Mercy In The Midst Of Judgement
BRD REFLECTIONS
Jeremiah 49 and Psalm 51 (NIV)
(Patrick Chua, Pastoral Team Member, Witness & Evangelism)
READ:
Jeremiah 49 and Psalm 51 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In these two chapters — Jeremiah 49 and Psalm 51 — we see the judgement and mercy of God running side by side. God is a God of justice, but He is also a God of mercy.
Through Prophet Jeremiah, God pronounced judgement against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, and Elam. For example God’s judgement on the Ammonites who worshipped the god of Molech by sacrificing children to the god by fire.
Yet after the judgement was over, God promised mercy to Ammon, “But I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites in days to come. I, the Lord, have spoken” (v6, NLT). Likewise to Elam, “But I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (v39, NLT). To Edom, even in the midst of judgement, God granted mercy to the needy: “But I will protect the orphans who remain among you. Your widows, too, can depend on me for help” (v11, NLT).
Attributed to King David, Psalm 51 regards the time Prophet Nathan came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, with the opening “Have mercy on me, O God, …” (v1, NLT). David humbled himself before God and confessed his sins, saying, “Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgement against me is just” (v4, NLT). He recognised that God’s judgement is just, God had the final say whether to grant him mercy. David didn’t come before God with excuses or justified his case, he humbly acknowledged his sins, begged for mercy and repented with a broken spirit and contrite heart: “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (v17, NIV). He sought forgiveness from God, not because he wanted to avoid punishments and the consequences of his sins, but because he feared losing his intimate relationship with God. “Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me” (v11, NLT). These words show his intention of coming to God in repentance.
APPLY:
In today’s society, it is so easy to have the attitude that I deserve the best and that it is my right to have the best. Sometimes I even have the thought that I deserve to be forgiven. In today’s scripture reading, I am reminded of God’s judgement and mercy. I should be grateful to God for not giving me what I deserve for my sins. But even if I have to bear the punishments and consequences, like King David I need to recognise that God’s judgement is just, and God has the ultimate right whether to grant me mercy. The posture of my heart should be that I come before God with humility to confess my sins – “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9, NLT).
Yes, I am saved by grace in Jesus Christ – “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:24, NLT). However, this doesn’t grant me the right to approach God with the attitude that I deserve to be forgiven. In fact, “grace” means God is giving me what I don’t deserve, therefore I should repent with a broken spirit and contrite heart. I seek for forgiveness from God, not to avoid punishments and the consequences of my sins but to restore my broken relationship with God, because I have hurt Him.
DO:
1. To be merciful to others, as God has been merciful to me.
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7, NLT)
“Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’” (Matthew 18:33, NLT)
2. Forgive others as God has forgiven me.
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14,15, NLT).
PRAY:
I am a sinner; You’re blameless, Lord. My sins against You can’t be ignored. They will be punished, I know they must. Your law demands it, for You are just. If You would count everything that I’ve done wrong, who could stand? But there’s forgiveness with You, God. Have mercy on me, have mercy on me. A broken and a contrite heart You won’t turn away. Have mercy on me, have mercy on me. Because of Your steadfast love. I need Your mercy, Lord. Pour out Your steadfast love. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen
(Prayer taken from “Have Mercy On Me” lyrics © Sovereign Grace Praise by Mark Altrogge)
