All throughout the Bible we find words like mercy, mercies, and merciful to describe God’s kindness and forbearance to withhold judgement. Those words reveal one of the greatest, most needed, and mysterious characteristics God exhibits towards humanity.
As seen in our last post, Israel’s continued sin and idolatry often provoked the wrath of God. Yet, after dealing with them He always showed them mercy after they turned to Him in sincere repentance. Without His mercy, Israel would have ceased to be a nation.
A Bank Robber Receives Mercy
Let’s take the following hypothetical situation to illustrate an act of mercy in a court of law.
If a bank robber was arrested and taken to court for his or her crime, the person would stand before the judge for sentencing once all the evidence was considered, and the jury had reached their determination. If the jury concluded the person was guilty of all charges, the judge would be expected to unreservedly sentence the criminal to prison for a commensurate period of time, as justice and the law required.
However, if the criminal showed remorse and asked for pardon, and the judge dismissed the case and released the criminal with no jail or prison time, that would be considered an act of mercy.
Remember, the word mercy is defined as “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.”
Mercy is always towards someone who does not deserve it. Mercy keeps us from receiving the just punishment we warrant.
The above hypothetical scenario might seem extreme, but we will see it pales compared to the mercy God has shown some of the most notably wicked throughout past generations.
King Ahab Repents
One of Israel's most infamous kings was Ahab. He was married to a very wicked woman named Jezebel. She was instrumental in steering him away from the Lord God of Israel to serve idols and commit atrocities in the name of false gods.
As a result, God sent the prophet Elijah to pronounce a severe judgement upon Ahab and his household. When Ahab heard the word of the Lord, he rent his garments, put on sackcloth, fasted and mourned before the Lord. The result?
Ahab's Repentance
27) So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning.
28) And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29) "See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. 1 Kings 21:27-28
This extreme example reveals the great extent of God’s mercy towards anyone who repents and turns away from their sin.
King Manasseh Receives Mercy
Another wicked king of Israel, named Manasseh, led the nation of Israel astray with idolatry and unimaginable abominations.
9) So Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
Manasseh receives some judgement for his sins but later repents and obtains unfathomable mercy and restoration from the Lord.
Manasseh's Repentance
10) And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they would not listen. 11) Therefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters, and carried him off
to Babylon.
12) Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13) and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God. 2 Chronicles 33:1-13
These Old Testament examples reveal God’s amazing mercy towards those who reverence Him and turn from their wicked ways. It should give us hope when we stumble in words (James 3:1-12), thought (Matthew 9:4), deed (John 3:19-20), or negligence (James 4:17). As we turn to the Father with true repentance, He will be inclined to show us His mercy (Hebrews 4:16; 1 John 1:9).
Before we close this series, let’s look at a New Testament example of God’s mercy. It paints a vivid picture of His compassion for those who fall and are sorry for their sins.
2) Now early in the morning He [Jesus] came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.
3) Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4) they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.
5) Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?"
6) This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7) So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." 8) And again He stooped down and wrote on
the ground.
9) Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10) When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" 11) She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8:2-11)
This incident speaks to several issues and possibilities but the main thing we want to point out today is the mercy God showed this woman caught in adultery. Jesus withheld her due punishment and gave her a charge to sin no more.
Now it would be up to her to work through the issues in her heart and put away this ungodly way of living. Doing so may have required her to find a trusted friend for accountability. Or it may have caused her to move to another location. At the least, it would require her to walk closely with the Lord.
Would we be the first to cast a stone at this woman? Jesus did not, although He has every right to do so. Mercy triumphed or rejoiced over judgement (James 2:13).
Lastly, I want to be clear that we are not toying with the mercy of God nor encouraging anyone to do so. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:30-31) when He is rendering correction or severe discipline. He does not tolerate unrepented sin or rebellion, as noted in Acts chapters 5:1-11 and 12:20-24, and executes judgement as He determines.
The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I appreciate the mercy He has shown me over the years. Hopefully, you will too.
We’ll begin a new topic next time. Until then, may the Lord’s goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life (Psalms 23:6) and may you “keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 1:21)
James Brown
CST 10/19/2024