My Hiding Place

Psalm 32:7

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

...............

Sometimes I hear people talking about their "life verse" - a passage of scripture that has been the theme of their life, or perhaps gives them a perpetual sense of motivation and purpose. I have heard people use the Golden Rule of Matthew 7, or the Great Commission of Matthew 28, or perhaps some quote from Paul that talks about God's calling in their lives. Jesus himself often summarized his life and ministry in one verse sayings, like "I have come to seek and save the lost" or "the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you may have abundant life."

This verse from Psalm 32 has been about the closest in my experience to a "life verse." It has followed me through several seasons of life and never fails to comfort and recenter my view of life and understanding of God's love.

The first season where this verse met me was in college. I was studying Hebrew in a mostly nonreligious Religion department (yes, I said that right). I translated this passage from the Hebrew and was drawn into the beauty of this psalm by the hidden rhyme found in this verse, which does not carry over in the English translation:

Atah seter li
Mitzar titz-raini
Ra-ney fallet tisovivani

I enjoyed this verse so much that I painted the Hebrew words on the wall of my small apartment bedroom. I wanted to be reminded that God's love and protection were always around me, that God himself was my hiding place.

The second season where this verse appeared in my life was in seminary. The last phrase of the verse includes the word "shouts" but this can also be translated "songs." I had always loved music, grew up playing my dad's guitars, and from early in my christian life helped to lead others in youth groups to worship in song. The idea that God the creator was singing over me and that this was part of his deliverance was very comforting.

This comfort took on new meaning in seminary when I met a lovely young lady who shared my love for music, worship, ministry, and all things beautiful. Her name was Donna, and when we started dating, it was just before Christmas, which put me in the fun position of finding a present for her that was special but not TOO special. I decided to make a framed picture montage with snapshots of our brief time together. In the center was one simple verse of scripture, written in Hebrew - Psalm 32:7.

This verse would continue to comfort and remind me and Donna in the coming years of God's song of deliverance, through times of both joy and sorrow. The frame still hangs in our living room to this day.

Today, I was driving to work, feeling particularly tired and discouraged. I have every reason to rejoice: a family that loves me unconditionally, a job I enjoy with an upcoming promotion, a Savior who forgives and provides. But my fears and self-hatred often overwhelm these obvious realities. So, like I've done hundreds of times, I put Andrew Peterson on the stereo and proceeded to sing my heart out, crying tears of joy and gratitude as I preached the words of God's grace to myself yet again. 

These are words that I will never fail to need reminding of. They are God's song of deliverance to me, and I hope to continue singing these words and others like them for many seasons to come:

High noon in the valley of the shadow
When the deep of the valley was bright
When the mouth of the tomb
Shouted, "Glory, the Groom is alive" 

So long, you wages of sin
Go on, don't you come back again
I've been raised and redeemed 

You've lost all your sting
To the victor of the battle
At high noon in the valley
In the valley of the shadow

Spheres of Authority

Luke 20:19-26

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" They said, "Caesar's." He said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent. 

...............

If Jesus had a Facebook account, this would have been the perfect moment for him to post a pithy political argument or lambast the government of his day. If Luke, the reporter here, had an axe to grind against the first century Roman authority, this would have been a great time to strike out against the heathen state. But, they didn't. In fact, the New Testament here and throughout is strangely devoid of political commentary, choosing rather to respect and honor the pagan state in multiple passages.

In Luke 20, the religious leaders were salivating over their own cleverness: they had devised the perfect unanswerable question, which, in their minds, had only two damnable responses.

"Should believers pay taxes to an ungodly government?"

Response 1: Yes, because the government has authority over religious institutions - the government is the de facto highest human authority. 

Now, you and I know that Jesus would never say this. But, the leaders would have jumped on any affirmative response as an affirmation of a heathen king, which would call Jesus' loyalty to God into question. Any association with Caesar would be a repudiation of Jesus and his ministry.

Response 2: No, because religious institutions have the ultimate authority over human government - the temple or church is the highest authority.

Again, Jesus would never say that, but again, any answer in the negative would have been twisted into an insurrectionist claim. The religious leaders would have their immediate open door to turn Jesus over to the Romans and see him finally dealt with.

These two answers represent the typical confusion over spheres of authority in every generation, whether the first century or the 21st. To demand that either the church or the state have final authority is a basic misunderstanding of how the world has been structured by God to function in various spheres. 

The Bible describes at least three spheres or categories of human authority: the family, the church, and the state. There are two main ways to understand the relationship between these spheres:

1. Sphere Subsidiarity

2. Sphere Sovereignty

The first option is the narrow view of the Jewish leaders in Jesus' day, who could only conceive of one overriding human institution which must have authority over all others. This view has prevailed at various times in human history, notably in the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic Church exercised immense political authority, enforced religious practice with state power, and fundamentally undermined the essence of the good news of Christ by replacing the message of reconciliation with the sword of government coercion.

The second option for how to understand the spheres is to see each as independently sovereign in their own area of influence. In this model, one person could hold positions of authority in multiple spheres, but would exercise that authority differently in each. A man could have authority in his family by leading his wife and children with servant-hearted decision making (Eph 5:22-6:4), while equipping and guiding his church as an elder and shepherd (Eph 4:1-5:21), while simultaneously serving God as a faithful employer or civic leader (Eph 6:5-9).

Notice that God alone is the ultimate authority in ALL these spheres (Matt. 28:18-20), so each of these are truly spiritual and sacred in essence. What humans accomplish in these spheres is truly worship and service to him, which undercuts anyone who might think their particular church or state position of authority makes them more pleasing or valuable in God's kingdom.

So, how can we apply this concept of sphere sovereignty today? Notice how Jesus replies to the religious leaders: 

Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

Jesus is not implying that God and Caesar are separate but equal authorities. What he is stating here is that the temple and Caesar are separate and valid authorities, each with its own influence and jurisdiction. God is over them both, but the temple or church has no business exerting authority over state taxes. Again, God informs people in his word on how we should function in community under human government, but he did not create His church as an institution to make decisions in that sphere. In other words, I can be a Christian serving God in paying my taxes, serving in the military (Luke 3:10-14), or respecting and praying for my nation and even honoring and submitting to its ungodly leaders (1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Tim 2:1-7; Rom 13:1-7). There will be times when my Spirit-informed conscience cannot allow me to obey a certain law or regulation, but these will be exceptions to the rule. Even in these cases, we have glorious examples in history to help us navigate the times when spheres of authority overlap and conflict:

-Martin Luther and other 16th Century reformers refused to submit to Catholic political authority when the gospel itself was in jeopardy.  These men put God's Word in the common language and reaffirmed the sacredness of family and work, often at great expense to their own lives. We enjoy great freedom today thanks to the price they paid.

-Roger Williams, John Leland, and other early Americans carried the reformation to the next level by influencing leaders at a moment in history when a new nation was being formed and religious liberty could be written into the fabric of our constitution and our national conscience.

-William Wilberforce saw his position of state authority as a sacred trust and led a lifetime quest to end slavery in Britain, serving God by using government authority to extend love and justice to those made in God's image, regardless of race or color.

-Eric Liddell delayed a call to missions because he knew God had called him to Olympic track running. His refusal to run in an Olympic event on a Sunday was how he put God's authority over that of the state, declining the king's direct request with respect and dignity. God honored his choice and he went on to be a sports legend and eventually gave his life in the mission field.

-Deitreich Bonhoeffer, as a last resort in a desperate time, practiced civil disobedience by conspiring to overthrow the vile Nazi regime in Germany. He was arrested and executed for his attempts, but he is remembered for his prophetic voice and courageous stand against a thoroughly corrupt and unjust state.

Notice how each time and place may require a different approach. At times, we can strive to further God's kingdom within our government through activism, influence, or holding office. At other times, a government authority may be so corrupt and antithetical to a godly moral order that Christians may be called to physically fight for freedom and justice, though not at the direction of a religious authority or institution.

The complexity and nuances of sphere sovereignty require sensitivity and discernment. But the effort pays off in a comprehensive vision for the authority of Jesus in all things, the sacredness of every human endeavor, and the absolute necessity for each sphere of life to function independently of the authority of the other. I pray that each of us learn, not to trap each other in power plays between spheres of authority, like the religious leaders attempted with Jesus, but to render to the family what is the family's, to the church what is the church's, and to the state what is the state's - all under the good and ultimate authority of God alone.

The Weeping King

Luke 19:37, 38, 41

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives— the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it...

...............

What are things that make me weep?

Exhaustion, weariness, frustrated plans, shame over my own sin, sympathy for a friend who is painfully sick or mourning the loss of family. These are all fitting things to weep over.  But, how frequently do I weep for the spiritual condition of my city? For the blindness that causes people to curse God or simply ignore his kindness in their lives.

Why does a king weep?

In Luke 19, Jesus enters Jerusalem with a throng of supporters declaring his coming kingship. Luke describes this crowd by citing their eager expectation of an immediate political regime change (19:11). We then see the symbols of the donkey and the palm branches, traditional elements of coronation ceremonies in that culture. And the Pharisees demand that Jesus put a stop to what they see as treason and blasphemy and insurrection! But Jesus accepts the adoration, for it is perfectly fitting - a foretaste of his eventual exaltation.

Eventual.

In the meantime, he must face the cross and death and the penalty of mankind's sin - all for a wicked, ungrateful, and blind generation. That's enough to make a king weep, which is exactly what he proceeds to do.

He weeps for one reason: their judgment is coming, and they are too blind to see that he himself is the way of escape. The time of his visitation is arrived, but they bicker and quarrel. The Creator himself has come down and revealed the beauty and power of heaven! And they sell animals in the temple for a quick profit. The pathway to peace is among them, but they choose strife, pride, envy, greed, and violent abuse of enemy and friend alike. 

Jesus weeps for them, even as they stand rightly condemned before his holiness and authority. The king has come down from his throne to die like a lamb for those who barely pay attention or notice.

Do I weep for those not worthy of tears? If not, then do I really know the heart of God?

Redeemed!

Psalms 31:1-5

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; 

let me never be put to shame; 

in your righteousness deliver me! 

Incline your ear to me; 

rescue me speedily! 

Be a rock of refuge for me, 

a strong fortress to save me! 

For you are my rock and my fortress; 

and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; 

you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, 

for you are my refuge. 

Into your hand I commit my spirit; 

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 

...............

Daily life can be a battle.

The enemies are without and within. When I wake up each day, there are troubles and temptations waiting for me. Every hunger, every discomfort, every annoyance, every complaint, every broken plan or broken promise, every desire for something more, something better, every opportunity to speak poorly of a co-worker or think negatively of my dearest friends & family, every chance to blame others and play the victim - the day holds these enemies in store for me.

But I have two secrets that can keep me safe from these enemies. 

One, I know the war exists - I am not resigned to fall into these pits and despair of life itself. I know there is more. I know I can see victory and joy even in the midst of all this. 

Second, I do not fight alone. I have a partner, a fellow soldier, a friend in this battle, a rescuer and redeemer who is both willing and perfectly able to protect and restore me. He is faithful, and I can commit my life into his trustworthy hands and know that my path is sure. I will look to him and cry out to him and he will hear me in my distress. He cares for every detail and listens to even my trite and trivial fears.

He helps me see how worthless are the idols which clamor for my attention. He replaces them with himself and meets the deepest desire of my heart.

When Jesus hung on the cross, his last breath was used to quote this psalm:

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (Luke 23:44-47)

This quote from Jesus could be easily overlooked. Short, and simply describing his acceptance of the end. But, when you see the context of Psalm 31, you realize that Jesus was making a bold claim of confidence in his Father, right in his darkest hour, when anyone else would have despaired and cursed God. 

The second half of verse 5 of the psalm says "You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God." Jesus' confidence in his redemption was so strong that he could use the present-tense to describe what was really a future reality. He was dying, drawing his last breath, but he was so sure of his "faithful God," so sure he would breathe again and rise from the tomb, that he could say "you have redeemed me."

I pray that I can walk in such confidence, knowing that he is faithful, that he will be with me in the daily battles against sin and death, and that my victory and resurrection are so certain that I need never worry or fear.

For, you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God, and I will walk in your faithfulness with a certainty and a hope that cannot be shaken. Amen.

Waiting for His Return

Luke 17:20-21

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

...............

Luke 17 includes an extending section answering the question of when and where the coming of the kingdom will take place. I'd like to walk through these verses and simply summarize what I think each verse is saying about Jesus' second coming. I am being intentionally simplistic, because I believe Jesus has revealed only a limited glimpse of what the end times will be like - but he's revealed enough that it should shape our life today:

1. Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (v 20-21)

- The kingdom has already come in some measure, quietly and unnoticed by most, even though it is right in our midst.

2. And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. (v 22)

- We will long for His return, but we may be waiting longer than expected. The delay may be painful, especially in the face of persecution.

3. And they will say to you, "Look, there!" or "Look, here!" Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. (v 23-24)

- Though already here in some aspects, it is also yet to come in its fullness; there will be false predictions and "over-realizations" of His coming throughout history, but we must keep a level head and sober mind at all times.

4. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. (v 25)

- The king and His kingdom are inaugurated through suffering; the nature of His rule will begin humbly and continue to be characterized not by might, but by servant hearts who walk in the way of the cross.

5. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (v 26-30)

- There will be a final judgment and mankind will be surprised when the black shadow of their sin is finally understood in contrast to the light of His holiness and glory.

6. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (v 31-33)

- Our understanding of the nature and progress of this kingdom should produce a present lifestyle characterized by a willingness to forgo earthly rights and possessions - a readiness to leave this world for the better world to come, and never look back.

7. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left." (v 34-35)

- Not everyone will be admitted to citizenship in this kingdom, and many will be surprised by who is who in the end. Though Jesus frequently reminded us of the ironic economy of "the first shall be last," each generation will largely fail to grasp this and fail to walk in the way of the cross.

8. And they said to him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." (v 37)

- There will be no singular location for the final revealing of the kingdom. Where the "corpse" is may simply describe the universal decay and corruption resulting from the fall of mankind into rebellion against God. The "vulture" may simply represent the coming judgment of God.

Matthew, Mark. and Luke each chronicle the closing days of Jesus' earthly ministry by highlighting these judgment sayings. Jesus clearly wanted to equip his disciples with hope of his coming and confidence in light of persecution and perceived delay. We too can take heart knowing that He will come, and that His kingdom already makes progress among us, even if quietly and unnoticed by most. Though many will be surprised by their fate, for those who walk in the way of the cross there is eager longing for "one of the days of the Son of Man" - when His presence and reign will make all things new! May this vision and hope be our own and sustain us until the day he comes again:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:1-8 ESV)

Faith in His Mercy

Luke 18:6-8

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 

...............

This chapter revolves around examples of true faith, and each example defines faith as utter dependence upon the mercy of almighty God.

1. The widow. The first example of the persistent widow connects faith and mercy explicitly. Jesus teaches that our God will surely hear the cries of his people for justice. But then he questions whether such cries are even happening - "will he find faith on earth?" We are called to be like the persistent widow, who proved her faith in God's mercy by the unrelenting nature of her prayers. She persevered to the end and saw the merciful character of God proved true.

The rub: Is my lack of prayer because I don't believe He is merciful? And does this weak faith result from ignoring his word and not dwelling on his kind heart, displayed at the cross?

2. The tax collector. Along with persistence, our faith in God's mercy must be accompanied by undeserving humility. The Pharisee made a list of his successes. But God was more impressed with the taxman who knew he deserved nothing before a holy God.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:13, 14)

The rub: Do I hope God will accept me for my list of good deeds, or because I simply have faith in his kindness toward the humble?

3. The children. The kids rushed to him, eager to see, hear, and touch this man who seemed to relate and sympathize with them in some unique way. The kids were often looked down upon in this culture, but Jesus saw them. He noticed them and paid attention to them. And Jesus defined true faith using the kids as his model and example: because they so unashamedly trusted him.

The rub: Do I come to him like a child, trusting he will accept me as I am?

4. The blind beggar. What if you had no possessions, no friends, no purpose, and no real hope that life will get any better? And no eyesight. You are blind. Then, you hear rumors of a healer who is both willing and able to make cripples well. And, he is walking toward you right now. How you respond in his presence will directly reflect what you believe about him. And this beggar responds in a way that perfectly fits his need and Jesus' ability to meet that need: "Son of David, have mercy on me!" His faith was dependent upon the reality of God's mercy.

The rub: Do I cry out persistently, humbly, like a child, like a beggar? Or am I the opposite? Occasional in prayer, self-reliant, presumed mature, secure in my comfortable lifestyle. Can this be faith? Can this be trust in the merciful character of God? Do I dwell on his mercies? Do I even believe in them?

Lord, remind me of your kindness. Let me never give up seeking You, learning about your mighty deeds and promises, and crying out for mercy on a daily basis. I am your child, you are my Father. I rely completely on you and stake all of my hope in your merciful love. Amen.

God's Anger: An Expression of Love

Psalm 30:4, 5

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

...............

God is love.

The depths of this statement are beyond measure and libraries upon libraries of books could be written and still fall short of conveying the depths of the riches of God's love. We think about the kindness of God to send his beloved Son to die a shameful death in our place. We think about the sweet gentleness of Jesus who cared for little children and who promises to be a good shepherd to his wayward sheep. We think about passages like 1 John 4, where the very nature of love is shown to be rooted in God himself:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12 ESV)

So, if God is fundamentally love, and he shapes and models the life of love that he calls us to lead, how is it that he is also angry? The Bible gives numerous examples of God's anger and wrath. In the Old Testament, we see the hardening of Pharaoh's heart and the plagues against Egypt bringing a nation to its knees. We see the anger of God poured out on the Canaanite nations as Joshua leads the Hebrews into the promised land. We see God's judgment revealed against his own people as they are exiled from the promised land and subjugated to the rule of pagan kings in Babylon. Even in the New Testament, we see God strike down Ananias and Sapphira for their duplicity and greed (Acts 5), and we are reminded by Paul that God's wrath is still revealed against all manner of unrighteousness found in mankind (Romans 1:18ff). So how does this anger fit with God's love?

I believe that Psalm 30, and several other passages, provide the answer: God's nature is fundamentally defined by love, but this love can be expressed in anger. Imagine that your home has been invaded and a stranger has abducted your child. You engage the intruder as they are trying to escape with your child. Your heart is pounding, picturing what horrible fate this person has in store for the child you love. That intruder becomes the object of your anger, but only in corresponding measure to the love you hold for your child. The greater your love for the one, the greater your anger for the other. But the love is what is fundamental; the anger is derivative, contingent, a mere expression or byproduct of the love.

One clear example of this concept is found in Matthew 18:

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:2-6)

Drowning someone in the sea with a millstone around their neck does not sound very loving. But it is clear that this threat of angry judgment is completely fitting when the object of God's love is in danger. The innocent child is most loved when they are defended from injustice, even in a manner that conveys anger to the perpetrator of the injustice.

But what about God's eternal anger toward his creation promised in the threats of damnation in hell? How is hell an expression of love? This is perhaps one of the most difficult questions in all of Christian life and thinking. If I can imagine a God who does not condemn anyone to hell, am I not imagining a God more loving than the God of the Bible? One way to answer this is that our definition of love must not presume to be more right than God's definition of love, even if we can't wrap our head around it. That is one explanation, and there is truth to that. But, I also believe that God's love is reasonable and we must find a way to reasonably and wholeheartedly ascribe to God's definition of love, no matter how non-intuitive it may at first appear.

The only way hell can be an expression of love is by understanding God's love for his glory. The triune God has enjoyed the fellowship of eternal love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all eternity past and all eternity to come (John 17:20ff). The glorious existence God shares as three persons in One is the fundamental source of value in all the universe. To pervert, distort, undermine, or rebel against this glory is to go against what is most loving and glorious in all the universe - and anger, even eternal judgment, is the corresponding expression of love toward all that would be opposed to his glory. Any sense of justice we experience is actually a shadow of God's love for his glory, since our righteous anger toward crimes against the innocent is really our recognition that God's image in man is being distorted. When we are compelled to defend the dignity and glory of other men, we are truly defending the image and glory of God in man.

A final answer to our trouble with hell is realizing how God has expressed his love in giving us his Son, who takes the penalty of sin away and cancels out any anger or condemnation for those who put their hope in Him. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the offer of a restored relationship with God - this answers the problem of hell like nothing else can. So, when the psalms remind us that God's anger is for a moment, but his favor is for a lifetime, it tells me that the anger is not what is fundamental to God's nature. Rather, his love and favor and patience are truly his heartbeat. He is slow in one, and abounding in the other. Our experience of love and justice agrees, and the cross of Christ testifies to it. And for that, I will give him all the glory.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalms 103:8)