What is the extent or limit to God’s mercy? Is there a place that mercy is cut off? The scripture basis of mercy reveals that God delights in mercy (Micah 7:18-19). This does not sound like mere tolerance. What picture does the word “delight” paint in your mind? A person who delights in something will invest in it, treasure it and develop it for the highest good. Does mercy cease its influence at the point of death? His mercy reaches to the heavens (Psalms 57:10). He is abounding in mercy (Psalms 103:8). His mercy reaches to the lowest point, delights in us, and abounds toward us. What is the nature of this tender mercy? One of the tragedies of our modern lexicons and translations is the rendering of the word “pity.” The modern day use of this word differs from the time of its original translation. The idea of pity gives a picture that is not consistent with the idea of Biblical mercy. The idea of “pity” can be misleading and restrict the authentic meaning of mercy.
Theology and modern day teaching gives the impression that God has two moods… very merciful at one moment and very strict and punishing the next. Theology bounces from one extreme to another. The idea of “mercy” in modern teaching is very flimsy and not solid. It is not a mere tolerance or looking the other way. Look at and ponder these scriptures:
Psalms 85:10a -“Mercy and truth are met together…”
Proverbs 14:22- “Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.”
Proverbs 20:28 -“Mercy and truth preserve the kings and his throne is upholden by mercy.”
Proverbs 21:21 -“He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,…”
Hosea 4:1b -“…because there is nor truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”
Hosea 12:6 -“Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and Judgment and wait on thy God continually.” Here we see “Mercy” is connected to “Truth.” We also see “Mercy” and “Judgment” used together. Jesus himself said the “Weightier matters of the law was Judgement, mercy and faith.” We see that Mercy is used in connection with Truth and Judgment.
Matthew 6:36 -“Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
Colossians 3:12 -“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy…”
Do we associate the idea of “Holy and beloved” with “bowels of mercy.” The Rotherman translation declares “tender affections of compassion.”
God is declared to be full of tender mercy.”
Nehemiah 9:19 -“Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way:…”
God has manifold Mercy! He is rich in Mercy (Ephesians 2:2).
I Peter 1:3 -“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope…”
Zechariah 7:9 -“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:…” What God command Something He Himself would be doing as a result of His Character and Nature? Ponder this verse:
Psalms 51:1 – “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Notice the “Multitude of tender mercies…” God declare He give us the sure mercies of David”(Isaiah 55:3;Acts 13:34). Something that is sure, and solid and not weak.
Psalms 145:9 0 “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion: slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
II Corinthians 1:3 -“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
Romans 12:1-“I Beseech you brethren by the Mercies of God that you present your body a living sacrifice…” One translation denotes “In view of God’s Mercy…”
Titus 3:5 – “…according to his mercy he saved us…”
Isaiah 16:5 The Amplified Bible -“Then in mercy and loving-kindness shall a throne be established, and the One shall sit upon in truth and faithfulness in the tent of David, judging and seeking justice and being swift to do righteousness.”
Hebrews 4:16 -“Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy…”
Nahum 1:3 -“The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power,…”
I believe we need a shift in our thinking about the word “judgment.” We have heard it in such a negative light. In reality, God’s judgments are ultimately acts of His loving-kindness and truth. There is a huge link between the idea of compassion and mercy in the original Hebrew. In Isaiah 16:5, the idea of “faithfulness” is translated in Moffatt’s translation as “trustworthiness.” The Biblical connection between “mercy” and the salvation of all humanity in Christ is strong. “Let the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be eulogized who impelled by His abundant mercy caused us to be born again so that we have a hope which is alive, this living hope have been made actual…” (I Peter 1:3 The Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest).
One of the definitions that is derived from the Greek is the word oiktirmos -“a feeling for those in distress or experiencing ill will.” One defined it as “emotions, longings.” Have you considered that God longs to be with You? He is not ready to banish you forever as it has been taught. “In thou vast pity (mercy and compassion) wipe out my offenses …”(Psalms 51:1 The Amplified Bible). Marvin Vincent D. D. puts the phrase “The Compassionate Father” in II Corinthians 1:3. Vincent brings out that the Greek word “oiktirmos ..is the feeling which expresses itself in the exclamation of “Oh” on sensing another’s misery. The other Greek word, eloes, means “the manifestation of the original mercy (oiktirmos)” One of the most thought provoking and stimulating verses about God’s Mercy is this:
Romans 11:32 NAS-“God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” We see here that the context is judgment and mercy
Romans 11:33b Weymouth -“How inscrutable His Judgments, how trackless His footsteps!”
Romans 11:33b Amplified -“How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments.”
Romans 11:33b Moffatt -“How mysterious are His methods.” Nate Rangel in his paraphrase of this verse states: “He meets unbelief with mercy and changes our thinking through affection; overcoming evil with good. God can’t lose.”
Romans 11:33 The Message-“Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. In a modern world of C. S. I , Forensics Files, investigation units, we see the evidence gives us a full picture of what happened. Search and look at the evidence that God’s longing for us, His extravagant generosity is abounding toward us, He is wealthy in mercy, He pours it on us by His Spirit. I have authentic hope because of His mercy. “Fear (reverence) the Lord and hope in His mercy.”
I Peter 5:7 Amplified-“Casting the whole of your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
Psalms 32:10b -“…But the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.”
Dr. Robert Young, a profound scholar and recognized authority in Hebrew, renders the word “kindness” where the KJV has “mercy.” The Young’s Concordance reads that the Greek word eleeo means “to be kind, beneficent.” The Strong’s Concordance renders it, “actively compassionate.”
Psalms 106:45 KJV -“And He remembered for them His covenant, and repented according to the multitude of His mercies.
Psalms 106: 45-46 NAS -“And He remembered His Covenant for their sake, and relented according to the greatest of His loving-kindness. He also made us objects of His compassion.” Have you ever considered this? You are the object of His compassion. He is not going to banish the object of His compassion to burn forever in a torture chamber.
Psalms 106:45 Amplified -“And He [earnestly] remembered for their sake His Covenant and relented their sentence of evil [comforting and easing Himself] according to the abundance of His mercy and lovingkindness [when they cried out to Him].
Psalms 103:4 Amplified -“Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercy;…” It is His tender mercy and lovingkindness that beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you!
Psalms 32:10b -“…but he that trust in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalms 23:6– “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:…” James Moffatt renders in his translation of Psalms 23, “goodness and kindness.” Both Moffatt and Dr. Robert Young chose the rendering of “kindness.” Notice it declares that “goodness” and “mercy” are to follow us. There are many who think that guilt and shame is to follow them all the days of their life. Ponder this verse:
Psalms 25:6-7 KJV -“Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving-kindness; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, no my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord. Notice this verse brings distinction between the “mercy of God”, “loving-kindness of God”, and “goodness.” Yet they are part of God’s character. This is God’s character and nature. God is not a punisher, tormentor and oppressor.
Joel 2:13 KJV -“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of evil. The Amplified adds to the translation by stating “abounding in loving-kindness…” Does this sound like the God that has been presented by modern theology?
Romans 2:4 KJV – “…not knowing that it is the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Most translators choose the word “kindness” rather than goodness. The Father God is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4). There is a vast supply of mercy that is available for the those who are hungry and desiring to know God. Eph. 2:4 in the Twentieth Century New Testament states “God in His abundant compassion…
Romans 2:4 Conybeare -“..and art thou ignorant that God, by His kindess [in witholding punishment], strives to lead thee to repentance. “Punishment is for the sake of amendment and atonement. God is bound by his love to punish sin in order to deliver his creature. He is bound by His justice to destroy sin in his creation. Love is justice.” George McDonald, Sermon: “Justice.“
“I believe justice and mercy are simply one and the same thing; without justice to the full there can be no mercy, and without mercy to the full there can be no justice.” George McDonald, Sermon:“Justice”
“The only victory love can enjoy is the day when its offer of love is answered by the return of love. The only possible final triumph is a universe loved by God and in love with God.” – William Barclay
Nahum 1:3 – “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:…”
God’s Patience and Passivity
Most assume that patience and passivity are one in the same. People spend there whole lives passive. They say: “Well, I am waiting on God.” It is really easy to assume by human emotions, that God is not actively involved with the restoration of all. Careful study will reveal that God is not anxious nor He is ever late. God’s patience is much stronger and passionate than mere passivity. The definition of patience is: “The will or ability to wait and endure without complaint.”
It is tragic that our translators picked this word to describe the patience of God. William Barclay once stated there are Greek words that describe God’s patience that are untranslatable to the English language. God’s patience is passionate. It is not mere tolerance, but very active and moving toward you with love. The definition of “passive” is: “taking no active part; inactive. Influenced or acted upon without exerting influence or acting in return.”
I was taught growing up that God was extremely passive. He is up there – cold, rigid and storing up His anger and wrath for me. After years and years of sinning, I unplugged the bathtub of His grace and all grace ran out to me.
God’s patience is more than mere endurance. God reached out to me when I was incapable of reaching out to Him. I was taught that I was “guilty as charged,” unworthy to reach out to Him. I wrote a check on grace He refused to cash.
Mark Eaton
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