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God is merciful.
Therefore, He demands of His people that same tenderness.
But it seems that mercy does not come naturally to humans.
When people are angry they can be very cruel and inflict the most heinous
and torturous pain on others.
David knew this and when asked which of three punishments were to come
upon him for numbering Israel.
His choices were 3 years of famine, 3 months of fleeing from his enemies
or 3 days of a major plague.
David’s answer:
“Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are
great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man” (2Sam. 24:14).
God condemns those who have no mercy (Amos 1:11).
God states His desire through Hosea:
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than
burnt offering”(6:6).
And in Micah: Mic 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and
to walk humbly with your God. (6:8).
God wants His people to be merciful.
He describes the true fast in Isaiah. The fast God desires is to
feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide shelter for the destitute, and
loosen the bonds the hold people captive (58:6-11).
The face of divine mercy was reflected in Jesus Christ.
He came to be a merciful high priest (Heb. 2:17). When it says that He
was made like His brothers, we see a glimpse of this through the Gospels.
Luke said He was a friend to the poor, the sinners, and the publicans.
See Luke 4:18; 7:22,34; 15:1-2; 19:7).
Matthew reminds us that Jesus was compassionate and merciful to the
crowds (Matt. 9:36; 14:4; 15:32).
Luke brings out that Jesus was merciful to individuals also such as a
widow’s only son, a bereaved father, the only son who was demon possessed
(Luke 7:13; 8:42; 9:38, 42).
Jesus compassion became well known.
Just as in the ancient times people knew God’s mercy and petitioned
God, “Be merciful to me”; so they came to Jesus and addressed Him with these
words:
“Lord, have mercy.”
This phrase is used only to God and to Jesus.
See Matt. 15:22; 17:15; 20:30-31).
Jesus taught mercy through His actions, parables and stories!
He wanted sinners who felt excluded from the Kingdom of God because of
the pettiness of the Pharisees, to understand the good news of God’s infinite
mercy.
He told them it was not the self-righteous but the repentant sinners who
please God (Luke 18:9-14). He told the lost and found parables and the parable
of the prodigal son (Luke 15:3-20).