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How does the Bible define "mercy?"
How does the Bible define "mercy?"
The
word “mercy” used to be a commonly used word in the church, but it will not be
as churches change to a more “positive” image, and refuse to preach on the
subject of “hell” and “judgment.”
The
“law of first mention” is something talked about in regard to the Bible. It means that we should take special note of how a
word is used when it is first mentioned in Scripture.
Genesis
19:16-19
16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold
upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the
LORD being merciful
unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them
forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou
in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy
sight, and thou
hast magnified thy mercy,
which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain,
lest some evil take me, and I die:
This
“first mention” of the word “mercy” is when Lot is being spared from
the judgment of God which is falling upon wicked Sodom and Gomorrah.
-
mercy
= “The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected.”
Mercy
is when we are spared from judgment or harm. But
when churches refuse to preach on “hell” and “judgment,” then there is
less and less need to talk about “mercy.” It
will be a word that is gradually phased out of sermons.
God just becomes the “Good Guy” that would not even think of
harming or judging anyone, so the subject of “mercy” never arises.
What
we are hearing today is that “God loves the Sodomite just like he is.” Is that what God said to the people of Sodom and
Gomorrah? “Hi, all you people of Sodom
— I am God! I just came down to let you
all know that I love you, and I will accept you just the way that you are!”
No,
that is not how the Lord came. Genesis
18:17-21 says, “And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a
great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his
children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do
justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of
him. And the LORD said, Because the cry
of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because THEIR SIN IS VERY GRIEVOUS; I will go down now, and see whether they have
done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will
know.”
The
angels that God sent on to Sodom did not go with the message, “Hi, everyone, we are
angels! We have come with the message that
‘God loves you!’ and that He will accept you just as you are!” This is what the angels told Lot. Genesis 19:12-13 says, “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any
besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the
city, bring them out of this place: For
WE WILL DESTROY THIS PLACE, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the
LORD; and THE LORD HATH SENT US TO DESTROY IT.”
There
is “mercy” with the Lord in regard to the Sodomites — but only if they will
repent. Ezekiel 33:11 says, “Say unto
them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but
that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why
will ye die...?” But if we are not
willing to preach “judgment,” then no one will be seeking for “mercy.” They will be justifying their sin, and will see no
need for mercy.
The
Biblical meaning of “mercy” is to be spared or rescued from judgment, harm,
danger, or trouble. Notice the following
verses.
Psalms
4:1 says, “Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when
I was in distress; have MERCY upon me, and hear my prayer.”
Psalms
6:2 says “Have MERCY upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones
are vexed.”
Psalms
9:13 says, “Have MERCY upon me, O LORD;
consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the
gates of death:”
1
Timothy 1:12-13 says, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for
that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I
obtained MERCY, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
Titus
3:5 says, “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;”
Jude
1:21 says, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the MERCY of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Through
the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have “mercy” granted to us for all of
eternity — the withholding of judgment against us, because His pure blood cleanses us
from all sin.
