Jeremiah 30

3 The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity [a] and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the LORD."

8 " 'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
9 Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.

11 I am with you and will save you,'
declares the LORD.
'Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only with justice;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.'

24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this.

I know that I love the 'restoration' and 'forgiveness' passages in the Bible and shy away from the 'fierce anger' wrathful ones. But God is both. I can't choose one or the other. Here is a passage that combines both -- that really shows God's anger and wrath toward his unfaithful people but yet reiterates his commitment, his compassion, his commitment to fully accomplish 'the purposes of his heart.' And it ends "In days to come you will understand this." Lord, give me the beginnings of understanding now. I want to have a full picture of you so that I will rejoice in your forgiveness and mercy, but not presume upon it by continuing in sin. I want to see you as my heavenly father who is approachable through Jesus Christ, but I want to remember that you are wholly other, just and righteous, awesome in your glory, fearsome in your righteous wrath, demanding of complete loyalty. I am aware that I take any opportunity to cut myself slack by making excuses. You do not do this. Your mercy is not the same thing as excusing my sin -- your mercy paid for my sin in the most costly of ways, and I should abhor the thought that I would go on sinning after receiving your costly mercy.