Wisdom 11:17-26: a reflection

17For your all-powerful hand that created the world out of formless matter didn’t lack means to send upon them a multitude of bears, fierce lions, 18or newly-created and unknown wild beasts, full of rage, either breathing out a blast of fiery breath, or belching out smoke, or flashing dreadful sparks from their eyes; 19which had power not only to consume them by their violence, but to destroy them even by the terror of their sight. 20Yes and without these they might have fallen by a single breath, being pursued by Justice, and scattered abroad by the breath of your power; but you arranged all things by measure, number, and weight. 21For to be greatly strong is yours at all times. Who could withstand the might of your arm? 22Because the whole world before you is as a grain in a balance, and as a drop of dew that comes down upon the earth in the morning. 23But you have mercy on all men, because you have power to do all things, and you overlook the sins of men to the end that they may repent. 24For you love all things that are, and abhor none of the things which you made; For you never would have formed anything if you hated it. 25How would anything have endured unless you had willed it? Or that which was not called by you, how would it have been preserved? 26But you spare all things, because they are yours, O Sovereign Lord, you who love the living.

This passage marvels that God, who could easily have destroyed the wicked, chose instead to show mercy. He who made the world could have sent fierce beasts or destroyed them with a breath; but instead, the passage says, you have mercy on all men, and you overlook the sins of men to the end that they may repent. God's restraint is not weakness but mercy; he holds back judgment to give room for repentance, because he loves what he has made. You love all things that are, it says, and abhor none of the things which you made.

Notice the reason given for God's merciful restraint: his love for what he has made. God could destroy the wicked easily; but he holds back, showing mercy, overlooking sins for a time, precisely so that people may have room to repent. And the root of this restraint is love: he loves all he has made, abhorring none of it, sparing all because it is his. His mercy, his patience, his giving of room to repent, all flow from his love for his creatures. He does not delight to destroy, but loves what he made, and so shows mercy, giving room to turn back.

That merciful restraint, born of God's love, is worth taking to heart, for it is toward us. God, who could justly judge us, holds back in mercy, giving us room to repent, because he loves us as those he has made. His patience with us, his overlooking of our sins for a time, is not indifference, but mercy born of love, meant to give us room to turn back to him. Do not mistake God's patient restraint for indifference to sin; it is mercy, born of his love for you, giving you room to repent. And do not presume on it, but respond to it, turning back to God while he gives you room. God's merciful restraint toward you flows from his love; he spares you, and gives you room to repent, because you are his and he loves what he has made. Respond to that love by turning back to him, as God overlooks sins for a time precisely that people may repent, giving room to turn to him out of love for those he has made.

Lord, this passage marvels that you, who could easily have destroyed the wicked, chose instead to show mercy. You who made the world could have sent fierce beasts or destroyed them with a breath; but instead, the passage says, you have mercy on all men, and you overlook the sins of men to the end that they may repent. Your restraint is not weakness but mercy; you hold back judgment to give room for repentance, because you love what you have made. You love all things that are, it says, and abhor none of the things which you made. Show me the reason given for your merciful restraint: your love for what you have made. You could destroy the wicked easily; but you hold back, showing mercy, overlooking sins for a time, precisely so that people may have room to repent. And the root of this restraint is love. Your mercy, your patience, all flow from your love for your creatures. You do not delight to destroy, but love what you made. Take that merciful restraint, born of your love, to my heart, for it is toward me. You, who could justly judge me, hold back in mercy, giving me room to repent, because you love me as one you have made. Your patience with me is not indifference, but mercy born of love. Keep me from mistaking your patient restraint for indifference to sin; it is mercy, meant to give me room to repent. And keep me from presuming on it; help me respond to it, turning back to you while you give me room, Lord, out of your love for me.