Love Mercy

I pretended to beat my head against the wall and groaned with exasperation. The limit had been reached. I was offended, irritated and upset. Witnesses to the confrontation that had occurred ten seconds prior, my co-workers praised me for biting my tongue and keeping my cool. Outwardly I had done the right thing, acting as a professional should, but inwardly my heart beat with fury. I loved this individual but honestly I didn’t want to be around them anymore. I prayed to God for mercy because I wanted to be done helping, serving and pouring into them. They did not seem worth the stress and energy. 

This was yesterday. In the perfect timing of God, I have to write a new post by Monday and the next command of Micah 6:8 to unpack is “love mercy.” I am thankful to serve a God that is deeply involved in my life and that teaches me specific things at the opportune time.

In Scripture, the Hebrew noun ‘ahabah is used to describe, both the love of husband toward wife (Gen. 29:20) and God’s love for His people (Deuteronomy 7:8). The Hebrew noun hesed refers to kindness, loving kindness, mercy and unfailing love. The phrase in Micah 6:8 literally translates as “the love of mercy.”[1] Along with doing justice, Israel was to provide mercy. Both justice and mercy are significant characteristics of God (Psalm 89:14). God expected His people to show love to others and to be loyal in their love toward Him, just as He had been loyal to them (Micah 2:8-9).[2]

Mercy is granted by a person in authority to someone who does not deserve it. God, the One who holds authority over all mankind, shows mercy to those who have no right to or worthiness of His kindness. Mercy is rooted in God and experienced in relation to Him. Christians can receive the virtue of mercy from God and then practice it in relationships with others. They can choose to think and act towards another with mercy by granting compassion to those who does not deserve it.[3]

Mercy or loving kindness is a main theme in the Old Testament. God’s covenant with Israel is a picture of mercy as it was granted to Israel freely and without prior obligation on the part of God (Psalm 79:8-9). Mercy was a constant quality of the relationship between God and the Israelites.[4]

In the new covenant, the mercy of God is expressed in the death of Jesus. Christ’s sacrifice is in itself is a merciful act that demonstrates divine compassion and makes possible the forgiveness of sins. Out of the Gospel comes the requirement for all Christians, who are by definition the recipients of mercy, to exercise mercy and compassion toward others.[5] The human response to God’s loving kindness is love. When Christians love and extend mercy it is evident that they belong to the heavenly Father (Matthew 4:44-48).[6]

 

The command is not “do mercy.” Micah said “love mercy.” To love mercy is for the mercy of God to penetrate your heart in such a way that it shapes who you are and what you do. Loving mercy is not fleeting, but lasting, like the loving kindness of God that lasts forever (Psalm 106:1). It is not easy and it is costly. It cost God the Father His one and only Son. Loving mercy is risky. It may result in being taken advantage of and being misunderstood.[7] Even God’s people rejected His Son as Messiah. To love mercy is to seek grace and mercy despite what someone deserves. All of us deserve hell and yet, “God showed His great love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Ouch! The mercy of God in my life is reason enough to embrace mercy and extend it to others. I am without excuse. The offenses of others toward me are nothing compared to the countless ways that I have offended God and sinned against Him. The moments when hardness, indifference or entitlement saturate my heart, the remedy is to cling to the truth that I have been saved by grace. 

I offer this prayer: God, thank You for You unfailing love and mercy towards me. I do not have it within myself to love mercy and to extend unconditional kindness to others. Specifically today I am struggling to show mercy toward this person that offended me yesterday. God, please help me. May I follow Your lead and show mercy at all costs. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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[1] Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Archer and Bruce K. Walker, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Volume 1 (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), 14; 305.

[2] "What Does it Mean to Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly (Micah 6:8)?." Bible Questions Answered. http://www.gotquestions.org/do-justly-love-mercy-walk-humbly.html (accessed October 21, 2013).

[3] Elwell, Walter A.. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1984), 761.

[4] Ibid 761

[5] Ibid 761

[6] Ibid 713

[7] "What Does God Require of You? Part Two: To Love Mercy." First Parish in Concord. http://www.firstparish.org/cms/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=317 (accessed October 21, 2013).