Mercy

by G. Jarvie | Category: General | Jan 1944

"For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6.6).

God has spoken concerning Himself as "A God full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy and truth" (Exodus 34. -6). The revelation thus given of Himself was made -the basis of Moses' plea in Numbers 14.18, 19, that He should pardon His people's iniquity. When David fled from Saul and found refuge in a cave he extolled God's mercy as being" great unto the heavens" (Psalm 57.10), whilst in Micah 7.18 we are told that "He delighteth

in mercy." -

The Hebrew word in these passages is Chesed which Dr. Robert Young in his concordance renders as kindness, and a study of the various Scriptures where the word occurs will show how appropriate this meaning is. Besides being most frequently rendered as mercy there are many passages where it is rendered as kindness and lovingkindness. On two occasions the Lord Jesus quoted from the portion of the book of Hosea mentioned above, saying, "I desire mercy." See Matthew 9.13; 12. 7. "I desire kindness." How like our Lord Jesus Christ when He came to dwell among us "full of grace and truth"! - In a hard and bitter world He "looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters," but He found none (Psalm 69.20). He who is described as "the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father "when here below was moved with compassion as He looked upon the multitude, for to Him they were as sheep - scattered, not having a shepherd (Matthew 9.36). Oh that this grace were more manifest in us His servants! David was a man after God's own heart. God's thoughts as expressed in His words found an abiding place in his heart and this led to David's ways becoming like God's ways, so we read in 2 Samuel 9.8, "And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him" ? The rest of the chapter tells something of his kindness to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of Jonathan.

In Matthew 9.13 and 12.7 where the Lord Jesus quotes from Hosea, saying, " I desire mercy " the word translated " mercy" is Eleos which like the Hebrew word Chesed also means "kindness."

In writing to Timothy, the apostle Paul says, "The Lord grant mercy (kindness) unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain" (2 Timothy 1.16). At some trouble be had sought out and found the apostle in his prison cell, and thither he often bad gone to refresh him. " Iii that day" the Lord in His mercy will remember the mercy shewn by that good man to the apostle.

In -Proverbs 19. 22 we read, "The desire of a man is the measure of his kindness" (Hebrew, Chesed). Little wonder then that the hearts of men are hardening with the love of self and the love of money increasing, as men go further from God who is the great Source of kindness! How sad that the apostle should have to write with sorrow in his heart, "All-seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 2.21)!

May it be Ours, as beloved children of God, to be imitators of Himself. We have cause indeed to "glorify God for His mercy, kindness" (Romans 15.9), for "God, being rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, quickened us together with Christ" (Ephesians 2.4, 5). As those who seek to tell out the good news of the love of God we need kindly hearts. Whilst speaking earnestly and faithfully let us ever remember that God's thoughts for men are thoughts of kindness. He longs for their salvation and that they should come to the knowledge of the truth. What drawing power there is in the - kind words of men whose hearts are touched by the kindness of God !

G. Jarvie | Jan 1944
General