"The LORD is a Man of war; the LORD is His name. . . . You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed." (ESV)
Note how God's warrior nature, and His love nature are not at all at odds with one another. In fact, if God was *not* a "Man of war," He could not be the God of love. God goes to war with our sins and His church's enemies; and, in so doing, He expresses His affection for the objects of His redemption.
Let us cast off all sophomoric notions of God, that would make Him a crotchety figure in heaven, hoping we would do something right, for once. Instead, let us view Him in His true colors, even as the Word of God reveals Him: as a God who punishes all sin; and yet cherishes many sinners.
[Puritan quote of the day: "We need to understand that when we come to hear the Word, we come to hear that which has so much life in it that every sermon we hear we must expect to be nearer heaven or nearer hell." --Jeremiah Burroughs, in, "Gospel Fear"]
