Day 2 of Tour Devos - God Is Compassionate and Just

This is a series of Devotions I wrote for our church’s high school choir tour. I hope they bless you!

God is Compassionate and Just

Before you start reading this devotion, pray to God, thanking Him for this day and the gift of life. Tell him about what you are experiencing. Thank Him for the gifts that He has given you. Then pray that God will help you be more aware of His presence in your life so you can be a better apprentice of Christ.

 Who is your favorite famous person?

If you were famous, what would you want to be famous for?

When I was in high school, I wanted to be a famous drummer. Drums were my life. It was everything to me. I loved being in a band, and I loved playing on Sunday mornings. My identity was completely tied to music and drums. I’m not good enough to be famous at drums, but that’s what I wanted.

 In the Old Testament, there are two verses that really stand out because they show God speaking clearly about who He is. These verses are so important, they are directly repeated or echoed 9 times. The verses are known in Jewish circles as the 13 attributes of God.

 If God wanted to be famous, this is what he would want to be famous for.

 Read Exodus 34:5-7

Write down the attributes you find.

 Cool right! The context of this verse is very important. God revealed his character and attributes to Moses on Mt. Saini. This was the second time that Moses went up to see God and learn about God’s Law. After the first time Moses got the 10 commandments, Moses went down to deliver them to the people, but the people got bored waiting for Moses and made an idol. They got tired of the real God who saved them from Egypt, and they made a golden calf.

 The second time Moses goes up the mountain, God shares what He wants people to know about Him. God is gracious and compassionate, and He is a God of Justice.

Thomas Aquinas, who was a Christian thinker in the 13th century, said that these verses are God’s “divine self-definition.” God explained who he is in a way that we humans can understand. God is completely gracious and completely just.

 Read Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8, Joel 2:13, and Nahum 1:3

 What do these verses tell us?

This is who God is. In fact, Israel knew this so well that this verse is used by Jonah as an excuse for why he didn’t want to go to Ninevah. He knew that God would forgive them, and that made Him so MAD!

 Read Jonah 4:1-3

 Jonah would rather die than see God forgive his enemies. That’s insane!

 Jonah had issues for sure. But Jonah teaches us something really important. God is who He says He is, and He doesn’t change. Ever.

 You can trust someone who never changes.

I will never be afraid

God is my rock

I will never be afraid

God is my salvation

Whom shall I fear? (No one)

No one can harm me

When the Lord God is near (No one)

God is my rock (God is my rock)

God is my rock
-From the Song My Rock

 I will stand on that. God is compassionate and gracious to you. He also doesn’t mess around. There is good and evil, and He will judge accordingly. He doesn’t waver. Who you are is completely based on who God is. He alone can hold you and be the foundation for your life. Because he is the only one who is solid enough to support the immense weight of your personhood and soul.

 God never changes. Rest on Him. For He is your rock.

 What attribute of God means the most to you?

 What do you struggle to remember about God?

 How will what you learned today help you build your life on God?

How can you live like God, being compassionate and gracious, and being a person of justice?