ENDURING MERCY -- Monday:
The theme of God's mercy is a particularly precious one throughout the Scriptures. But it is more than a mere subject to be considered academically. It is something to be both pondered and expressed, thought upon and articulated. In the 118th Psalm, the people of God are summoned to a consideration of God's goodness. God had previously declared to Moses that He is "abundant in goodness" (Ex 34:6). Now that "goodness" is associated with His mercy, which "endures forever." By saying His "mercy endureth forever," the Lord is saying it is a part of His character. It is not something He exhibits on occasion that is actually a departure from His basic Person. When God shows mercy, He is revealing Himself.
The mercy of God is encapsulated in the expression "merciful and gracious" (Ex 34:6). Mercy emphasizes compassion, or tender consideration. Gracious emphasizes abundance, and the inclination to lavish His love upon us.
Because of the ravages of sin, and the spirit of conviction that comes upon people in the presence of God, holy men have appealed to the Lord's "tender mercies." David asked that they not be withheld from him (Psa 40:11). He reasoned such mercies could compel God to "blot out" his transgressions (Psa 51:1). These mercies can be found in extremely large measures: i.e., "the multitude of Thy tender mercies" (Psa 69:16), and can "come speedily to meet us"NKJV (Psa 79:8). Jeremiah once said, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness" (Jer 3:23). Every child of God has found occasion to thank and praise the Lord for this glorious circumstance.
The Spirit is not content to merely speak of the wonderful mercies of God. He insists that we join in the perceptive confession of that mercy. All of the people are to join in: "Let Israel now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.'" Those who have been blessed with places of high ministries are to also lift their voices: " Let the house of Aaron now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.'" Those who have seen Him work, and stand in reverential awe of our God are to also sound the word: "Let those who fear the LORD now say, ‘His mercy endures forever.'" Here is something on which the saints of God can agree and unite: confessing that the mercy of God endures forever!
While time endures, there will be no season when the mercy of God does not endure–when it is not accessible to the people. The mercy of God endures for ever. There will be no occasion when life's circumstances will put us beyond the compassion of our God. The mercy of God endures for ever. There will never be a sinner or wounded person who seeks God's mercy that will not come to the realization, "The mercy of God endures for ever." God has even begotten us again "according to His abundant mercy" (1 Pet 1:3).
One of the great expressions of thanksgiving for God's mercy is found in the 136th Psalm. The phrase "for His mercy endureth for ever" occurs twenty-six times in that memorable Psalm–in every single verse. It is like a resounding chorus, shouted out at the recollection of the wondrous works of God. It is associated with God being "good" (v 1), the "God of gods" (v 2), and the "Lord of lords" (v 3). The marvelous creation is traced back to the enduring mercy of God (vs 4-9). The deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and their protection in the wilderness is viewed as a sign of God's mercy (vs 10-20). The mercy of God is declared to be the trait that moved God to give Israel the land of Canaan (vs 21-22).
Divine mercy is then related to things common to all believers, regardless of the age in which they have lived. God's mercy moved Him to consider us in a "low estate" (v 23). It compelled Him to redeem us from "the hand of our enemies" (v 24). "All flesh" receives food from Him because of His mercy (v 25).
It is no wonder that the challenge is hurled out into the world, to all peoples during all times. "O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever" (Psa 26). After all, those who are in Christ Jesus are appropriately called "vessels of mercy" (Rom 9:23). They not only receive mercy, but become a means of giving it to others.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your wonderful mercy. It retrieved me, caused me to be born again, sustains me, and is bring me to glory. I praise You for such effective mercy!