THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
An additional translator, whose name remains unknown, observes that God is indignant every day and, in Hebrew, this is expressed as “in every moment of life.” Another translator, Aquila, notes that God threatens, is indignant, yet refrains from punishment. The essence of these terms is as follows: if God is righteous, He must be inclined to punish wrongdoing, and if He is powerful, He is certainly able to administer such punishment. But one may wonder, how does His humanity manifest if He judges in accordance with justice? First, it is evident in His reluctance to impose immediate punishment, and notably, in His willingness to forgive all sins through the waters of baptism. Additionally, He also extends the opportunity for repentance.
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Should we acknowledge our daily failings, we would truly comprehend the vast magnitude of His compassion. The prophet captures this notion by declaring that God is a just judge, both strong and full of patience. You may ponder: why does He not enact punishment if He possesses both the ability and desire to do so? The answer lies in the prophet's words that He is patient, “not provoking wrath daily.” To prevent any of the foolish from interpreting God’s delay in judgment as weakness, the prophet clarifies that the reason for this patience is God’s immense and boundless forbearance. His mercy aims to lead you toward repentance; yet, if you fail to respond to this offer of healing, chastisement will eventually follow. Thus, we are deserving of correction every single day. Were this unjust, the prophet would not have highlighted the importance of not inciting wrath on a daily basis. Punishment is warranted due to our actions; therefore, God, in His compassion, withholds just retribution. This reflects His steadfastness and demonstrates that punishment should be viewed as inflicted. No one inflicts wrath upon another without first experiencing it within themselves; rather, they deliver punishment to others. Hence, the expression “not provoking wrath daily” simply refers to the concept of chastisement. Why does he emphasize “daily”? Each person should delve deeply into their own conscience to uncover the truth of this matter. I will refrain from discussing the hidden sins of all individuals; surely no one can entirely avoid common transgressions. For instance, is there a single day in which we do not pray with laziness or great negligence? The deservedness of divine wrath can be illustrated as follows: consider if you were to approach a human judge while yawning and subsequently received a rebuke; would he not immediately chastise you and assign you to exile? Undoubtedly, yes, for he is a mere man. Yet, unlike human judges who may feel justified to react out of offense for being wronged by an equal, God can justly administer punishment when offended. Offenses against Him carry far greater gravity than those against fellow man. Furthermore, while a person may seek their own benefit in judging others, God seeks your ultimate good; thus, sin against Him warrants even greater indignation. It is not the same to disregard those who pursue their own interests versus those who seek your welfare. The latter draws more anger, exemplified in the case of persistent laziness, even when one intends to ask for what is beneficial for oneself. Again, who among us has not wronged their neighbor in a trivial manner? Do not suggest that your offenses were against a mere servant; for in Christ Jesus, distinctions such as slave or free, male or female hold no significance (Galatians 3:28). Who has not engaged in judgment? Who has not told a lie? Who has failed to gaze upon a woman with lust? Who has not experienced envy? Who has not exhibited vanity? Who has not uttered frivolous words? All of these actions merit punishment. If we had been negligent in spiritual matters while being diligent in temporal affairs, we might have a reason to excuse ourselves; however, we can no longer afford such excuses. In worldly endeavors, we show enthusiasm, but in spiritual endeavors, we remain utterly negligent.