1011AFC031210
Happy Aloha Friday, Beloved. Here are some additional perspectives on mercy.
MERCY!
Lord, have mercy.
Show mercy
Be merciful
What is mercy? When we read that word in the Bible, how is it used? The first place I could find the word mercy in the Bible is in Genesis 19:16. It occurs in the story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. The angels sent to Lot to rescue Lot and his wife and daughters take the family by the hand and swiftly transport them out of the city which is about to be destroyed. This was an act of mercy by God. God has granted a favor to Abraham to spare this one family from the justice deserved by the whole region of five cities. What is mercy, and what is justice?
In the Bible I find two Hebrew words for mercy. One is chesed (KEH-sed). That is the word used in Lot’s story. It is a word that carries a meaning of integrity in judgment and is often associated with God’s covenant with Israel. It is God’s gift of grace arising from His compassion for His chosen people.
Another word in Hebrew is racham (RAHK-am) or rachamim. This is mercy that is associated with tender love, as that between mother and child. It is a word associated with family and the gentle love shown among its members. It comes from the Hebrew word for womb. One of the first places this word occurs is in the story of Jacob when he sends his sons to Egypt where their brother Joseph has gained a position of authority.
In the Septuagint and in the New Testament the Greek word used is eleos. We hear this word echoed in the ancient prayer Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
I have heard a few sermons in which the speaker states, “Justice occurs when you get what you deserve. Mercy occurs when you get what you don’t deserve.” That seems a bit ragged to me, but it does convey the idea that mercy is associated with justice and with grace – undeserved favor that comes from compassion. It is being sympathetic to the suffering of another. An Act of Mercy is something done with compassion for another who is in distress.
Sometimes mercy is seeing to it that justice is done. To relieve the suffering of those who are oppressed or abandoned or marginalized – that is mercy centered on justice. When we help those who live in fear for their lives because of evil being done to them, we sow justice in the world because of our compassion. We act on the promptings of our conscience to correct something that is wrong.
Sometimes mercy is given when the duty of delivering a just punishment is set aside and replaced with a willingness to be lenient or even to completely forgive the offense. This kind of mercy is also a characteristic of God’s covenant love for His creation.
Other times mercy is deep-felt sympathy for the suffering of another. We are conscious of the suffering of others and have a desire to reduce or eliminate that suffering by giving something of ourselves. We share their suffering.
Why does God want us to show mercy, to love mercy, to act with mercy?
These are ways for us to emulate God, to bring into our lives His image in us. He is inviting us to be what He created us to be: Like Him. God’s integrity is perfect and therefore His justice is perfect. Because His justice is perfect, His love is also perfect because it is given equally to all, even the sinful. Because His love is perfect, His mercy is perfect. God’s mercy rests on and surrounds every soul, every circumstance, every thought, word, or deed in our lives.
In the fifth chapter of Matthew we are given the Beatitudes. Jesus talks about the way to blessedness. It is the way of humility and compassion. It is not the rigid justice imposed by the law. It is the flowing compassion given through love. It is to go beyond that which is required by doing more than is expected and doing so out of humble love and obedience. It is doing good things by exceeding the expectations of others, and exceeding even our own expectations for kindness. The chapter ends with “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“Alas, I cannot be perfect!” In and of yourself, no, you cannot be perfect. But by the mercy of God, you have been perfected through the death and resurrection of Christ.
“How can God be so vengeful, so cruel, so uncaring that He permits or causes so much suffering in the world? How is that ‘merciful?’?” God’s justice precedes God’s mercy. The Accuser has power in this world, but God’s power is greater. From the time of Creation to this moment, the choices made by everyone between good and evil, God or Satan are subject to God’s perfect justice. But by God’s perfect grace we are spared because of His perfect mercy. All He asks of us is to go and do likewise. Be just and merciful.
Today’s Bible Verse: Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Let the Spirit of God create in you integrity, justice, love, and mercy. Then go out and share all of that with everyone.
Pray for the PEOPLE. ALL the people. Use the Prayer for Every Living Soul found on our blog-site.
We learned this week that JP passed away. Thank you for your prayers and condolences. Please continue your prayers for everyone who has asked us to pray for them.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved
Chick Todd
Age quod agis.
Lenten Series on Mercy
Follow this series on Corporal Acts of Mercy
1011AFC031210
Happy Aloha Friday, Beloved. Here are some additional perspectives on mercy.
MERCY!
Lord, have mercy.
Show mercy
Be merciful
What is mercy? When we read that word in the Bible, how is it used? The first place I could find the word mercy in the Bible is in Genesis 19:16. It occurs in the story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. The angels sent to Lot to rescue Lot and his wife and daughters take the family by the hand and swiftly transport them out of the city which is about to be destroyed. This was an act of mercy by God. God has granted a favor to Abraham to spare this one family from the justice deserved by the whole region of five cities. What is mercy, and what is justice?
In the Bible I find two Hebrew words for mercy. One is chesed (KEH-sed). That is the word used in Lot’s story. It is a word that carries a meaning of integrity in judgment and is often associated with God’s covenant with Israel. It is God’s gift of grace arising from His compassion for His chosen people.
Another word in Hebrew is racham (RAHK-am) or rachamim. This is mercy that is associated with tender love, as that between mother and child. It is a word associated with family and the gentle love shown among its members. It comes from the Hebrew word for womb. One of the first places this word occurs is in the story of Jacob when he sends his sons to Egypt where their brother Joseph has gained a position of authority.
In the Septuagint and in the New Testament the Greek word used is eleos. We hear this word echoed in the ancient prayer Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
I have heard a few sermons in which the speaker states, “Justice occurs when you get what you deserve. Mercy occurs when you get what you don’t deserve.” That seems a bit ragged to me, but it does convey the idea that mercy is associated with justice and with grace – undeserved favor that comes from compassion. It is being sympathetic to the suffering of another. An Act of Mercy is something done with compassion for another who is in distress.
Sometimes mercy is seeing to it that justice is done. To relieve the suffering of those who are oppressed or abandoned or marginalized – that is mercy centered on justice. When we help those who live in fear for their lives because of evil being done to them, we sow justice in the world because of our compassion. We act on the promptings of our conscience to correct something that is wrong.
Sometimes mercy is given when the duty of delivering a just punishment is set aside and replaced with a willingness to be lenient or even to completely forgive the offense. This kind of mercy is also a characteristic of God’s covenant love for His creation.
Other times mercy is deep-felt sympathy for the suffering of another. We are conscious of the suffering of others and have a desire to reduce or eliminate that suffering by giving something of ourselves. We share their suffering.
Why does God want us to show mercy, to love mercy, to act with mercy?
These are ways for us to emulate God, to bring into our lives His image in us. He is inviting us to be what He created us to be: Like Him. God’s integrity is perfect and therefore His justice is perfect. Because His justice is perfect, His love is also perfect because it is given equally to all, even the sinful. Because His love is perfect, His mercy is perfect. God’s mercy rests on and surrounds every soul, every circumstance, every thought, word, or deed in our lives.
In the fifth chapter of Matthew we are given the Beatitudes. Jesus talks about the way to blessedness. It is the way of humility and compassion. It is not the rigid justice imposed by the law. It is the flowing compassion given through love. It is to go beyond that which is required by doing more than is expected and doing so out of humble love and obedience. It is doing good things by exceeding the expectations of others, and exceeding even our own expectations for kindness. The chapter ends with “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
“Alas, I cannot be perfect!” In and of yourself, no, you cannot be perfect. But by the mercy of God, you have been perfected through the death and resurrection of Christ.
“How can God be so vengeful, so cruel, so uncaring that He permits or causes so much suffering in the world? How is that ‘merciful?’?” God’s justice precedes God’s mercy. The Accuser has power in this world, but God’s power is greater. From the time of Creation to this moment, the choices made by everyone between good and evil, God or Satan are subject to God’s perfect justice. But by God’s perfect grace we are spared because of His perfect mercy. All He asks of us is to go and do likewise. Be just and merciful.
Today’s Bible Verse: Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Let the Spirit of God create in you integrity, justice, love, and mercy. Then go out and share all of that with everyone.
Pray for the PEOPLE. ALL the people. Use the Prayer for Every Living Soul found on our blog-site.
We learned this week that JP passed away. Thank you for your prayers and condolences. Please continue your prayers for everyone who has asked us to pray for them.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved
Chick Todd
Age quod agis.
Lenten Series on Mercy
Follow this series on Corporal Acts of Mercy
About Chick Todd
American Roman Catholic reared as a "Baptiterian" in Denver Colorado. Now living on Kauaʻi. USAF Vet. Married for over 50 years. Scripture study has been my passion ever since my first "Bible talk" at age 6 in VBS.
