The Truth In Print, Volume 12 Issue 2, March 2006
A Publication of the Valley
The Paths Of Mercy
By Bob Lovelace
Bible study
is good for us and mercy is above all things an indication that God does
delight in us. First, we need to understand what it is that God delights
in. He delights in mercy but mercy is
not separated from His justice and righteousness. Coincident with this, and
Second in our study, we must understand that God delights in us when we delight
in His lovingkindess. (To be a recipient of His favor one must delight in the
things He delights in Himself.) Third, we will see that God’s mercy is for
those who fear Him. There is a “pathway” for those who fear God, repent of sins
committed, and delight in the things He delights in; that pathway is referred
to as the “steps of the Lord.” Coincident with all of these, and Fourth in our
study, we learn that it is in the practice of mercy, justice and righteousness
that we receive back from the Lord. Through our practicing mercy, Fifth and in
conclusion, mercy is an expectation, i.e. we expect to receive His blessings.
Why not open your Bible and read each verse from the Bible and make this a
“study”?
All of
this is in view of an eternal reward: “To them who by patient continuance in
well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: [8] But
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, [9] Tribulation and anguish, upon every
soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; [10]
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first,
and also to the Gentile” (Rom. 2:7-10; Also 2 Tim. 4:7-10).
God Delights In
Lovingkindness, Justice and Righteousness.
Concerned
reader lovingkindness is not “all” God delights in! “Thus saith the Lord, Let
not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his
might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: [24] But let him that glorieth
glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which
exercise lovingkindness, judgment,
and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord” (Jer. 9:23-24). God
exercises judgment (justice) and righteousness. Righteous is what is right for
both myself and others. He is impartial in reward and punishment (Ezk. 33:12.)
Hear this! God’s mercy is not emotionalism! God is not controlled by man’s pure
emotional displays and disorders! He is not the author of confusion (I Cor.
14:33).
The
Necessity Of Our Glorying In The Things He Delights In.
Throughout the Bible the boastful (the
materialistic and unrepentant) will not stand in God’s sight (Read Ps. 5:5; Ja.
4:7-17). Should they have ever entered into fellowship with Him, they do not
“stay” in fellowship with Him! These “glory in” or boast of their heart’s
desire and bless the covetous, who are an abomination to the Lord (Cf. Ps.
10:3). The humble are the ones who glory in God’s lovingkindness, justice and
righteousness, knowing that God removes those from His presence who glory is in
material things (Cf. Ps. 34:2). To glory in what God glories in means
appreciating that God has provided a place for us to assemble in His presence
(Cf. Ps. 22:22). Today, Christians under the New Covenant assemble together as
a church (Cf. Heb. 10:25, I Cor. 11:20, 14:23, 26.). Thus our “standing” before
Him in the assembly is meaningful, and not taken lightly. Glorying in these we know that not a one
of those who trust in riches, and boast in their wealth, can give God what it
takes to save their soul when it comes time to die (Cf. Matt. 16:26; Lk.
12:15-21; also Ps. 49:6-13 where their children follow them). Read what David
said about Doeg — Ps. 52:1-9. Also, the fool is right in his own eyes even when
he has nothing material to boast about! (Proverbs 12:15).
God
Delights In Us When We Delight In His Lovingkindness.
Friend, God delights in seeing these done
as well as in doing them Himself. Hear the Psalmist, “The steps of a good man
are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. [24] Though he fall, he
shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Ps.
37:23-24). Thus God provides room for repentance and forgiveness, lest He cast
us off forever (Cf. Ezk. 18:28; Ps. 119:59; Lk. 15:17-18). These “steps” are
the paths of the Lord: “All the paths of the Lord
are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies” (Ps.
25:10). Again, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy
and truth shall go before thy face” (Ps. 89:14).
This
Is for Those Who Fear Him.
David declared, “But the mercy of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his
righteousness unto children's children; [18] To such as keep his covenant, and
to those that remember his commandments to do them” (Ps. 103:17-18). Peter
said, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear”
(I Pet. 1:17). Hear Paul, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and
exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to
walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (I Th. 4:1). Again,
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”
(2 Cor. 7:1).
It’s
In the Practice That We Receive Back From God!
David
presented how God deals with man in
stating, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with
an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; [26] With the pure thou wilt
shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. [27]
For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks” (Ps.
18:25-27). Question: Did you comprehend that? If you desire His kindness then
practice His kindness yourself! And the same goes for being “blameless” and
“pure.” Make no mistake— with the crooked God shows himself shrewd! He abases
haughty eyes! God will contend against them and defeat them in ways they never
saw coming!
A Checklist
Of Applications On God’s Kindness:
1. It is Observed. David’s
observation was, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. [26] He is ever merciful, and
lendeth; and his seed is blessed” (Psalm 37:25-26).
2. There is Dignity. Hear
Solomon, “He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,
righteousness, and honour” (Proverbs 21:21). Honor here is esteem or
dignity itself. Compare this: “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches,
and honour, and life” (Pr. 22:4).
3. One is rich spiritually
or “blessed”. Jesus
said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt.
5:7).
4. Both God and men will
understand your needs.
Hear Solomon, “Let not kindness and truth forsake
thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: So
shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man” (Pr. 3:3-4). David said, “O
fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Ps.
34:9).
5. God’s Protection. David asked for himself with
these words: “He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth,
which may preserve him” (Ps. 61:7). The word “preserve” means “to guard or
keep.” He said elsewhere, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them
that fear him, and delivereth them” (Ps. 34:7).
6. Iniquity is purged by
both mercy and truth.
In
explaining how to keep away from evil Solomon said, “By mercy and truth
iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil” (Pr.
16:6).
It is important that we see
“truth” connected with mercy. Concerned
reader, those who show mercy expecting to be redeemed by God but do not
practice truth have no fear of the God!
7.
Intimate counsel. Again David
said, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will
shew them his covenant” (Ps. 25:14). The word “secret” here means “council,
consultation, fellowship.”
8.
The expectation that I will see it!
Psalm 33:18-22
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them
that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; [19] To deliver their soul
from death, and to keep them alive in famine. [20] Our soul waiteth for the
Lord: he is our help and our shield. [21] For our heart shall rejoice in him,
because we have trusted in his holy name. [22] Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon
us, according as we hope in thee.
Everything
God tells me about hoping and trusting in Him is to be held with the
“expectation” that I will receive it from Him! Are YOU thinking that way?
Question: Where is the evidence today that God delights in me?