Mighty Mercy

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 24:1-22, Romans 12:14-21

BRAVE ENOUGH FOR MERCY

I love watching a good courtroom drama that ends with justice. The best part of the story is usually when the innocent victim finally finds the courage to stand up against the perpetrator. His or her bravery causes goosebumps in the silent courtroom. The villain will get his punishment at last. 

Like the time when king Saul surprised David and his men in a cave in En-Gedi (1 Samuel 24). 

By this time, David had been the victim of Saul’s madness for a long time. He married Saul’s daughter after a failed trap to have him killed in battle (1 Samuel 18). He humiliated himself by pretending to be insane in front of King Achish to stay safe from Saul (1 Samuel 21). And his parents even had to move to Moab to escape Saul’s crazy fury (1 Samuel 22). Thank God, for finally coming to the rescue! 

If I were part of the story, I would definitely have been the friend urging David on to have his day of justice. “‘Now’s your opportunity!’ David’s men whispered to him. ‘Today the Lord is telling you, I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” (1 Samuel 24:4, NLT). But David took bravery a step further than facing his adversary. Even though he got close enough to cut a piece of Saul’s robe, he did not act on his feelings of hurt and betrayal. 

David found the courage to override his human instincts. He made a conscious decision to trust and obey God instead of going after his own desires for victory and justice against Saul. It did not come naturally, it took restraint on David’s part (1 Samuel 24:7). “For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one” (v. 10, NLT). 

You see, the courage to show mercy is not born from merely obeying a law against murder. David’s brave act of mercy was rooted in an intimate relationship with God. David trusted God’s goodness over the evil living in Saul’s heart. Even Saul himself could see it despite his madness. “And he said to David, ‘You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil’” (1 Samuel 24:17, NLT). David also trusted God’s justice over sin. “‘May the Lord therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!’” (v. 15). 

What is keeping you from showing mercy to people who have wronged you? Are you perhaps not feeling so sure that God will cause justice to prevail? 

Let us be brave enough to show mercy. Let us trust God to keep his promises of justice. Never pay back evil with more evil… Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘I will take revenge; I will pay them back,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19, NLT). “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (v. 21).

Scriptures: 1 Samuel 26:1-25, Micah 6:8, Hebrews 12:1-3, Matthew 5:3-12

REALLY? MORE MERCY?

So Saul was grateful that David spared his life and they all lived happily after. Well… not quite! I am not sure how David knew that Saul could not be trusted after the cave debacle, but two chapters later he was still hiding (1 Samuel 26). This time with an even better opportunity to end Saul’s madness.

David’s friend Abishai knew that David would keep his word to spare Saul and his family, so he offered to help. “‘God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!’ Abishai whispered to David. ‘Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!’” (1 Samuel 26:8, NLT). There would be no blood on David’s hands. Abishai would take the fall if it came to that. And everybody would be rid of a lunatic! Problem solved. But no, David trusted God once again. “‘No!’ David said. ‘Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? 10 Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. 11 The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed!’” (v. 9-11).

If David had to analyze all the complicated aspects of his relationship with Saul, self-preservation would have been the way to go. Talk about a toxic relationship! It was an entanglement of jealousy, pride, and guilt. That is what sin does, it entangles. It complicates our lives in ways that keep us from seeing God’s love. But when we manage to break free from our sins and complications, we find God’s way. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1, NIV).

Today we learn an important truth about mercy. No matter how many times David had to face Saul, it was not about him. It was about God’s right to choose his anointed. Just as it is not about us. Only when we take the focus off ourselves are we able to obey God. It changes the logic. What looks like a sacrificial act of kindness to another person is not about the one on the receiving end at all! What they have done or failed to do is irrelevant. God’s word is clear. “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT). It is as simple as that.

How does it change your view of mercy when you take human complications out of the picture? Is it easier to consider mercy when you realize that it is not about you?

Let us please God by showing mercy to others. And let us enjoy the full blessings He intends for us. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7, NLT).

Scriptures: Acts 13:22, 2 Samuel 24:10-25, John 3:16-17, Matthew 9:9-13, 2 John 1:3

WHO’S THE MERCY BOSS?

In yesterday’s reading, we learned that showing mercy pleases God. But it is not only about keeping a commandment, it is about following his example. God is delighted when we show mercy to others because that is Heaven’s way. He wants his heart to be revealed through our acts of mercy. David’s mercy towards Saul played a part in making him “a man after his own heart” (Acts 13:22). 

God’s heart is not corrupted like our human hearts. His mercy towards us is not a struggle against sinful agendas. In 2 Samuel 24, when David faced punishment from God for taking a census, He knew that he would still be better off at the mercy of God than men. “‘I’m in a desperate situation!’ David replied to Gad. ‘But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands’” (v. 14, NLT). God wants our hearts to become like his. 

God’s desire for the world is that every single person will be saved (John 3:16-17). And He wants us to think in the same way. “Then he [Jesus] added, ‘Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners’” (Matthew 9:13, NLT). God’s command to show mercy intends to bring us closer to Him. 

When God tells us to show mercy to others, He is actually inviting us to live in awareness of his mercy. God calls us to start each day by remembering his great love for us. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:22-24, NLT). 

What role does God’s mercy play in your everyday life? How do you see other people when you think of his mercy towards you? 

Let us grow closer to God by living in awareness of his mercy. Let us become more like Him by showing mercy to others. “Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father – will continue to be with us who live in truth and love” (2 John 1:3, NLT).

Scriptures: 2 Samuel 1, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-7

THE MERCY TEST

Now that we have learned that mercy is a heart issue, let us test our understanding by looking further into David’s example. 

At last, after everything Saul had done to David, he died by committing suicide (1 Samuel 31). How is that for justice being served! Neither David nor anyone else was accountable for Saul’s death, he brought it over himself. But David reacted to the news in a surprising way. “David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day” (2 Samuel 1:11-12, NLT). 

Any skeptic would argue that David was probably just behaving like most people we see at fictional television funerals. Behind their brand name black veils, the mourners are already plotting how they can benefit from the “tragedy”. But David’s feelings were sincere. He wrote a song for the funeral, commanding that everybody in Judah sings it for generations to come. “How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold” (2 Samuel 1:23-24, NLT). 

And that is the merciful heart of God. He weeps for sinners. Paul describes his own experience like this. “‘But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life’” (1 Timothy 1:16, NLT). 

How do you feel about it when a person who has hurt you does not know Jesus? Do you think that showing mercy may bring them closer to God? 

Let us examine our hearts for any insincerity. Let us show mercy to others and rejoice about every opportunity to bring others to salvation in Christ. “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7, NLT).

Scriptures: 1 Timothy 2:1-6, Hebrews 1:8-9, Romans 2:1-4, John 17:22-23

WHO QUALIFIES FOR MERCY?

Yesterday’s reading reminded us of God’s desire for all sinners to be saved. “This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4, NLT). But we also know that there is a zero-tolerance policy for sin in God’s Kingdom. “You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than anyone else” (Hebrews 1:9, NLT). So where does mercy fit in? 

As believers, we are often tempted to accept the fate of lost people around us. We even feel a sense of relief when the Bible is on the side of God’s people. Like this verse in 1 Peter 2 for example “They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession” (v. 8-9, NLT). Phew! Thank you, Jesus! 

It is easy to be so grateful for our salvation in Christ that we forget why He chose us. The answer is in the very same verse that we just read. “You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9, NLT). And guess how we do it? Read the next verse. “‘Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy’” (v. 10). 

The only way unbelievers see God is through us. And since showing mercy is not the norm, it is a profound way to show God to the world. “Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world” (1 Peter 2:12, NLT). Showing mercy is therefore not even about showing mercy, it is about showing God to the world. Everybody in the world. 

Do you sometimes feel that showing mercy will send the wrong message about your sense of right and wrong? Are you worried that evildoers will confuse mercy for approval of their poor behavior? 

That is not our problem! God uses kindness and mercy to lead others to repentance for his good purposes. “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:4, NLT). 

Let us do our part in God’s plan by showing mercy to everyone around us. Let us not stand in anybody’s way to see God by withholding mercy. “‘I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me’” (John 17:23, NLT).

Scriptures: Romans 5:12-21, 2 Timothy 1:9-10, Isaiah 38:15-17, James 5:19-20

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES?

Day six of a seven-day devotional may seem a bit late to start with definitions, but this one will help us today. The dictionary describes mercy as “compassion or forgiveness towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm”. Wow! Does it mean that there should never be any punishment or consequences for sin? No. 

God’s position on sin did not change when Jesus died on the cross. The punishment for sin is death, it will never change. “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (Romans 5:12, NLT). Death is a guaranteed consequence of sin. But by God’s mercy we will not bear that consequence, we have eternal life in Christ. “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 21). 

Life and death are at the center of mercy. The whole purpose of Christ’s merciful act of salvation was to bring life instead of death. “And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News” (2 Timothy 1:10, NLT). And that is the secret to showing mercy. 

Whenever we face the difficult task of discerning between mercy and punishment, we should measure the necessary consequences against life or death. Which outcome will bring life to a deadly situation? How can our actions spare people more death? By death, I mean any outcome that robs people from living in the richness of God’s love. Treating broken people in a way that leaves them even more broken does not lead to life. Even though it may sometimes mean a form of punishment. As long as life through Christ is at the heart of every consequence. “Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live!” (Isaiah 38:16, NLT). God’s mercy can still be seen in punishment. It is to meant to save lives! 

Do you think it is possible for compassion and justice to prevail simultaneously? How does the idea of bringing life to an unjust situation change your view of necessary consequences? 

Let us bring life to the world around us by showing mercy. Let us always focus on rescuing others from death by sharing the mercy we receive through Jesus Christ. “My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” (James 5:19-20, NLT).

Scriptures: Matthew 18:21-35, James 2:8-13

LIKE IT OR NOT

In yesterday’s reading, we were reminded that showing mercy to others is a matter of life and death. Our acts of mercy are essential for others to understand and accept salvation through Christ. But it is just as crucial for us who have been saved already.

In Matthew 18, Jesus gives an excellent illustration of the role of forgiveness and mercy in the lives of believers. In fact, the story of the unforgiving debtor is so logical that it punches you in the gut. Like the audience of that day, most people will return the favor or “pay it forward” when someone suddenly pays off all their debt. Believers as well as unbelievers. But God’s expectations are even higher for his children.

The value that God places on mercy in believers’ lives is so high that it comes with great power. By showing or denying mercy to others, we have the power to override God’s forgiveness in our lives. In the same way that the unforgiving debtor lost his good fortune and had to pay off all his debts from prison in the end, we will be accountable if we do not show mercy. “‘That is what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters’” (Matthew 18:35, NLT).

We started this Plan by thinking about the balance between justice and mercy. When should people be held accountable or shown mercy? Unfortunately, as long as we live on earth we will need social justice systems to maintain some order in the fallen world. But mercy is about the heart. It is about realizing that no human being better than anyone else when it comes to the law. “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws” (James 2:10, NLT). And the same amount of mercy is needed for everybody’s salvation. “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you” (v. 13).

Do you believe that showing mercy gives you the power to save the lives of yourself and those around you? How does it change the way you look at people when they are being held accountable for wrong things they have done?

Let us thank God for his merciful heart towards us every day. And let his love grow in our hearts as we show mercy to others as well. “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness” (Psalms 86:15-16, NLT).