Bible Question:

I was reading Psalms 103 about the characteristics of God abounding in love, kindness, etc. My questions are, 1) Is God aggressive? 2) I know He can be, but it depends on the situation, right? Also I know God doesn't treat/deal with us as our sins deserve, but would you say that 3) God speaks to us the way we speak to others? Here is an example. If you are a loving and considerate person, God would speak to you in the same manner. Or if you are an aggressive person when you speak (out of love), would God speak to you in the same manner?

Bible Answer:

To say that someone is “aggressive” in the culture of the United States of America in the early part of the twenty-first century implies that a person is inconsiderate of and unloving towards others and the person seeks only his or her own desires. In the psalm that you were reading, we discover that God is not like that.

Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. (NASB) Ps. 103:5

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. (NASB) Ps. 103:8

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. (NASB) Ps. 103:10-13

He is not aggressive as that term is commonly used. We are told throughout Psalm 103 that God is kind, loving, caring, compassionate, and forgiving. God has established boundaries for us and warns us to not sin. He has warned us because He is a holy God who cannot allow sin to exist forever.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. (NASB) Ps. 103:1

Therefore, Psalm 103:9-10 says the following,

He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (NASB) Ps. 103:9-10

This verse does not imply that God is aggressive. Instead this verse reveals that God is patient with us. He will allow us to continue sinning for a long time, but eventually He will stop us. If we do not believe in Jesus Christ, we will eventually be sent to an eternal judgment, the Lake of Fire. That will not be enjoyable. The decision is ours. He is patient, but He will not allow us to disobey Him forever. It is also possible that He will punish us in this life just as He did King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:28-37). King Nebuchadnezzar was continually rejecting God and God did not wait. He punished him in this life. The king learned the truth of the following verse,

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. (NASB) Ps. 103:19

Conclusion:

No, God is not aggressive in the sense of being a bully. Today, God speaks to us in the Word of God – the Bible. The Bible contains the very words of God. He speaks to all of us in the same way.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (NASB) 2 Tim. 3:16

Suggested Links:

Who Is God?
God's Great Passion