Errant Education I was raised in a public school where the teachers promulgated the "O.T. wrath vs N.T. love" scenario. Obviously, they were not Evangelical believers. However many naive Evangelical congregates fall for this idea as well. The plethora of Scriptures already given by erudite Answerers show clearly the error in this presentation of God.
It is of additional benefit to point out, as well, the fact that Jesus (God) not only expressed His displeasure, but prophesied Great Wrath upon His own Jewish people when He gave the disciples the Oliver Discourse!
You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matthew 23:33)...And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth (23:35)...Look, your house is left to you desolate (23:38)...I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down (24:2)...Then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now---and never to be equaled again! (24:21)
The wrath of God displayed on the Destruction of the Holy City and the Temple itself, was indescribably traumatic, unfathomably horrendous! It was the rejection of a whole and entire 'commonwealth' of redemptive history. (See Matthew 21:41-46 "a wretched end" Luke 13:27-30, "you yourselves thrown out")
For God so loved But--at the same time--this Galilean voice (God incarnate) was also One who expressed a deep desire to redeem them!
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city He wept over it, and said, "If only..." (Luke 19:41).
Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing (Matthew 23:37).
And the Love of God was momentarily to be displayed in the greatest way. The Lamb of God was to be sacrificed for the redemption of this very same nation. God's sense of justice was to be tempered with mercy and grace. His righteous anger was to be bounded by an unending love. God's lovingkindness was not to be vetoed by the sins of the people.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
God who Changes Not No, there is no dichotomy between the Old Testament God, and the New Testament revealed God. Wrath for the obstinent sinner, and love for the humble and contrite soul, is manifest in both eras. We hear the bleating of the sacrificial lamb in Exodus, and we hear the weeping of the Lamb of God in Jerusalem.
Underlying Problem The posting of this question highlights an underlying problem in congregations of believers: Superficial Bible study!
The reasons for this malady are several (1) Devotional Approach to Bible Study. While small booklets of Devotionals do encourage the faithful for daily spiritual strength, they consist of one or two verses without context. So believers get in the habit of not considering the context or intent of the original author.
(2)Topical Preaching There are too many sermons that are "topical." Based on verses with one word of interest drawn from many different books, written at different times, for different reasons. Verses before or after these "proof texts" are ignored. This approach lends itself to conclusions addressed by this Post: contradictions, misinterpretations, doubts about the integrity of the Bible itself.
It is better that congregations encourage their teaching elders (aka pastors) to present "expository sermons. Sermons that delve into the whole context of the passages preached. This would forestall any doubts about "contradictions" because both sides of a doctrine would be given.
(3) No Personal Bible Reading With all the modern technology available (direct TV, satellite, I-Pads, Smart phones, video games, ad infinitum, there is less and less time taken out of daily routines for PERSONAL Bible reading/studying. Few read their "Bibles through in a year." So they are easy prey to the type of misconceptions this post came up with. They don't see all the verses on both sides of a topic. {e.g. Notice the inability for contestants on the TV program, Jeopardy, to answer even the most basic biblical questions!}
(4) Layman Lack Many believers are not equipped to answer the critics, the rumors, the cultural myths...because of lack of seminary education, because of lack of time from occupational busy-ness, because of lack of Apologetics in Sunday Schools, etc.
Hopefully the Question posted will encourage church ministers to be pro-active in equipping their congregations apologetically...preach some sermons on areas where their congregates are attacked in society...do more research on cultural myths...enlighten believers about hermeneutics.