You were to them God-who-forgives

You were to them God-Who-Forgives,
Though You took vengeance on their deeds.  – Psalm 99:8

Is that truly our God?  He is to us "God-Who-Forgives" but yet must take vengeance upon us?  Doesn’t this seem how it goes?  We are sealed by His name in our Baptisms, but yet we suffer?   Does God still love us?  We look to Christ and we get an emphatic YES!!

God is to us the "God-Who-Forgives" and yes he does take vengeance upon us.  He killed us, can’t get much more vengeance like than that, but he didn’t leave us dead.  He raised us!  All this when we were washed, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost!"  While yes, bad things happen, they cannot take "God-Who-Forgives" from us, in fact, he may have sent them!  But those are not vengeance, that was already done at the Cross and given you at the Font.  While it may not be seen, at first, as a gift it must be, you’re Baptized!!!

Baptized into Thy name most holy,
O Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
I claim a place, though weak and lowly,
Among Thy seed, Thy chosen host.
Buried with Christ and dead to sin,
Thy Spirit now shall live within.  (TLH 298 v1)