Judgment and mercy

Memorial moment/Rev. Dr. Scott Murray (7.11.2011)



"The ultimate conjunction of mercy and judgment are in this Son who is God and Man". --- "The Lord who rains down the Lord rends the heavens and sends this Lord to be God-with-us through the overshadowing of the most High. Judgment and mercy are in the Lord from the Lord at the cross."






"Judgment and mercy are both in God. The Lord comes to Abraham to promise the messianic line. This same Lord, whom Moses has named man, also comes to bring word of judgment against Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18) and carry it out (Gn 19). The Lord who appears a man (Gn 18:2, 16) and makes the messianic promise is also the Lord who rains down sulfur and fire from the Lord (Gn 19:24). The Lord who appears a man and sends from the Lord is the one to whom Abraham bows down and whom he worships.

This self revelation of the Lord from the Lord pouring down is a sign of the holy Trinity. The Son of God appearing a man, yet without being incarnate. The Lord from the Lord sending the fire of judgment upon the depraved and unbelieving world. What had been promised in these words and signs to Abraham were fulfilled in the incarnation of Mary. Abraham saw the sign of the incarnation in the man who sat with him and broke bread with him. Abraham heard the word of the Messiah in the promise of the seed born of Sarah. This conjunction of life and death, destruction and salvation makes us profoundly uncomfortable. How can such opposites reside in the one God?

The ultimate conjunction of mercy and judgment are in this Son who is God and Man. For the deathly fire and sulfur of Sodom and Gomorrah passes over the holy hill upon which the Son is suspended before the judgment of God. Sodom's sulfur is burned out by its passing upon Him. Gomorrah's fire is extinguished in the pools of His blood. The one who only appeared in the Old Testament is in flesh of Mary. The one who was promised in word, now becomes the Word who dwelt with us. The Lord who rains down the Lord rends the heavens and sends this Lord to be God-with-us through the overshadowing of the most High. Judgment and mercy are in the Lord from the Lord at the cross."




Photo: Julia L. (Fireworks)