The Mercy and Compassion of God
But what is mercy? When referring to God's mercy are we merely using another means of saying God's grace? Does God's mercy serve the same function as His forgiveness? IF different … how are they different?
I believe God's mercy is intimately related to His grace and His forgiveness yet mercy is a more intimate revealing of the mind of God that either grace of forgiveness.
Today we will review mercy in the old testament, then in the new testament as God's revelation to us of who and what He is. Also, that developing mercy in our own way of thinking is crucial in God's plan for us to grown into fully mature children in His eternal family.
Exodus 33:18-20, 34:6-7a Moses had asked God if he might see Him in all his glory... God answered, "I will cause my goodness to pass before you". God is not known by seeing His appearance, He is know though His character… especially seeing that character in action.
In revealing Himself God does not focus on His power, His all knowing wisdom, or His transcendence of all things physical and material... He reveals Himself through mercy, grace, and forgiveness [but also on justice]. Understanding these qualities is essential to understanding and knowing God.
Today we will concentrate on mercy.
Defining Mercy
Part of defining mercy is separating it from the terms: grace and forgiveness.
Mercy is often mentioned in the same breath as grace and forgiveness... they are closely related and work together, but are not the same. Think of the three legs of stool working together to create a stable, secure, and useful object of furniture.
Mercy - an emotional disposition of wanting to alleviate suffering in others... before you can show grace or forgiveness to others you have to want to. Mercy is a matter of the heart.
Grace - a noble disposition of seeking good things for others and making it happen. Grace is a matter of how power and authority are used.
Forgiveness - a judicial disposition of seeking to release others from the burden of guilt and punishment. Forgiveness is a matter of administering justice.
Mercy in the Old Testament
Mercy in OT Hebrew [rehem] comes from the word for "bowels"... "bowels of compassion", a picturesque way of saying "inner most parts"... we might say "a gut feeling" aroused by the distress, weakness, suffering, or vulnerability of others. Example 1 Kings 3:26 KJV, sometimes rendered as compassion [or heart in modern translations].
God’s way of explaining Himself is often through the universal human institution of family. So it is with mercy which is illustrated by:
l A father's love for his son [h7355 reham] Jeremiah 31:20
l A mother's love for her nursing infant [h7355 reham] Isaiah 49:15
l A man's love for his betrothed [h7356 raham] Isaiah 54:7
These common human emotional experiences help us understand the nature of God's mercy... who yearns for us with great compassion. Note: another example of how a strong and loving family can help human beings better understand their spiritual Father.
God’s Mercy is Reliable
2 Samuel 24:14 mercy is not a fundamental characteristic of mankind... who tends to be harsh, even cruel.
Human emotions are fickle, dependant on circumstances, subject to change, they may not last... even within a human family. But God's character does not change. His mercy is everlasting and we can count on His mercy even when we don't deserve it, Lamentations 3:22-23.
Mercy can be expected of God but it cannot be demanded or earned Exodus 33:19
In the OT appreciating God's mercy is necessary to understand God's love, care and tender feelings towards human beings. Mercy is a demonstration of His faithfulness to those who enter into covenant with Him. Mercy moves Him to use His great power to save us from destruction. Because of mercy He is willing and eager to extend forgiveness and healing, both spiritual and physical.
Mercy In The New Testament
The Greek of the new testament uses two words to describe or explain God's mercy:
Oiktiero - the emotional component [a feeling of pity, or sympathy]
Eleeo - the actions taken as a result [and act of kindness, or act of help]
I think translations would be more clear if we consistently used compassion for oiktiero (the emotion) and mercy for eleeo (the act). The KJV established a tradition of translating these very different Greek words using the same English word - Mercy. Most modern translations have adopted that practice. So we are stuck with a certain fuzziness surrounding mercy.
What’s important is; both old and new testament assume that emotions are best understood by the action they lead to. In the same way that James argues that faith is best understood by the works that it leads to... mercy is best understood by the actions it leads to. The two go hand in hand.
God Widens The Application of His Mercy
The coming of Jesus the Messiah ushered in an expansion of how God wished to interact with human beings. Previously He had focused His love and his mercy upon the small nation of Israel as an example for other nations to see. And through Israel He established a foundation of moral guidance [His commandments, statutes and judgments] and a foundation of prophecy made and prophecy fulfilled that served as proof of where and how He was at work in the material world.
Once that foundation was established it was time to move to the next phase. Jesus death ended the old covenant and initiated the new covenant. Under the terms of this new covenant God's love and His mercy would be extended to individuals chosen from among all nations.
Paul here is quoting from Exodus 33:19 - Romans 9:16 [eleeo]
Peter here is quoting from Hosea 2:23 - 1 Peter 2:10[eleeo]
Those formerly outside the boundaries of God's love and mercy would now receive mercy. This new grouping of people is what we know of as the Church of God... which exists and lives because of God's mercy Romans 12:1 [oiktirmos].
The verse is saying "God looked upon you and saw your wretched, pathetic state... that you were merely wandering in darkness until the day your body stopped breathing and your heart stopped beating... He saw you and felt pity and desire to help... knowing how God feels about you, how He wants to help you… doesn't it make sense to conform your life to His ways and His will, so that he might lead you to salvation from spiritual death".
Salvation Begins With God's Mercy
God is not math, God is not logic, He is not the slowly turning juggernaut of universal justice, or pure intellect... the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is a personal being motivated by emotions and desires... but expressing those emotions in a logical orderly with supreme justice and intellect. He is not cold and distant… but close and personal.
Titus 3:5, Ephesians 2:1-5
There is grace because God has the power to save... there is forgiveness because God has the judicial right to save... BUT it begins with mercy because God has the desire to create, and elevate, and to save.
The Mercy of Jesus
The mercy of God is demonstrated for us in acts and works of Jesus... who came in human form so that we might have a better glimpse at the goodness and glory of God [an even better fulfillment of Moses request].
Jesus felt great compassion and showed mercy to the helpless and weak:
l Through releasing them from bondage to demons Mark 5:18-19 [eleeo]
l Through healing them from physical ailments Matt 9:27; 17:15; 20:30and 34 [splangkhnizomai]
l Through feeding them when they were hungry Matthew 15:29-32 [sympathy in my bowels]
Mercy is Required of Humans Who Would Enter Eternal Life
Mercy is required not in the sense that you rack up enough mercy points that you cover over your sins and earn your place in God's family... rather mercy is required in the sense that you are to develop a way of thinking and acting that is like your spiritual father... a true child of God… following Jesus’ example.
Luke 6:35-36 because your Father is merciful He expects His true children to be merciful.
Matthew 5:7 if the universe operated on pure logic or cold justice we all end up in dreamless death. But, the merciful receive the mercy of God to balance out the mercilessness of logic and judgment. Because there is mercy you might live.
Matthew 18:23-25 [splangkhnizomai], 33 [eleeo]
2 Ways to Show Everyday Mercy
1. Forgiving others - you and I don't have the authority to forgive others their sins against God... but we do have the authority to forgive others their sins against us.
Has someone hurt your feelings, or offended your sense of personal dignity? Do you hang on to your negative emotions even when they have apologized. Consider forgiving.
Has someone failed to do their fair share, in effort, in money, in time... perhaps you feel they should be held accountable. Consider forgiveness… [even if they haven’t apologized]
2. Offering assistance - you and I don't have the power to heal others of their ailments [physical or spiritual] but we do have the power to share our time, energy, money to help others. That can go from helping someone in financial trouble to helping them get a heavy package loaded.
These are acts of mercy!
Conclusion:
God is not demanding that we change the world... merely that we develop a positive way of viewing others and interacting with them. Be merciful and compassionate in small everyday matters now, so that you will act with compassion and mercy in larger matters.
Christ is offering to seat you alongside Him when He returns to establish and administer the rule on God on earth... it will be a seat of judgement. But He wants that authority and rule to be conducted with a heart filled with mercy. James 2:13, 3:17-18
Worship and obedience without mercy is not acceptable: Jesus says go learn the meaning of this “I desire mercy not sacrifice” [Matthew 9:13, 12:7]
Your worship will never be pure enough... your obedience will never be without error... but a merciful heart... that is pleasing to God.
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