Seder 71 Sermon: Thirteen Aspects of God's Character

 God's self-revelation of important aspects of his character is Exodus 34:6-7 is one of the most important passages of the Bible from a theological standpoint.  Jewish tradition identifies thirteen characteristics of God in this passage.  In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on June 14, 2025, Kyle Kettering enumerated them:

1. "The LORD"--how God is before a great sin, like the sin of the Golden Calf;
2. "The LORD"--how God is after a great sin--the same as before the sin (Mal 3:6).
3. "a God"--one who is mighty.
4. "merciful"
5. "gracious"
6. "slow to anger"
7. "abounding in steadfast love"---Hebrew chesed.
8. "and faithfulness"---or "truth"
9. "keeping steadfast love for thousands"--i.e., for a thousand generations.
10. "forgiving iniquity"--God forgives big sins.
11. "and transgression"--even willful sins, if they are repented of.
12. "and sin"---and God forgives errors.
13. "but who will by no means clear the guilty"--God is the One who cleanses.

When seeking forgiveness, we should remind God (and especially ourselves) of what he is like.