Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word,
Just to rest upon His promise, just to know “Thus saith the Lord.”
The title of Pastor Grant’s sermon for this morning, Justice and Mercy, really captures the duality of this section of 2 Thessalonians. The Apostle Paul writes about Christ’s final judgement of the earth in vivid language (terrifying, even), but places a message of comfort and reassurance right beside it. Those who persecute the church will be brought to justice (verse 6) and God’s people will find relief (verse 7). The hymns and psalms we sing this morning contain both these elements as well. We’ll sing of God’s role as judge (O Sing A New Song To The Lord—Psalm 98; O Lord Most High—Psalm 9; Rejoice, The Lord Is King), and we’ll even use some of the same language about the wicked being laid low with “fire” and “lightning” (Blest Be The Lord, My Rock, My Might—Psalm 144; The Mighty God, The Lord—Psalm 50). But these are paired with poetry and music that celebrates Christ’s tenderness towards his saints, like ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus and My Shepherd Will Supply My Need—Psalm 23. Because He is just, it is truly sweet to rest upon His promises. —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Evidence, Judgment, Affliction, Punishment, Saints, Pray
Keystone Verse: May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in you, and you in Him. (2 Thessalonians 1:12)
2 Thessalonians 1:5-12
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, 10 when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 Justice and Mercy