Mighty MercySample

THE MERCY TEST

Now that we have learned that mercy is a heart issue, let us test our understanding by looking further into David’s example.

At last, after everything Saul had done to David, he died by committing suicide (1 Samuel 31). How is that for justice being served! Neither David nor anyone else was accountable for Saul’s death, he brought it over himself. But David reacted to the news in a surprising way. “David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord’s army and the nation of Israel, because they had died by the sword that day” (2 Samuel 1:11-12, NLT).

Any skeptic would argue that David was probably just behaving like most people we see at fictional television funerals. Behind their brand name black veils, the mourners are already plotting how they can benefit from the “tragedy”. But David’s feelings were sincere. He wrote a song for the funeral, commanding that everybody in Judah sings it for generations to come. “How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. O women of Israel, weep for Saul, for he dressed you in luxurious scarlet clothing, in garments decorated with gold” (2 Samuel 1:23-24, NLT).

And that is the merciful heart of God. He weeps for sinners. Paul describes his own experience like this. “‘But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life’” (1 Timothy 1:16, NLT).

How do you feel about it when a person who has hurt you does not know Jesus? Do you think that showing mercy may bring them closer to God?

Let us examine our hearts for any insincerity. Let us show mercy to others and rejoice about every opportunity to bring others to salvation in Christ. “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Luke 15:7, NLT).