Gracious and Merciful

Psalm 145.8-9

PSALM 145:8-9. GOD IS GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL
8 Yahweh is gracious, merciful,
slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.

9 Yahweh is good to all.
His tender mercies are over all his works.

“Yahweh is gracious (Hebrew: hannun), merciful, (Hebrew: rahum) (v. 8a). The word hannum means gracious or merciful, and rahum means compassionate or merciful or forgiving. The two words are roughly synonymous, and are often used together to describe God (2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17, 31; Psalm 111:4; 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2).

“slow (Hebrew: ‘arek) to anger” (Hebrew: ‘ap) (v. 8b). The word ‘ap means nose, nostril, or anger. That seems peculiar. What do noses have to do with anger? Two common phrases come to mind that might provide a clue. The first is “flared nostrils,” which can be a sign of intense anger––the kind of anger that could lead to violence. The second is “his nose is out of joint,” which means that he is disturbed or angry or holding a grudge.

But the psalmist doesn’t describe Yahweh as angry, but instead says that he is “slow (Hebrew: ‘arek) to anger.” The word ‘arek is often used with regard to feelings, and suggests patience and what we might call “a slow fuse.”

In times past, “a slow fuse” would have allowed the person lighting it plenty of time to escape before the explosion. Today, electricians use “a slow fuse” to describe a fuse engineered to survive a quick power surge without breaking the circuit. In both cases, “a slow fuse” suggests a grace period to prevent someone suffering from hasty action.

Yahweh is patient. He has a slow fuse. People give him plenty of cause to impose punishment, but he often withholds his judgment to give them opportunity to repent––to turn––to return––to change. The prophet Joel pictures that clearly, saying that Yahweh pleads:

“Turn to me with all your heart….
Turn to Yahweh, your God;
for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
and abundant in loving kindness,
and relents from sending calamity” (Joel 2:12-13).

But we would be foolish to allow Yahweh’s patience to lull us into complacency. He warned Israel to execute justice, “lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings” (Jeremiah 21:12). Both Old and New Testaments give numerous examples of God imposing severe, sometimes lethal, punishment for sins (Deuteronomy 11:17; 29:24-28; Nehemiah 13:18; Acts 17:30-32; Revelation 14:6-11).

“and of great loving kindness” (Hebrew: hesed) (v. 8b). The word hesed has a rich variety of meanings––kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. Each of these meanings indicate a kindly and positive attitude toward the beloved.

“Yahweh is good (Hebrew: tob) to all” (v. 9a). For the meaning of tob, see the comments on verse 6 above.

“His tender mercies (Hebrew: raham) are over all his works” (Hebrew: ma‘aseh) (v. 9). Raham, when singular, means womb. When plural, it means compassion or mercy. The connection of this word with the womb gives us a picture of a mother’s tender affection for her child––her willingness to show mercy when her husband might not be so inclined––he willingness to help her errant child back to the right path.

–Sermon Writer website [Psalm 145.8-9 commentary].