“…Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.” – Exodus 15:13 (KJV)
The words above were part of the song of praise Moses sang after the Lord, our God, delivered Israel from Egypt’s tyranny. The Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, not because of anything good that the Israelites had done, but because of God’s mercy.
Mercy, by definition, is the kindness you show to someone over whom you have the right or power to punish. It is the compassionate treatment of those in distress and is intricately bound up in love and forgiveness. The love God had for His people expressed itself in the mercy He showed by leading them out of bondage, even though they had turned away from Him and had been involved in idolatry.
In King David’s first Psalm, he encourages us to “…give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34 – KJV). David experienced that mercy when God forgave him for having an adulterous encounter with Bathsheba. Upon David’s repentance, God took that child but blessed Bathsheba’s womb with another son to whom He gave wisdom, riches, honour, long life, and the permission to build His temple.
Throughout the Bible, we see God’s love or mercy in operation. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s instructions in the Garden of Eden, God’s mercy reached out, and He not only forgave them but also sewed fig leaves together and clothed their nakedness (Genesis 3:21).
God’s mercy kept Hezekiah alive, healed him, and added fifteen years to his life, even after Hezekiah had been told that he would die soon. Hezekiah appealed to God. God listened to his plea and showed him mercy (2 Kings 20:1-10).
Psalm 86:5 (KJV) reminds us, “For thou Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” This, beloved, is an encouragement to us. As we walk daily with the Lord, there are times our feet may slip off that narrow path that leads to eternity. This happens when we fail to resist the devil, and we allow bitterness to creep into our souls. We need God’s mercy to restore us again. Thus, the key to God’s mercy is a repentant heart.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You today for Your love and mercy. We repent for any and all the times that we have sinned against You. We know that You are merciful, but please help us that we do not sin presumptuously just so that we can experience Your mercy. We thank You and bless You forever. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Read: Exodus 20:6; Psalm 25:10
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 27:1-6; Mark 9:33-50; Mark 10:1-12; Leviticus 1; Leviticus 2; Leviticus 3
