Exodus 34:6, commentary and pictures

The Lord Himself passed by Moses on Sinai and spoke aloud His own name and nature, hiding Moses in the cleft of the rock because no one could look upon His face and live. He did this to answer Moses' prayer to see His glory, showing that His glory is His goodness and character and name. He is compassionate and kind, slow to anger and patient, overflowing with love and faithfulness, full of pity and tender care like a father and shepherd. He keeps mercy for thousands and pardons every kind of sin, yet He does not leave sin unpunished, for His justice is as truly His glory and love as His mercy is. That same character Christ lived out to reveal the Father and disprove the charge that God is severe and merciless, and it is the pattern His people are to know, worship, and reflect to the world.

Setting and Proclamation

The Lord came down in the cloud to stand with Moses on Sinai when Moses went up alone in the morning with the two new tables of stone, and passing by before him proclaimed His own name as merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. He put Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand while passing by, for Moses could not see God's face and live. Those who see God's face must become like Him in character.

The proclamation was the answer to Moses' prayer, Show me Thy glory, and to the promise to make all His goodness pass before him and proclaim His name. It was given after persistent unselfish intercession for sinful Israel and after Israel's sin with the golden calf, before Moses carried out justice against the idolaters. It came with assurance of God's presence for the journey to Canaan, for which Moses pleaded in dependence on God rather than on human faithfulness. His intercession also points to Christ, the great Intercessor whom the Father always hears. God forgave Israel and bore long with the rebellious people for the sake of the repentant among them and the glory of His own name.

Hearing the proclamation Moses made haste and bowed in reverent worship, filled with joy at God's goodness, mercy, and compassion. He then pleaded for the Lord to go among the stiffnecked people, pardon their iniquity and sin, and take them for His inheritance. God answered with a covenant to do marvels before all the people and renewed His favor. When this character is comprehended as Moses comprehended it, the response is still to make haste to bow in adoration, praise, and worship.

This was given during forty days and nights of communion in the mount, where Moses was miraculously sustained alone with no man permitted to go up or approach, and received the words of the covenant, the ten commandments, written by the Lord. He descended with his face reflecting the glory of the divine presence with a dazzling light unknown to himself. Guilty Aaron and the people feared to approach and could not endure it, so Moses compassionated their fear, held out to them the pledge of God's reconciliation, and assured them of restored favor with love and entreaty. Afterward he put a veil upon his face whenever he returned from communion with God, showing that there is fear in guilt and the soul free from sin will not wish to hide from the light of heaven.

Israel had unmistakable proof of this character seen with their own eyes, for over and over God allowed them to come into tight places and then delivered them in order to reveal His mercy and goodness and to strengthen their faith. By these deliverances He honored Israel before all heavenly beings and brought them to Himself into covenant relation and communion with Him. He had forgiven them from Egypt onward, and Moses appealed to this mercy when Israel rebelled over the spies and God threatened to smite them with pestilence and disinherit them, asking that God's power be great in mercy and pardon. On that ground God spared Israel from immediate destruction, yet because of their unbelief and cowardice He could not manifest His power to subdue their enemies, so in mercy He sent them back toward the Red Sea as the only safe course. Even when apostasy brought judgment, He continued to reveal Himself and instruct the people through His prophets.

Even after Israel mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and misused His prophets, He still manifested Himself as merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Notwithstanding repeated rejections His mercy continued its pleadings with more than a father's pitying love, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place, sending to them by His messengers, rising up betimes and sending. When remonstrance, entreaty, and rebuke had failed He sent the best gift of heaven and poured out all heaven in that one Gift, the Son of God Himself sent to plead with the impenitent city, the same Christ who had brought Israel as a goodly vine out of Egypt. God revealed this character to Moses so Moses could proclaim God's goodness to Israel and teach them the attributes of their invisible King. This left them without excuse for losing sight of Him, though Israel's pride and stubbornness and its defense of error, injustice, and sin misrepresented the character revealed.

Glory as Character

God's glory is His goodness and His character and His name, proclaimed as merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. That proclamation was the answer to the prayer to see His glory and to the promise to make all His goodness pass by, declaring infinite love and pity in terms of mercy, forbearance, kindness, goodness, and truth. The declaration belongs together with what follows it, that He keeps mercy for thousands and forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin, yet will by no means clear the guilty; punishing the sinner for iniquity is as truly His glory as showing mercy. When this character is comprehended it leads to bowing in worship, adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, and God's people are called to represent it to the world in purity of character, holiness of life, mercy, loving-kindness, and compassion, demonstrating that His law converts the soul.

His passing before Moses is His presence made manifest, with lasting influence of His work wherever He goes. In that passing He is revealed as merciful, gracious, patient, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving sin, yet not clearing the guilty and bringing the consequences of iniquity across generations.

The whole earth as it came from the Creator's hand revealed Him who is abundant in goodness and truth. Exceedingly beautiful, with no taint of sin or shadow of death, it was a fit emblem of Him and a fit study for human beings made in His image. The garden of Eden was a representation of what He desired the whole earth to become, His purpose being that as the human family increased they should establish other homes and schools like the one He had given. In time the whole earth was to be occupied with homes and schools where His words and His works are studied and where students are fitted more and more fully to reflect throughout endless ages the light of the knowledge of His glory.

Mercy Grace and Goodness

The verse declares God to be merciful and gracious, patient and longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, revealing infinite love, pity, compassion, loving-kindness and parental tenderness. His goodness, mercy and compassion so impressed Moses as to fill him with joy and move him to reverent worship and intercession for pardon for Israel. This character is revealed to those who hide in Christ the Rock, and it is also revealed through the atonement in the gift of the Son to die for fallen humanity, showing that sin is not chargeable to His government. It is the character His people are to display in pure and holy lives of mercy, loving-kindness and compassion, which shows the perfection of His law that converts the soul. It was given so Moses could proclaim God's goodness to Israel and teach them the attributes of their invisible King.

Merciful means compassionate, gracious means kind and good, and longsuffering means slow to anger, patient, and not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Gracious means He does not deal according to human merit but in boundless goodness heals backslidings, forgives iniquities, and loves freely while yet sinners. He is shown as a Father in tender solicitude, as a tender Shepherd, and as a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless, a present help in every time of need. True religion formed by this character produces love and never cold iron hard-heartedness, high-handed oppression, neglect of the needy and suffering, or gathering for self-glory regardless of others. He Himself proclaims His love and pity for His needy suffering ones in these precious promises.

He is more willing to pardon than to condemn, understands human weakness, knows men are dust, welcomes the repentant who turns to Him in faith, and no sin is too great for Him to pardon. His mercy and Christ's merits supply what humble repentant people lack, and He does not abandon a penitent trusting soul. His grace does not search for fault, but in boundless mercy He heals backsliding, loves sinners freely, and continues to shine His light on them for Christ's sake. This gives sinners who repent reason not to despair or distrust God, for He is willing to forgive and look on them with favor. Nothing is too hard for Him to do, and He will help in great need.

He does not deal with people according to what they deserve nor wait for them to be worthy of His love, but pours out His love to make them worthy. He is not vindictive but seeks to redeem rather than punish, and even the severity of His providences serves the salvation of the wayward. He yearns to relieve human suffering and heal wounds, as the source of mercy and the compassionate Redeemer who heals. His promises are unfailing and always verified, not one good thing failing of all He has promised, for men may fail and break promises but God never forgets, His mercies are sure and His covenant everlasting, so He is to be trusted.

He bears long with the perversity and disobedience of men, letting them live even while they abuse His mercies and speak wicked falsehood against Him, in loving forbearance and tender pity and infinite compassion. His ways are not as human ways, for unlike men who exact the uttermost farthing and are severe in judgment and condemnation, He is patient, longsuffering and full of goodness, mercy and truth. He does not despise sinful men even in sinfulness and deformity of character, though they rebel against their Maker and boastfully assert independence of Him and misuse their abilities. He could cut off their favors and take away their reasoning powers for their poor use of them and appoint their portion with the beasts of the field like Nebuchadnezzar, but He does not do this. For this very reason men presume upon His goodness and forbearance.

These qualities assured David that God's mysterious ways were still merciful and good, so by remembering this revelation and God's works for Israel he took the promises for himself, showing God's works and promises are not limited to Israel. The humble, trusting, unselfish heart can see God in this character as love, while selfishness distorts the view of God, judges Him by one's own character, and prevents understanding Him. Dwelling on these qualities of goodness, mercy and love deepens the perception of truth and awakens a higher desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. Such dwelling supports the soul's transformation through communion with God in the study of His word.

Justice With Mercy

The proclamation does not end with mercy alone, for it continues that He keeps mercy for thousands and forgives iniquity and transgression and sin, yet will by no means clear the guilty and visits iniquity to the third and fourth generation. The God who gives the law is thereby revealed as both loving and just, not only Sovereign, Legislator and Judge but also a loving Father, with an Advocate standing between Him and the people to claim them as purchased by blood. When this full character is comprehended it leads to hastening to bow in worship, adoration, praise and thanksgiving.

His glory embraces both justice and mercy, and punishing the sinner for iniquity is as truly His glory and as much an expression of love as showing mercy. His mercy means compassion and forgiveness, keeping mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet it does not treat guilt as innocence or leave sin unpunished. That displayed character as His glory is the standard by which loyalty to Him and His law is answered, for in righteous judgment every work will receive its sentence.

To Him the act of punishment is a strange act in which He has no pleasure and no delight, but He desires the wicked to turn and live. He is slow to anger and great in power, and His long forbearance with the wicked emboldens men in transgression, but punishment is none the less certain and terrible because it is long delayed. By terrible things in righteousness He will vindicate the authority of His downtrodden law, visiting judgment upon those who oppress and destroy His people, and the severity of the retribution awaiting the transgressor may be judged by His reluctance to execute justice. Those with whom He bears long until they have filled up the measure of iniquity will finally drink the cup of wrath unmixed with mercy, for all the wicked He will destroy and the transgressors shall be destroyed together. All manifestations of retributive justice in putting down rebellion are perfectly consistent with His character as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.

He exercises justice for the good of the universe and even of those judged, offering love, His law and mercy while not forcing obedience but seeking willing obedience from an intelligent appreciation of His wisdom, justice and benevolence. As an impartial ruler He in no case justifies sin, and His goodness and love engage Him to deal with sin as an evil fatal to the peace and happiness of the universe. To save some He must cut off those hardened in sin to preserve the inhabitants of the earth from utter depravity and ruin, so the thought that God is too good to punish the transgressor is self-flattery, and few realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin. If men continue in transgression without repentance, confession and forsaking of sin they will receive according to their works, for His word to punish wrongdoers living in daily transgression of His law is sure and steadfast to judge and repay every person according to ways and deeds. Those who flatter themselves that He is not exact to punish are warned, while He will never leave nor forsake His own. His patience with persistent rebellion does not leave iniquity unpunished but bears long with resistance and surely judges it, and disobedient parents teach their children to rebel and lead them from covenant blessing, though parents and children are each accountable for their own idolatry and transgression.

In commanding the utter destruction of the Amalekites and in the divine edict devoting the enemies of God to utter destruction He remains merciful and gracious, slow to anger and full of goodness and truth, taking no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Destruction is His strange work, and His longsuffering does not set aside just punishment of persistent, defiant rebellion. The edict is therefore just and consistent with His mercy.

Christ Reveals the Father

The One who passed before Moses and proclaimed merciful and gracious, patient and abundant in goodness and truth was Christ Himself revealing His own character in answer to the prayer to see glory. That goodness is glory and character and name, and those same qualities describe Jesus who receives people as they are, holds firmly those bought by His blood, and is the sure hope of those who cling to Him. The declaration sets forth both who He is and the principles on which He acts as Lawgiver. His sinless life revealed the Father as He truly is, rich in goodness, mercy and compassion. That same character and glory He gives to believers, willing to impart it so that with Christ in them and the Father in Christ they may be made perfect in oneness as Father and Son are one, that the world may know the Father sent Christ and loves them as He loved Christ.

The proclamation gives the meaning of God's name and places the Father in a correct light, so that knowing Him is eternal life. It disproves Satan's charges that God is severe and tyrannical, exacting, overbearing and condemnatory, without pity, having the attributes of evil, and the author of suffering, misery and death, showing those to be Satan's own character arousing enmity and prejudice against God. It corrects in strongest and most tender language the obscuring by Satan and the misrepresentation by religious teachers. His heart yearns over man with a parent's tender solicitude for an erring child, drawing sinners by strong cords of love expressed in rich promises, dwelling in unapproachable light yet full of love and goodness. The right response is worship and pleading for His pardoning presence to go among His people and take them for His inheritance, with doubting and trembling sinners giving glory to God, trusting Jesus lives to intercede, and thanking God for the gift of His Son who did not die in vain.

The character declared is also revealed through the atonement, for God gave His Son to die for fallen humanity. The death of the Son reveals love and the cross shows sin is not chargeable to His government, demonstrating that neither arbitrary withdrawal of grace nor any defect in divine government caused sin or rebellion, but that it arose from Lucifer's chosen course. Christ came as the Messenger of Jehovah to make the Father known, His whole life to His final sacrifice a revelation of God, with Calvary itself proclaiming the Father. There mercy and truth meet and righteousness and peace are joined, and the repentant sinner is received with forgiving compassion without taunting or reproach. Christ took humanity so the light and radiance of divine love would not extinguish man, sweeping back the darkness that intercepted the bright rays of mercy and love from God to man, and His self-sacrificing love in leaving the royal court to die for a cursed world displays God's glory as the law of life for earth and heaven, with every doctrine of grace, promise of joy, deed of love and divine attraction having its source in the Father and inviting the love and confidence of the world to center in Him.

That same Father's character, long-suffering, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and full of goodness, truth and paternal love, was revealed by the Son come from heaven in direct opposition to Satan's misrepresentations. He sowed the world with truth, showing strictest adherence to ceremony and form cannot save because the kingdom of God is spiritual in nature. He revealed it by declaring the Father so loved the world that He gave His only Son for everlasting life, and by urging prayer, repentance, confession and abandonment of sin. He taught honesty, forbearance, patience, mercy, compassion and love not only for friends but for enemies and those who hate and mistreat, as expression of the Father's own character, that men might worship Him in spirit and in truth. Those who accept this teaching come under the guardian care of angels commissioned to strengthen and enlighten them, so truth may renew and sanctify the soul.

Law and Human Pattern

Exodus 34:6 reveals God's glorious ideal of character as the pattern for Israel, whom He desired to make His dwelling-place, shown in the mount when the law was given from Sinai. That character of mercy, grace, patience, goodness and truth is the pattern and standard that those who love and serve God are to receive, with human life given so that people may be restored to this perfection and prepared for salvation. The sanctuary's pattern points to this same ideal of character proclaimed to Moses at Sinai.

The ideal is powerless for people to attain in themselves, and its revelation can only impress need and helplessness. It points to pardon of sin and power through the Saviour for obedience unto life.

The law is a transcript of His character, which is love, embodying its principles, so knowing God through this revelation is necessary for keeping His law. Faithful obedience to God's law would have honored Him and revealed His purity and holiness to the nations, showing them this character, with duties proportionate to privileges and the light received.

Fathers and mothers in Israel were to keep these words in their own hearts and teach them diligently to their children continually, in the house and by the way, at lying down and rising up. This teaching was never to be dry theory or mere theory, for only those who practice its principles and reflect God's character in uprightness, nobility, and unselfishness of life can impress others with truth.

Knowing the true God as Creator and Ruler is bound to honoring His seventh-day Sabbath, for its observance is a sign of loyalty that joins people to their Creator, while rejecting it dishonors His commandment and misrepresents His character. The verse calls for keeping His Ten Commandments, especially His sanctified Sabbath, the seventh day as declared in His Word, as a jealous God, leaving no excuse for keeping the first day of the week.

This revelation of divine character as merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth is the great Center of attraction, Jesus Christ, and must be made prominent and not left out or made secondary to theories and arguments when presenting the Sabbath of the fourth commandment in the third angel's message. It is one of the wondrous things to be seen in God's law, just as the glory of Christ is seen by beholding His character.

As sin is purged from the heart, the knowledge of God's glory in Jesus becomes clearer, illuminating Scripture and reflected in nature and in the face of Jesus Christ, so that God's character is seen more fully. His goodness and forbearance are precious rays of His glory, answering the desire to know God more fully, and seeing this character in Christ draws people to Him. This growing knowledge transforms the mind, heart, and soul into the image of God's holiness, changing the beholder from character to character into the same image, which character was represented in Jesus' life and into which believers are changed.

Worship Praise and Prayer

The glory proclaimed is goodness itself, the character and name of the Lord as merciful and gracious, patient and longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty. When Moses comprehended that character he bowed in worship, and the same comprehension still leads to making haste to bow in adoration, praise, and worship. These qualities give reason for continual praise and thanksgiving, present in the heart and spoken aloud. Christ came to declare this same name of the Father, that the love wherewith the Father loved Him may be in His children and they may impart the knowledge of God to others.

The Lord's name expresses His character as merciful and gracious, patient, rich in goodness and truth, and forgiving of sin. Those who belong to God bear His name as children bear a father's name, so hallowing it means more than speaking it reverently, requiring that their lives not dishonor the character it represents. Treating others with hardness of heart presents God falsely and dishonors His name, for He is full of compassion, loving-kindness, and abundant mercy.

This proclamation was God's answer to the prayer, Show me Thy glory, and believers are to pray it every day with earnest soul-hunger. It is the glory of God to be merciful, full of forbearance, kindness, goodness, and truth, and the justice shown in punishing the sinner is as truly His glory as the manifestation of His mercy. Those who bear responsibilities are to pray as Moses did for this revelation, asking for God's presence to go with them and for a sight of His glory, uniting in fasting and prayer, making known their troubles to God, and asking for the wisdom promised liberally and for a revelation of His character. The soul is to fasten upon God in living faith, the tongue to speak His praise, and the mind to be turned to the contemplation of eternal realities, and when the will is in harmony with the divine will, those who contemplate His character will be in harmony with one another, with Christ by their side as counselor.

Those He has called out of darkness into marvelous light are not left as sad and discouraged orphans, for God as God and Ruler may also be known by the endearing name of Father, full of love and peace, hope and joy, goodness, loving-kindness, patience, compassion, and long-forbearance. They meditate on His character in their hearts, express it in their countenances, sing the praises of His holy name with their lips, tell of His goodness with their lives, and show forth His praises. He is to be fully trusted and praised for goodness and mercy and longsuffering and compassion, and in the short time when His Spirit is being withdrawn and danger and suffering are coming, putting whole trust in Him and praising Him for these traits brings a sight of His salvation.

Knowing God as truthful, just, merciful, loving, compassionate, patient, and longsuffering, attributes of His character and throne represented in Christ, is worshiping the true God. Holding a false idea of His character is a form of idolatry. His character is also the pattern His followers are to imitate.

Reflecting God to Others

Exodus 34:6 is God's own proclamation of His name and character as merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin while by no means clearing the guilty, and it was given in answer to Moses' prayer to see His glory when He made all His goodness pass before him, so that His goodness is His glory. God's people and their institutions are to study this revelation and receive it as the pattern and standard, since human life is given that men may be restored to this perfection and prepared for salvation, and God's law reflects and demonstrates it as perfect to convert the soul. They are in every place to bear decided testimony for present truth by representing that same character to the world in purity of character and holiness of life, in mercy and loving-kindness and compassion and kindness and patience, bringing heaven's atmosphere into families and associations and restoring in men the moral image of God. These qualities were revealed to Moses so Israel could proclaim them and represent them, leaving men without excuse, yet Israel's pride and stubbornness and defense of error, injustice, and sin misrepresented the character revealed.

Leaders and those in councils and business must manifest a different spirit after that character, with meekness and not pomposity, acting as Christian gentlemen who represent Christ in integrity and purity and holiness and in just and merciful dealing, shining not with sparks of their own kindling but with the light of the Sun of Righteousness and holding firm confidence in God to the end with lifelong persevering effort. Christians must represent that character in spirit and temper and deportment and in every business transaction, inspiring confidence in their piety and admiration for their principles in order to do good to those connected with them, and men in responsible positions must cultivate the love Christ commands toward one another as He has loved. Stern, iron-hearted, cold, unloving conduct and harsh, oppressive rule and domination prove no connection with Christ, misrepresent God's parental goodness, mercy, and love proclaimed to Moses, and turn people away from Him. Human rules that force people to comply can override sympathy and compassion and obscure mercy, justice, and God's love.

The character and presence proclaimed must be with workers in all their labors, including doctors, nurses, and helpers, for the Lord is merciful and compassionate, gracious and kind, patient and full of goodness and truth. He is strength for men who in human strength are liable to err in judgment, so that taking hold of His strength and making peace with Him brings wise counselors who refuse propositions not in harmony with the will of God, who will not make things appear as they are not, and who will abide by principles that will stand His test. Making straight paths for the feet under this mercy secures one's own soul's salvation and saves other souls from following in false ways. Their mission is the same as Christ's, who went about doing good and healing the sick, laboring both for health of body and saving of soul. He has not abandoned the guilty, disobedient race, but His long-suffering and abundance in goodness and truth mean His invitation of mercy is still sounding so the sick and suffering may come to Him and find life, and through His workers He presents that life to the sick as leaves from the tree of life.

That very love circulating in the character of God is to be imparted to the children of God and reproduced in them and repeated by them to the world, in loving God with the whole heart and loving neighbor as self, keeping the first four precepts of supreme love to God and the last six of duty to fellow men, putting away coarseness and harshness in families and relationships. Where that love is missing the candlestick will be removed. To profess to be engaged in God's service while dishonoring God by misrepresenting His service as gloomy and hard denies this declaration of who He is. Knowing God as He truly is, good and compassionate and forgiving transgressions and sins, replaces the mistaken view of Him as a hard master, casts away unbelief, and grows perfect faith with assurance and peace, for fear of God as harsh leads people to hide rather than use what He has entrusted to them.

Comfort for Sinners Sufferers

The verse is God's own precious assurance of His character, to be repeated to tempest-tossed souls oppressed with guilt and ready to sink into despair, in order to point them to Jesus who gave His life for them. It declares Him merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, even to the unworthy. Nothing is too hard for Him and no sin is too great for Him to pardon. Gracious means He does not deal according to human merit but in boundless goodness heals backslidings, forgives iniquities, and loves freely while yet sinners. Longsuffering means He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, and it grieves the heart of Jesus when so many refuse His mercy and matchless love. As the Light of the world shines, its divine rays are to be absorbed and let shine upon others in good works, so many souls are led to glorify the Father in heaven.

Its words are a precious promise and declaration of love to be taken personally, grasped by faith and rested in to give calm rest without fear, consolation and holy joy, sweet communion and talking with God, feeding on Christ, and breathing the atmosphere of heaven even in sleeplessness, fever, pain and suffering. They are to be known, viewed in close light and pondered for richness and meaning, and trusted because spoken by One of unsearchable riches and unspeakable love, sought not as momentary flashes of heavenly light but as continual spiritual illumination. Its promises are unfailing and always verified, not one good thing failing of all He has promised. His mercies are sure and His covenant everlasting, and they are precious promises to fasten upon in feebleness and sickness. Men may fail and break promises, but God never forgets, nothing is too hard for the Lord to do, and He will help in great need. Sinners are to look not to merit but to His boundless goodness, for He is God, the compassionate Redeemer who heals, and He is to be trusted.

Its promises belong only to God's children on condition of obedience, with right to appropriate them given only to those who keep His commandments, not to the Lord's enemies. This character of goodness and graciousness and full mercy and compassion and tender, pitying love is known in helplessness and suffering, where His sustaining grace preserves and upholds. There He keeps eyesight, memory, and a clear and active mind to see the beauty and preciousness of truth, gives comforting and strengthening meditation on how much worse the condition would be without Him, fills the soul and lips with His praise, and makes suffering welcome when accompanied by such grace. He has not abandoned the guilty, disobedient race. His long-suffering and abundance in goodness and truth mean His invitation of mercy is still sounding, so the sick and suffering may come to Him and find life. Through His workers He presents that life to the sick as leaves from the tree of life. His being merciful, kind, forbearing, and longsuffering preserves people from perishing in their perversity.

God is revealed as gracious and longsuffering, abundant in mercy, compassionate, forgiving, loving and patient, when a sinner seeing the cross and recognizing need for a sin-pardoning Saviour cries out for help. The weary and sorrowing can then find rest, peace, and consolation in Him. He as gracious Lord pardons all transgressions, even when a person has made many past mistakes in taking up business enterprises and entering into worldly, money-making schemes. His goodness and mercy and compassion toward His people is to be realized and followed by pressing on to know the Lord whose going forth is prepared as the morning, producing a pure and undefiled religion and a connection with God in which He acknowledges His people, which Christ coming down from heaven and becoming a little child was meant to secure.