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6) OUR GOD IS MERCIFUL Psalm 116:5
God's mercy is abundant, but we are warned that His mercy is conditional. In Romans 9 : 15, which is taken from Exodus 33 : 19, it is stated, “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.”
Mercy in the Psalms
The Psalmist speaks of God's mercy and goodness in many places. In Psalm 116 : 5, we read, “Gracious is Yahweh and righteous, yea our God is merciful.” In Psalm 103 : 8, we are told, “Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Although He is merciful, we are here warned that he is “slow to anger,” which immediately warns us that He will also be angry. This is exemplified by the many times that Yahweh became angry with the faithlessness of the nation of Israel, as recorded by the prophets. But “great is his mercy towards them that fear Him. (Psalm 103 : 11)”. And again in verse 13. “Yahweh pities them that fear Him,” and again in verse 17, “the mercy of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him.”
These verses repeatedly relate the mercy of God to the reverence and fear that must be shown by those upon whom His mercy will be bestowed. This same Psalm also imposes further conditions on those who seek God's mercy. This mercy is given to those who “keep His covenant and to those who remember His commandments to do them... and to those hearkening to the voice of His word.” (verses 18 and 20) The voice of God is only heard through a careful study of the written word, which has been preserved through the ages.
Many of the Psalms reflect this emphasis on the relationship between reverence for the Creator and His blessing upon the faithful. “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments.” (Psalm 111 : 10) With wisdom and obedience come mercy as we see in Psalm 115: 13. “He will bless them that fear Yahweh.”
Psalm 119 is a long Psalm that repeatedly emphasises the importance of Yahweh's commandments. Almost in every few verses, God's law, testimony, statutes, precepts, word, judgements and commandments are mentioned as essential to an understanding of the Creator and His requirements of the faithful.
Obedience and Mercy
David became a victim of God's anger. When attempting to bring the ark to Jerusalem, because David did not observe Yahweh's directives detailing the transportation of the ark, Uzzah was killed when he touched the ark as it was shaken as the animals transporting it stumbled. Not until the commandment of Yahweh was obeyed was any attempt to move the ark made again. David's motive appeared worthy, but the lesson that David had to learn from this humbling experience was that Yahweh required obedience to His commands. The lesson was learnt through the death of Uzzah, which no doubt would have grieved and shocked David.
In Psalm 128 : 1, the same concept of reverence and obedience is summed up briefly in “Blessed is every one that fears Yahweh; that walks in His ways.” Yahweh's long-suffering and patience with the nation of Israel is captured by Isaiah in his appeal to the nation. “Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” There is then a condition attached for forgiveness and mercy. “If ye be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” A change in attitude was required on the part of the people. “But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword.” (Isaiah 1: 18-20) Even a nation immersed in disobedience was offered Yahweh's mercy. Yahweh is longsuffering and patient, but the expression of this mercy is conditional on fear and obedience to His commands.
Longsuffering is Mercy
Jeremiah also develops the patience and longsuffering of Yahweh towards Israel. Yahweh pleaded with the nation to heed his commands and to fear Him. “They that handle the law know me not... Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 2 : 8-9) Isn't the pleading of Yahweh with the nation evidence of His great mercy?
Malachi also records Yahweh's appeal to the nation of Israel.” A son honours his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is my honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear?... O priests that despise my name, And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar... and if ye offer the blind for sacrifice is it not evil?” (Malachi 1 : 6-8) Grace, forgiveness and mercy, although offered to the nation, had been rejected and would, through the Messiah be offered to the Gentiles. “For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles.” (Malachi 1 : 11)
Mercy is a Gift
As we have already noted in Romans 9 : 15, Yahweh bestows mercy on whom He wills. It is, even today, still conditional on reverence and fear. For a world that continually ignores the Creator and His written Word and sets up governments that flout the moral standards required by the Creator, there will be judgement when the hand of forgiveness and mercy is withdrawn.
A world that largely ignores the Creator, will often cry out and wonder why an all powerful God allows tragedies such as wars and calamities to occur. The answer is simple. Like the nation of Israel, when Divine directives are treated with contempt and when man pursues his own greed and desires, calamities will occur. The Psalms frequently align mercy with responsibility and obedience, as demonstrated below.
Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psalm 62: 12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.
Psalm 85: 7-10 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psalm 86: 5, 15. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
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