Little Wrath And
Great Wrath
Isaiah 54:7-10
God's saints in this world are often
greatly tried and afflicted (II Cor. 4:17; James 1:2,3,12;
I Pet.1:67). It is not uncommon for believers to have in this life a far
greater amount of sorrow, adversity, and inward as well as outward turmoil than
the unbeliever. Job's accusers never knew the woes he endured (Job 1 and 2).
David's heart was almost overwhelmed when he thought of the temporal prosperity
of the wicked and sorrow of the righteous (Psa.73).In this world, Lazarus had
nothing but poverty,sickness, and sorrow, while the rich man knew nothing of
those things (Luke 16:19-31).
Our comfort in our trials is twofold: (1) We are assured that that which we suffer is by the hand of
our God and heavenly Father, and that it is as much a part of our heritage of
grace and as much a proof of our adoption as faith in Christ (Phil.
In Isaiah 54:7-10, the Lord God affirms
his grace and mercy to his people, even when our experience indicates his wrath
and displeasure. First, HE SPEAKS OF THE LITTLE WRATH OF DIVINE CHASTISEMENT
WHICH EVERY BELIEVER EXPERIENCES IN THIS WORLD (vv. 7-8). God will never
forsake his own, but he often appears to do so to teach us our need of him, to
teach us to trust him and not our feelings or experiences, and to draw out our
hearts to him in love (Song of Sol. 5:1-16; Lam. 3:1-24). Whenever we imagine
that we have been forsaken by our God, in reality the forsaking has been done
by us! But be assured, the trial will not last long, only a moment. The wrath
endured is only the little wrath of a father's love. The recompense of the
trial will be "great mercies". And the chastisement does not change,
but only proves our relationship with our God. Second, THE LORD DECLARES THAT
THE GREAT WRATH OF DIVINE PUNISHMENT, NO BELIEVER SHALL EVER EXPERIENCE,
NEITHER IN THIS WORLD NOR IN THE WORLD TO COME (vv. 9-10).
Don Fortner