Questions and Answers

Is God merciful and good or not?

The first set of scriptures say nothing about God being cruel (this is a subjective call).

They deal simply and bluntly with God's judgment. Thus, we have a both/and situation here.

Yes, God is merciful and full of compassion. Yet, those who reject his mercy and compassion will find that His judgment in unrelenting and ferocious - that is His nature.

God is merciful and good

Psalms 25:8 - Good and upright is the LORD
1 Timothy 2:4 - God wants all men to be saved
Psalms 145:9 - He has compassion on all he has made
Ezekiel 18:32 - God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone
1 Chronicles 16:34 - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good
Lamentations 3:33 - He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children
James 5:11 - The Lord is full of compassion and mercy

God is unmerciful, destructive, and ferocius

1 Samuel 6:9 - LORD has brought this great disaster on us
1 Samuel 15:2-3 - Do not spare them; put to death...
Deuteronomy 7:16 - You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God gives over to you
Jeremiah 13:14 - I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep me from destroying them