I have read the Bible many times and had not noticed this before and thought I would introduce it for all to comment upon as it is a combination of verses that at first blush, don't seem to go together, at least as we think we know God and understand Him.
The wise person should not boast in his wisdom;
the strong should not boast in his strength;
the wealthy should not boast in his wealth.
But the one who boasts should boast in this:
that he understands and knows me ””
that I am the Lord, showing faithful love,
justice, and righteousness on the earth,
for I delight in these things.
" ‘Look, the days are coming ”‹”” ”‹this is the Lord’s declaration ”‹”” ”‹when I will punish all the circumcised yet uncircumcised: Egypt, Judah, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, and all the inhabitants of the desert who clip the hair on their temples. All these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart. -- Jeremiah 9:23-26 (CSB)
Notice the flow of thought. First, God declares emphatically that He delights to show faithful love, righteousness and justice...... familiar description of God's heart and an expression of how He delights to show, display and manifest this heart in all the earth. Immediately though, a statement of judgement against the whole of the uncircumcised earth, Jew and Gentile alike.
Just for context, the verses preceding this passage do not provide relief from the counter intuitive and perhaps counter Christian cultural norm in this passage's juxtaposition of seemingly contrarty ideas in our minds or hearts. They in fact make it harder.
What's my question. How does this make sense ?
My only proposition is that it points to the cross where righteousness and faithful love intersect with righteousness, justice and punishment of the sins of the whole earth. "My delight" is in my beloved Son absorbing My punishment for the world". Knowing God's heart in the Gosple as substitutionary atonement so that He can declare righteous the unrighteousness is so essential and necessary to know God and understand why He would pour out eternal wrath on His beloved.
One day though and soon, God will so delight in justice and righteousness and faithful love to His own holiness that He will punish the nations without regret.