What does "consume them in wrath" reveal about God's justice and holiness? Setting the Verse in Context • Psalm 59 is David’s cry for deliverance from murderous enemies. • Verse 13 reads: “Consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more. Then they will know to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah.” • David appeals to God’s righteous character, trusting that the Lord will act exactly as His Word promises. Key Ideas Behind “Consume Them in Wrath” • Consume – total eradication, not a slap on the wrist. The Hebrew term pictures a fire finishing its fuel (cf. Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29). • In wrath – the settled, holy anger of God against sin (Nahum 1:2-3). Wrath is not capricious rage but the just response of a perfectly moral Judge. What This Phrase Reveals About God’s Justice • Justice is certain. “The LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Nahum 1:3). • Justice is proportionate. Wrath falls precisely upon those who persist in wickedness (Romans 1:18). • Justice is final. “Consume them till they are no more” points to complete, irreversible judgment, foreshadowing the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15). • Justice exalts God’s rule. The consuming judgment “lets them know…that God rules” (Psalm 59:13), upholding His throne before the watching world. What This Phrase Reveals About God’s Holiness • Holiness is absolute. “Your eyes are too pure to behold evil” (Habakkuk 1:13). Sin cannot survive in His presence; it must be consumed. • Holiness is active. God’s purity does not merely recoil from evil; it moves to eradicate it (Psalm 5:4-6). • Holiness and wrath are inseparable. Wrath is the expression of holiness when confronted with rebellion. • Holiness is uncompromising yet purposeful. Judgment serves a redemptive end—making God’s glory known “to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 59:13). Christ and the Consuming Wrath • At the cross, the same holy wrath fell on Jesus, our substitute, “to demonstrate His righteousness…so that He might be just and the one who justifies” (Romans 3:25-26). • Believers find shelter in Christ’s atoning work; the unrepentant will face the literal, consuming judgment pictured in Psalm 59. Why This Matters for Believers Today • Comfort: God sees every injustice and will make all things right. • Sobriety: Sin is never trivial. The Judge who “consumes” remains unchanged. • Worship: Understanding His blazing purity drives deeper awe and gratitude. • Evangelism: A real, coming judgment urges us to proclaim the gospel while mercy is still offered (2 Corinthians 5:11). |
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