The Merciful God: How God Shows Compassion and Forgiveness in Deuteronomy

The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Torah, the first section of the Hebrew Bible. It contains the speeches of Moses to the new generation of Israelites before they enter the promised land of Canaan. In these speeches, Moses reminds the people of God’s actions in the past, his laws for the present, and his promises for the future. One of the main themes of Deuteronomy is the character of God, who he is and what he does. In this article, we will explore some of the attributes and characteristics of God that are revealed in the Book of Deuteronomy. We will list them in numbered bullet points, with a one-word description of each attribute, followed by the verse number and a brief explanation.

1. Sovereign: God is the Lord of all, who controls everything in heaven and on earth. (Deut. 4:39) He is the one who brought Israel out of Egypt, who gave them the land of Canaan, and who will judge the nations. He is the only true God, and there is no other. (Deut. 6:4)
2. Jealous: God is a consuming fire, who does not tolerate any rivals or idols. (Deut. 4:24) He demands exclusive loyalty and devotion from his people, and he punishes those who break his covenant. He is also jealous for his name, his glory, and his reputation. (Deut. 28:58)
3. Merciful: God is a compassionate God, who does not abandon or destroy his people, even when they sin. (Deut. 4:31) He forgives their iniquities, heeds their prayers, and restores their fortunes. He is also merciful to the poor, the oppressed, and the foreigner. (Deut. 10:18)
4. Faithful: God is a reliable God, who keeps his covenant and his promises. (Deut. 7:9) He is faithful to his word, his oath, and his love. He remembers his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he fulfills it in their descendants. He is also faithful to his people, and he never leaves them nor forsakes them. (Deut. 31:6)
5. Righteous: God is a holy God, who is perfect in his justice and his morality. (Deut. 10:17) He is the standard of what is good and right, and he commands his people to follow his laws and his ways. He is also righteous in his actions, and he rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. (Deut. 32:4)
6. Loving: God is a loving God, who cares for his people as a father cares for his children. (Deut. 1:31) He loves them with an everlasting love, and he shows them his grace and his kindness. He is also loving to the whole world, and he desires that all people should know him and be saved. (Deut. 10:15)

These are some of the attributes and characteristics of God that we can learn from the Book of Deuteronomy. They reveal to us the nature and the heart of God, who he is and what he does. They also challenge us to respond to him in faith, obedience, and love. As Moses said to the Israelites, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deut. 10:12-13) May we do the same, and may we grow in our knowledge and our relationship with God.