The Battle Hymn of the Republic has the line: “He is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes of wrath are stored.” This thought comes from the book of Revelation: “The angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.” Preachers don’t talk about God’s wrath, God’s fury, much anymore. Maybe we fear it will blunt the message of God’s love. But any mother can testify that there is no incompatibility between love and wrath. Maternal love requires at times saying a passionate “NO” to actions and behaviors that are destructive to their child. A similar “NO” is the way to understand God’s wrath. God insists our actions lead to life.