Psalm 69:16-28

    16      Hear me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good;
    Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.
    17      And do not hide Your face from Your servant,
    For I am in trouble;
    Hear me speedily.
    18      Draw near to my soul, and redeem it;
    Deliver me because of my enemies.

    19      You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
    My adversaries are all before You.
    20      Reproach has broken my heart,
    And I am full of heaviness;
    I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
    And for comforters, but I found none.
    21      They also gave me gall for my food,
    And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
    22      Let their table become a snare before them,
    And their well-being a trap.
    23      Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see;
    And make their loins shake continually.
    24      Pour out Your indignation upon them,
    And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
    25      Let their dwelling place be desolate;
    Let no one live in their tents.
    26      For they persecute the ones You have struck,
    And talk of the grief of those You have wounded.
    27      Add iniquity to their iniquity,
    And let them not come into Your righteousness.
    28      Let them be blotted out of the book of the living,
    And not be written with the righteous.
-Psalm 69:16-28

With the same voice that gave praise to the Lord for His lovingkindness came recognition of the wrath of God. God's wrath and lovingkindness are not divided. As Westerners it is easy to try to compartmentalize God. Scripture does not do this, however. The wrath of God is because of His love. How can this be? The love I have for my daughter puts me in mind to protect her. If someone wished or sought harm against my child I would willingly and wrathfully stand between her and that harm because of the love I have for her.

The reality is that love cannot simply love all things. When love is given to one thing, it opposes the opposing alternative. If I love babies, I will hate abortion. If I love righteousness, I will hate wickedness. If I love unity, I will hate discord. So the list can continue. God does this in perfect balance. He does not delight in wickedness for He is righteous and loves righteousness. Never underestimate the goodness of God that it becomes friendly with evil. God firmly opposes such things. Give rightful place to God and the work He establishes.