Don Stewart :: Is God a Merciful God?

Yes. Although God is a God of justice He is also a God of mercy. The Bible says that God's mercy is an attribute He possesses. Mercy can be defined as God's divine goodness that He exercises toward His creatures. The mercy of God is expressed in a number of ways.

God Showed His Mercy Toward Israel

God has been merciful to the nation Israel.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption (Psalm 130:7).

Jeremiah wrote.

Go, proclaim this message toward the north: Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the LORD, 'I will not be angry forever' (Jeremiah 3:12).

Isaiah the prophet wrote.

For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back (Isaiah 54:7)

God Shows His Mercy Toward The Church

God has showed mercy toward the members of the New Testament church.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).

Those who trust Him are recipients of His mercy in a special way.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

He Gives Mercy On Those Who Are Afflicted

God grants mercy on those who are afflicted.

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones (Isaiah 49:13).

The Mercy Is Given According To His Will

God grants mercy according to His will. God said to Moses.

And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion (Exodus 33:19)

Commenting on this statement in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul emphasized.

It does not, therefore, depend on a person's desire or effort, but on God's mercy (Romans 9:16).

Mercy Is The Basis Of Salvation

We are saved because of God's mercy.

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

Daniel wrote.

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him (Daniel 9:9).

The psalmist said.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" - and you forgave the guilt of my sin (Psalm 32:5).

Mercy Is The Basis Of Hope

The mercy of God is the basis of hope for the believer

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever (Psalm 52:8)

God Showed Mercy In Sending His Son

The mercy of God reached its highest point when He sent His Son into the world Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, said.

To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven (Luke 1:77,78).

Summary

God is a God of mercy. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve - judgment- and getting what we do not deserve - heaven. The mercy of God is a major theme of Scripture. He gives us specific examples of where he has extended his mercy. First, God has had mercy on the nation Israel, his chosen people. When Israel sinned against the Lord he did not reject them. God has also shown mercy on the New Testament church. The Bible also says that God has mercy on those who are afflicted. His ultimate extension of mercy was shown when He sent His Son.