Recognition and Appreciation of God’s Mercy Toward Us

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Abraham
Genesis 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Jacob
Genesis 32:10a I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant;
Ezra
Ezra 9:13a And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve.
David
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Daniel
Daniel 9:18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.
Jonah
Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
The Slothful Servant
Matthew 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

MEMORY VERSE: 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. —Lamentations 3:22-23

CENTRAL THOUGHT: In order to properly show mercy, we must love and appreciate the mercy God shows to us and others. Not understanding or even resenting God’s mercy causes us to be disappointed, angry, and harsh with others and ourselves.

WORD DEFINITIONS

Genesis 32:10 “the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth”: the favor, especially kindness to the needy, lowly and miserable; and the faithfulness and reliableness, of God.
Psalm 51:1 “lovingkindness”: favor, specifically lovingkindness in redemption from sin.
Jonah 3:10 “God repented of the evil”: to be sorry; rue; to be moved to pity and change mind.
Matthew 25:24 “hard man”: rough; stern; austere; violent; unyieldingly harsh.

LESSON BACKGROUND

Can you see a pattern in Bible history of individuals whose recognition and grateful estimation of Divine mercy influenced the way they looked at themselves, at life’s events, and at others? Abraham, interceding for Sodom; Jacob, begging help for his rendezvous with Esau; David, repenting for his great sins and seeking forgiveness; Ezra, pleading for the Israelites recovering from captivity; Jeremiah, recognizing God’s compassion in that they were not consumed by His judgments; and Daniel, entreating God to remember His promise to the chastened exiles—these all acknowledged and appreciated God going beyond justice and having abundant mercy on them, unworthy as they were.

Contrast them with foolish Jonah and the slothful servant. Jonah tried to run from God’s command, and he revealed his reason. While he acknowledged God’s mercy to Nineveh (Jonah 4:2), he was blatantly angry about it! He had no love or appreciation for mercy. The whole point of God’s preparing the vine which shaded him, the worm that destroyed it and the sultry blast that caused him to faint was to teach him a lesson about God’s mercy to Nineveh, which was home to over 120,000 innocents and many animals.

Jesus’ parable about the wicked servant also taught about God’s mercy. This man didn’t comprehend about mercy, therefore he couldn’t love or appreciate mercy. He only perceived a harsh, judgmental master and drew his tragic conclusions from that wrong perspective.

Loving mercy brings hope and comfort. The opposite perspective breeds anger, resentment, and discouragement.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

DISCUSSION:

1. Perspective: Explain how our view of God’s mercy influences our view of life as a whole.

2. Prayer: Why can’t we carry a proper burden for the lost if our idea of mercy is skewed? How can we pray with perseverance, faith and hope?

3. Practice: What will change in our own experience and the way we deal with others when we begin to love and value mercy?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

The picture of Abraham drawing near to God to talk with Him about Sodom is so touching. It speaks of the close relationship the two had. They KNEW each other. They had confidence in each other. And because Abraham knew and valued God’s mercy, he pleaded with Him to preserve Sodom if possible.

The ideas Jonah and the slothful servant had about God are astounding; I find it more unbelievable that there are people today who feel the same way. Some, feeling that God is too harsh, don’t even try to please Him. Some carry such an arrogant attitude toward “bad” people that they seem to have pleasure when bad things happen to them. Both of them are missing a very vital point. God is a God of great compassion. He does not give requirements without giving grace. He is a God who can be pleased. He has no delight in the death of the wicked.

The two false ideas are connected. We cannot have mercy when we don’t comprehend mercy. When we perceive God to be harsh, we are also harsh—on ourselves and on others.

Our lesson today teaches us to LOVE mercy. Value it. Don’t presume upon it nor tread it underfoot; yet don’t underestimate it and become discouraged and hopeless. Thank God for it. Trust in it. Beg for it for others.

—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck

REFLECTIONS

Jesus and Mercy

I heard a loving angel’s voice, She bade me make her now my choice;
I did, and, oh! I do rejoice, To know that I’ve found Mercy.
Yes, Mercy is my only plea, I know that Jesus died for me;
He shed His blood on Calvary, Through which I have found Mercy.

This voice came crying at the door, It made me feel so sick and sore;
‘Twas Mercy came and called once more, And pointed me to Jesus.
He soothed my heart by sin oppressed, She gave me peace and perfect rest,
And now I am so fully blest! All glory be to Jesus.

While bowing at the cross in prayer, I seemed to sink into despair,
But Mercy came and kneeling there, She pointed me to Jesus.
He took my heart pressed down with guilt, And oh, His pard’ning love I felt,
My soul with peace and joy did melt, To know that I’d found Mercy.

The bliss I feel no tongue can tell, Because my soul is saved from hell,
‘Twas at the cross my burden fell, Where Mercy sought and found me.
She healed my wounds and gave relief unto my heart sore pained with grief,
And now in God is my belief, O Mercy! Loving Mercy!

By B. E. Warren, Song #66 in Echoes From Glory, Gospel Trumpet Company, 1893

—Words submitted by Bro. Harlan Sorrell