The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Joshua E. during the 2007-2008 League.
SSI BIBLE STUDY #2: GOD'S MERCY
The Bible says in 1 John 4:16 that God is love, which is the core of his being. One of the major facets of this love is his unending mercy. As Paul writes in Romans 9:16: "So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it." It was not our idea, nor was it our right. His integral faithfulness is captured well in 2 Timothy 2:13 which tells us that, "If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is."
God's ultimate act of mercy was sending Jesus to die for our sins. Romans 6:23 tells us that "... [T]he wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." We read in Romans 3:22-24 that, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." John 3:16 reads: "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." God actually sent part of himself to die in our stead. We have all sinned, but God chose to pay, and in doing so reconciled us with himself.
God forgives us on a regular basis. It is a constant occurrence, a daily renewal of our relationship with him. As Jesus taught us to pray (found in Matthew 6:11-12) he said, "Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." Not only is forgiveness needed continually, but it is connected with our forgiveness of others. As we read in Matthew 5:7, "God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." Jesus often used comparative mercy in his parables, as in Matthew 18:21-35 which relates the story of the unmerciful servant. It illustrates the need for vertical mercy (from God to men) but also for horizontal mercy (from men to each other). James furthers the point from Matthew 18 that mercy is not completely unconditional: "There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you." (James 2:13)
We show mercy to one another by following the Golden Rule. Jesus told the story of a man who had been beaten by robbers and left by the side of the road to die, abandoned by the religious elite. He continued: "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill-I'll pay you on my way back.' [Jesus then asked his challenger] "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" "The one who treated him kindly," the religious scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same." (Luke 10:33-37) This theme is echoed in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." When we listen to Jesus, we find that mercy demands everything, but that is what he gave - and what we are called to give.
The Old Testament is full of passages that refer specifically and implicitly to God's mercy. It speaks of how, despite warning, the Israelites broke God's covenant, but he was still merciful. Nehemiah 9 gives us a glimpse of the state of the Jews while in Persian captivity; it is partly a mix of Jewish history and recognition of sins. But it is mainly an appeal to God's unending mercy. It is best summed up in Nehemiah 9:29-31: "You warned them to return to your Law, but they became proud and obstinate and disobeyed your commands. They did not follow your regulations, by which people will find life if only they obey. They stubbornly turned their backs on you and refused to listen. In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn't listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!"
God revealed to Isaiah how he feels about us. "'For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,' says the LORD, your Redeemer...'For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,' says the LORD, who has mercy on you." (Isaiah 54:7-8, 10)
While in Babylonian captivity, the prophet Jeremiah powerfully captures the rock-bottom sentiment that we sometimes encounter in our pain-filled world: "I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all-oh, how well I remember-the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left." (Lamentations 3:19-24) In other words, we all fall. We all experience the dejection inherent in our fallen world. But even in the midst of that agony, that pit of depression, God is there. He is merciful, ever the same.
We find out in Jonah 4 that the God of the Old Testament is not the genocidal maniac that many cynics make him out to be. In this story, God has sent Jonah to the city of Nineveh to warn the inhabitants that they need to change their ways or be destroyed. After they heed the warning, Jonah is upset that God did not pull a Sodom-and-Gomorrah and blast them to bits. He (interestingly) speaks regrettably of God's nature, saying "I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people." (Jonah 4:2b) God responds, "...Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" (Jonah 4:11) God's nature is retrained in punishment and generous in compassion.
Oftentimes, God's mercy can seem like a faraway concept, confined to the duty of erasing our sins and getting us into heaven. But it is far more than that. It is not only manifested to us in forgiveness, but in his comfort, healing, providence, and purpose. What did people cry out to Jesus when they wanted healing? "Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Among others, Luke 18:38) Mercy was not some abstract notion - it was in the here and now, in your face, can you help me? God is merciful in blessing us with all that we have, and in comforting us when we meet opposition. He is also merciful in giving our lives purpose in following him.
God's mercy is found in the ordinary. David continually asks for mercy in the Psalms. He prays, weeps, yells, dances, and bonds with God in a very day-by-day, genuine way. And what does he find? "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings." (Psalm 23:1-5) God has our backs every step of the way. And how does our story end? "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)
