, gives time and opportunity to repent, even to his enemies. He does not use his sovereignty to crush at once, but exercises it with patience and gentleness. And from this, the passage says, we are to learn: the righteous must be kind. God's gentle forbearance is a model for how we, who have any measure of power over others, are to deal with them.

That lesson is worth taking to heart, for we often exercise whatever power or advantage we have over others harshly, quick to judge and to crush. But God, who has all power, exercises it with gentleness and forbearance, giving time and opportunity to repent; and he means this to teach us to be kind. When you have power or advantage over others, do not exercise it harshly, quick to judge and to crush; learn from God's gentle forbearance to be kind, patient, giving others time and opportunity, as God gives them to us. The God who governs all with gentleness teaches the righteous to be kind; let your dealings with those under your power or in your debt be marked by the gentleness and forbearance God shows, rather than by harshness. Be kind, as God is kind, exercising whatever power you have with the gentleness and forbearance he models in his rule over all.

Lord, this passage marvels that you, though sovereign over all, exercise your rule with gentleness and forbearance, judging with mildness, giving even your enemies time and opportunity to turn from wickedness; and it draws a lesson: you taught your people that the righteous must be kind. Help me take that to heart. You are sovereign over all, able to judge at once; yet you judge with mildness, forbear, give time and opportunity to repent, even to your enemies. You do not use your sovereignty to crush at once, but exercise it with patience and gentleness. And from this I am to learn: the righteous must be kind. I often exercise whatever power or advantage I have over others harshly, quick to judge and to crush. But you, who have all power, exercise it with gentleness and forbearance, giving time and opportunity to repent; and you mean this to teach me to be kind. When I have power or advantage over others, keep me from exercising it harshly, quick to judge and to crush; help me learn from your gentle forbearance to be kind, patient, giving others time and opportunity, as you give them to me. You, who govern all with gentleness, teach the righteous to be kind; let my dealings with those under my power be marked by the gentleness and forbearance you show, Lord, rather than by harshness. Make me kind, as you are kind.