Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?
Although these questions are not directly answered in this psalm, the strong implication here is that the answer to all of them is no, a resounding NO. No, it cannot be! It goes against the very character of God revealed in the Old Testament, and in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Has His mercy ceased forever? No, His mercies endure forever. We cannot say less than the Scriptures teach us. But we dare not say more. God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy.
As Kallistos Ware, a bishop in the Greek Orthodox Church, has written:
“Our belief in human freedom means that we have no right to categorically affirm, “All must be saved.” But our faith in God’s love [and mercy] makes us dare to hope that all will be saved.”
We have to leave it at that.
