Introduction:
We’re instructed not only to consider the great mercy of God, but also
to praise Him for this on our behalf. Ps. 136:1 would be such a verse, “O
give thanks unto the Lord: for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever.”
Each of the 26 verses contained in this
psalm contains the phrase, “For His mercy endures forever.” Giving thanks is
the least that can be asked for from those who benefit from God’s mercy.
I believe a fourfold distinction can be made
concerning God’s great mercy: (1) there is a general mercy for His creation and
creatures; (2) the Bible teaches that we are saved by mercy; (3) there is
“mercy” for just the saved; (4) mercy is a grace practiced by the saved in
Christ.
(1) The General Mercy of God
First, I believe there is a general mercy of
God extended not only to all men, Christians and non-christians alike, but also
to the entire creation. Consider these passages:
1. Psalm 136:25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy
endureth for ever.
2.
Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all
his works.
These accord, I
believe, with Paul’s statement in Acts 17:25 where he stated, God gives to all
life, and breath, “and all things.” The “all things” would be His provisionary
care for His creation. Thus, there is a mercy of God that is exercised towards
the creation; it includes all. Men, notwithstanding their sins, are included.
An example would be His providing necessities as stated in Matthew 5:45, “for
He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the
just and on the unjust.” Moreover, there is only one reason stated for
Christians doing good to even their enemies: “that you may be sons of your
Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:44). Jesus commanded, “Be
ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk.
One should exercise care when speaking of
the mercies God bestows on the wicked, for such are solely of a temporal
nature; they are confined strictly to their life here on earth. There will be
no mercy extended to them beyond the grave! In Jesus’ parable, spoken because
of their covetousness, the rich man enjoyed abundance here, but was consider a
“fool” in light of God requiring his soul “that night” (Lk. 12:16-21). He was
rich, but not rich spiritually before God! In His other parable the rich man
lives in luxury ever day, but dies and is found in torment (Lk. 16:19-31). And
yet, in spite of such clear warnings those who are presumptuous will say, I do
not believe that God will ever cast me into Hell; He is too merciful. God is a
God of justice as well as mercy, and He has expressly declared that He will “by
no means clear the guilty” (read Ex. 34:7; De. 29:18-20). He has said, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, all the nations that forget God” (
Ps.
Contemplating this further, but frankly admitting
that I am lacking in ability to fully comprehend the sufferings of our present
age, God’s word directed me to His regulating things according to His supreme
power over what He created. Concerning the creation the Psalmist declared,
“These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
[28] That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are
filled with good. [29] Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest
away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. [30] Thou sendest forth
thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth” (Ps.
104:27-30).
(2) We Are Saved By God’s Mercy
Here again we see God’s provision and that without Christ’s death there
would no salvation. Paul said, “Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5). It should be clear, when speaking
of eternal salvation, that man is without merit and ability to provide (the
means) what was necessary as a Sacrifice for sin (Jo. 3:16; Col. 1:22-23; I Jo.
1:7, 9, etc.). The great danger is that man for the most part chooses to presume
upon His mercy to the neglect of meeting the conditions that He laid down as
necessary in their obedience to the Gospel that they might be saved. Belief in
the deity of Christ (Mk. 16:15-16, Acts 8:37), repentance (Acts 2:38),
confessing Him before men (Rom. 10:9-10), and obedience in baptism (Acts 2:38,
22:16; Col. 2:11-13) are essential to one’s being saved through the blood of
Christ, God’s provision (Matt. 26:28).
(3) There Is
Mercy For Those Who Have Been Saved
Once again we must exercise
care in identifying those to whom His mercy is shown. The Psalmist says, “For
as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that
fear Him” ( Ps. 103:11 ). It is to those who fear Him!
Do you truly fear Him? This mercy is immeasurable, “Thy mercy is great
unto the heavens” ( Ps. 57:10 ). It is mercy that
quickened them when they were dead in sins ( Eph. 2:4, 5 ).
They are designated “vessels of mercy” ( Rom. 9:23).
It is His abundant mercy which begat them unto an eternal inheritance (1 Peter
1:3). Moreover, concerning that
inheritance “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that
defileth, neither worketh abomination” ( Rev. 21:27 ).
This in a sense is His mercy for heaven would cease to be heaven if the
redeemed should have to still see and hear the filthy conversation of the
wicked (Cp. Ps. 143:12; 136:15; Rev. 19:1-3).
(4) Mercy As Practiced By The Saved
Here again one must take great care in noting
that “mercy and truth meet together”; in Christ mercy is exercised in harmony
with God’s demands for truth and righteousness. Here are some important
applications with scripture for anyone who is interested in this mercy:
A. It’s in the
practice thereof that we receive back from God!
1. Psalm 18:25
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself
merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
a. Proverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and
mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
b.Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy.
B. To practice mercy you
must have respect for the truth: “Mercy and truth are met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).
1. Mercy without
righteousness avails nothing! Jude 23-25 “[23] And others save with fear,
pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
2. Never should we
reason as some, My sin cancels your sin and yours mine, thus we are both Ok.
God demands repentance and obedience (Acts 8:18-24; I Cor. 5:1-5; 2 Cor.
2:6-8).
3. A part of the truth is admitting you have done the same (Eccles.
7:21-22).
C.
In doing so men will understand your needs:
1. Proverbs 3:3-4 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:
bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: [4] So
shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
D. Animals are not
excluded:
1. Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man regardeth the life of his
beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
E. Promises happiness
when shown to the poor:
1. Proverbs 14:21-22
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth:
but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. [22] Do they not err that
devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
2. To do so is to honor
God: Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he
that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Some applications of
“them that devise evil” are:
a. Such
things as you hear: “I guess they are
getting help.”
b. Those who practice the
world’s rule, I give to those who give to me.
c. In business meetings when
one is in need and some always want to
“qualify” ~ a good way to
never help anyone who is poor!
d. There is
an old saying: “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions!”
F. Those who fail will find judgment without mercy:
1. James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that
hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. (Cp. Matt. 23:23)
G. Show it with cheerfulness and the good is increased on their part:
1. Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he
that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he
that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Conclusion: His own should praise Him, thank Him, and show Him in
practice that they fully understand He is “the Father of mercies” (2
Cor. 1:3).