This year I've gained an affinity for the Old Testament. I have discovered the beauty in God's relentless pursuance of His people all the while they (us) toss Him to the side, infatuated by their (our) earthly gods.
I started studying Isaiah a couple weeks ago, and God is showing me a clear relationship between His judgment and His compassion.
God's chosen people - the tribe of Judah, the house of Jacob, Israel - continually forgot His promises and turned to their earthly gods. (Read through Judges, Joshua, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Hosea, to name a few). They abandoned the Lord for short-term pleasures, and this disease-like pattern of living spread like wildfire throughout the land.
In order to be washed as white as snow {Isaiah 1:18}, His people needed to be purified. We always struggle with God's methods of purification. When we think of the Lord as good, we think of our definition of goodness, and it is similar to nonmaleficence - doing no harm. We need to be reminded that His ways are not our ways {Isaiah 55:8-9}, therefore His goodness is different than what we think and define as good. God restores His people to better versions of themselves (ourselves). He does so by justice {Isaiah 1:27}. It would not be just to let people continually walk in sin with a complete disregard for the Lord.
This is exactly what happened to Israel.
He brought their enemies against them, bringing Israel to destruction. He showed this people, once again, that their need for Him was greater than their need for anything else. They could not gain security by following the ways of the kings that held a position of earthly power - He is the giver of security.
His now oppressed people were crying out to Him again, and He heard their cries. God is just; He will not let His people sit in oppression and destruction because He has CHOSEN them {Isaiah 14:1}.
In Isaiah chapter 13, the Lord brings a vision to Isaiah about the future destruction of Babylon and the Babylonian king. Destroying Babylon would be an act of compassion on His people, because Babylon was a great enemy of the people of Judah. By giving Isaiah the vision of the future destruction of Babylon to share with the remnant of Israel, the Lord showed His compassion on His chosen people.
Out of judgement comes compassion.
One thing I love about this story is that God gives His people a taunt against the king of Babylon. "When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon" {Isaiah 14:3-4}. In this taunt against Babylon, the Lord shows Israel what their world will be like after their pain and turmoil ceases: "The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing" {Isaiah 14:7}. Oh, how I am sure Isaiah and the people of Israel longed for that rest and quiet.
I find myself so similar to the people of Israel. I forget my God and cling to my gods. I find myself wanting nothing more than to have earthly security - like financial security, the adoration of my classmates or coworkers, the grades and job I want, etc. - but I need to be reminded that by doing this, I forsake Jesus. And similarly to the people of Israel, I need to be pruned, purified, and washed clean. I need the Lord, in His justice, to break me down and get rid of the evil in my heart.
And because the Lord is the same throughout all eternity {Hebrews 13:8}, I know that He will bring a time of rest and quiet for my heart, just like He brought this to the people of Israel.
Our God is good. Out of His judgment comes compassion.
"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice" {Psalm 51:8}.
