God Is More Willing to Pardon Than We Are to Sin
The Surprising Truth About Divine Wrath and Love: Episode 13 - Psalm 103:8 "From Dust to Eternity".
The Great Physician is more ready to cure than we are to sin.
— Catherine of Siena
We often imagine God’s wrath and love as opposing forces—one to fear and the other to embrace. But what if they aren’t opposites at all? What if, instead, they reveal the same unchanging character of a God who corrects us because He loves us?
When Catherine of Siena wrote the words above in a letter in the 14 century, she revealed a truth that could change our understanding of God.
In Psalm 103, King David reflects on the same tension with stunning clarity. He paints a picture of a God whose anger is brief but whose love endures forever—a God who disciplines us not out of cruelty but out of a relentless desire to restore us.
Any parent who has sent a child to “Time-Out” understands this, but as we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest verse nine in our series “From Dust to Eternity”, we see it applies to our relationship with God.
(For those new to this series, King David wrote Psalm 103. It’s the only Psalm where he’s talking to himself as if looking in a mirror and describing God’s character and the blessings that come to believers. In our verse-by-verse study, we’ve explored God’s traits and the rewards that come to those who trust Him. To read the rest of the episodes, search “Psalm 103” on my Substack or check out the section in our LeaderWorks newsletter. Don’t forget to subscribe for more Bible studies and other helpful commentary!)
A Quick Recap of Psalm 103:1-8
King David, the poet and monarch of Israel (c.1000 BC) months, wrote Psalm 103 as if speaking to himself in a mirror. Let’s back up and see where we come from.
Here is the Psalm 103:1-9. (There are a total of 22 verses.)
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever."
In this episode, we are focused on verse nine. “He will not always chide, now will he keep his anger forever.” Let's look into this evermore beautiful masterpiece of the poet-king.
A Hard Word
In the text, "Chide" translates the Hebrew word "rib," meaning to contend, strive, or bring a legal case against someone. It's the language of confrontation or correction.
The King James Version of this verse also uses the word ‘chide,’ which sounds beautifully antique. It is a hard word but not a harsh one. Chide is not a full-blown rage or destructive anger. To chide someone is to get on their case without getting in their face.
God does indeed correct His people—we see this throughout Scripture. But David assures us this isn't God's constant or permanent stance toward us.
Make no mistake: God's anger is real. The Bible often speaks of God's wrath against sin and injustice. But again, David tells us this anger is not eternal or unrelenting. It has a limit, an endpoint.
God’s Settled Position Is For Us
Verse 9 is a powerful statement about God's ultimate disposition toward us. Yes, He corrects. Yes, He is angered by sin. But His default position, His eternal stance, is one of love and lovingkindness. Paul said it in Romans:
If God is for us, who can be against us? —Romans 8:31
Think about what this means: God's correction is temporary, but His love is permanent. His anger passes, but His mercy endures. This is extraordinarily good news!
Think deeply about the quote from St. Catherine: that the Great Physician is more willing to cure than we are to sin. When we forget about God and temporarily leave our faith behind, sin comes easily to us. We are eager to sin. It’s all we think about. As some might say, we don’t fall into sin; we leap into it!
But even then, according to Catherine and King David, God’s position toward us is to love us. He may chide us—indeed, he should—but he is more than willing to cure us. We may need to suffer the consequences of our sins—indeed, we have—but God will never forsake or abandon us.
David’s phrase reminds us of what is said in Isaiah 54:8: "In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you."
His anger is momentary; His kindness is everlasting. God’s correction is temporary, while His love and mercy are enduring.
The First Breakfast
In the Gospel of John, we see this dynamic play out after the Holy Week debacle. The disciples, particularly Peter, had denied Jesus and fled. They had betrayed their Lord and friend. We can imagine how they must have felt when they learned that only Mary and John had stood with Him and that only Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were there to carry his lifeless body to the tomb.
Their betrayal was vast.
We are told they all decided to go fishing and off they went. Having caught nothing through the night, they are told to cast their nets on the other side for a huge catch. That’s when Peter sees it is the Lord and splashed onto the shore to find him. And he saw something on the shore that surely stung him. Jesus was warming himself by a fire—like Peter had stood by only days earlier and denied he even knew Him.
Peter is returning to the scene of his crime. And it is there, one by one, sin by sin, that Jesus reverses the curse of guilt and shame. “Do you love me?” “Do you love me?” “Do you love me?” Three betrayals deserve three reversals.
It is a moment of forgiveness and healing customized for the impulsive Peter. Jesus set up the conditions for Peter’s forgiveness and restoration. As David wrote, “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
St. Augustine (d. 430 AD), a famous Doctor of the Church, emphasized the enduring nature of God’s love with the remarkable words,
“God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”
This truth balances our understanding of God. He's not an indulgent grandfather figure who never corrects, nor is He a harsh taskmaster who's always angry. He's a loving Father who corrects when necessary but whose fundamental orientation toward us is love.
Your Mirror Moment
Remember that David is speaking to himself in Psalm 103. The entire psalm is directed to himself. It is not a prayer to God. It is about God, but the psalm is spoken to himself as if he stood in front of a mirror. (They had polished bronze mirrors in the ancient world, and the King of Israel undoubtedly possessed one.)
In these essays, occasionally, I have suggested an exercise to drive the point home. So now, it's time for another "Mirror Moment.” Stand in front of your mirror. Be sure you are alone. Look yourself in the eye. Say these words:
"[Your Name], pay attention. The God you serve does discipline, and He does get angry at sin. When you are experiencing His correction, take it seriously. But never forget this: His correction is temporary, and His anger eases. It passes. His love, His grace, His mercy—these are forever. Don't despair in times of discipline. Don't lose hope when you've sinned. Repent, yes, but rest assured that God's anger doesn't last forever. His love does.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, who will not always chide nor keep His anger toward me forever!"
This truth can reshape how we live during difficult times. When we face hardships or feel the sting of conviction over our sins, we can remember that these experiences, however painful, are temporary.
God's love and acceptance of us in Christ is the permanent reality.
AS WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY through Psalm 103, we'll see more expressions of God's incredible love. But for now, let's rest in this comforting truth: even when God corrects us, it's always in the context of His unfailing love.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, who will not always chide, nor keep His anger forever! —Psalm 103:9
The Rev. David Roseberry, an ordained Anglican priest with over 40 years of pastoral experience, offers leadership services to pastors, churches, and Christian writers. He is an accomplished author whose books are available on Amazon. Rev. Roseberry is the Executive Director of LeaderWorks, where his work and resources can be found.