Chapter 4: Forsake Not Mercy
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man (Pro. 3:3-4).
A lady went to a photography studio to have some portraits taken. When the photographer showed her the proofs the lady complained, saying, “These pictures don’t do me justice!” The photographer replied, “Lady, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!”
Mercy is a subject that can be defined as the expression of God’s compassion; however, its application varies depending on the situation and the person involved. We understand that mercy is something that we all need. Mercy is what allows for course correction, and mercy also can lead us to the door of repentance. Mercy gives us space and time for maturing. If we each received the just consequence of our actions from infancy on through adulthood, we would live in a world of ceaseless punishment. Mercy cannot be earned, deserved, nor demanded. If it could be then it would not be mercy.
Solomon wrote that we should not allow mercy or truth to forsake us, but rather we should bind them about (our)neck; (and) write them upon the table of (our) heart. Mercy and forgiveness are unique because they are an implied requirement of our belief, in that, we cannot receive mercy or forgiveness if we do not show them. The act of being merciful is an extension of our belief, and it is something that we must not neglect.
Two Debtors
Mercy and forgiveness are separate expressions of God’s grace, but they walk hand in hand together. Jesus when teaching about forgiveness spoke the following parable: Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses (Mt. 18:23-35).
In the parable one servant had been forgiven his debt, but, when he was in the position of authority, the same servant who had been forgiven his debt did not show mercy to the one indebted to him. There was no thought of compassion, of consideration, nor kindness. When his lord found out about his servant’s behavior, his lord withdrew his forgiveness.
In conjunction with this parable there is also a thought shared by James in his epistle, he wrote: For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment (James 2:13). If God’s mercy leads to repentance then mercy supersedes judgement. Jesus explained how the act of repentance reaches to heaven, when he said: Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Lk.15:10). This introduces the idea that mercy exists as the counterbalance to judgement.
Being a recipient of the master’s compassion should have taught the servant about being merciful, but in this illustration, it did not have that effect. James’ thought supports this by clarifying that if we have shown no mercy we will not be able to receive mercy.
Consequently, we can conclude, that without a true understanding of our position before our Judge, and without a true appreciation of our need for mercy, we will bring condemnation upon ourselves.
Justice, Judgement, Mercy, Truth
It is very difficult to focus on one aspect of God’s character without bumping into several others. There are interdependencies within every living being, and the same is true for our character. The character of God is multifaceted, and one character trait is dependent upon another. One example of this is the intertwining of judgement, justice, mercy, and truth.
The illustration of a tree is an apt description of God’s character. It is “a tree”, but a tree is made up of roots, trunk, bark, limbs, and leaves. Each part works together contributing to the whole even though each trait is individually identifiable. Just as we could focus in on the bark or the leaves, we also can focus in on mercy, but with the understanding that mercy is linked to and dependent upon other traits of God’s character. Mercy and Truth are bound together even though they are individually identifiable traits. Repentance and forgiveness are bound together, but they are dependent on Mercy and Truth. Continuing with this illustration we could say that the name of the tree is Grace, because all of God’s character traits are an expression of His grace.
A verse from the 89th psalm says: Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face (Ps. 89:14). Justice and judgement dwell with God, they come forth from His being because He is the Judge of Heaven and Earth. Justice and judgement are the atmosphere around God’s throne.
Our social systems that govern justice, at best, are imitations of Godly justice. At worst, they are systems of manipulation and control. The judgement and justice of God are righteous. I clarify this point to emphasize that if God’s judgement is against us, then punishment is what we deserve. There is no ulterior motive influencing God’s judgement.
However, combined with justice and judgement, the psalm says that mercy and truth go before His face. Mercy, as the expression of compassion, supersedes the judgement that condemns. Perhaps that is why James writes that mercy rejoices against judgement. We do not have the right to come before God and demand mercy, but God, at anytime that He so chooses can elect to show mercy. Mercy also resides with God and He can use it as His discretion.
The unmerciful servant rejected the mercy that had been extended to him through his actions toward the one who was in his debt. Therefore, that wicked servant received the just recompense from his master, which was the original punishment of being delivered to the tormentors until he could pay his debt. The implied conclusion is that the debt could never be repaid because the servant would never be at liberty to work, which is a picture of eternal torment. This is an illustration of judgement without mercy and it is fear inspiring to consider the picture that it presents.
Mercy combined with Truth, and Mercy combined with Forgiveness are parts of God’s character. Many occasions the expression of mercy is simply telling someone the truth. When the Spirit of Truth shows us what is True it gives us space and time to repent, which is an expression of compassion. Mercy allows for forgiveness when we stand condemned by justice. Mercy is not forgiveness, but it opens the door to that part of God’s nature. If we misinterpret forgiveness by not seeing it through the lens of mercy then we also will become like the wicked servant, without compassion for others.
Pleading for Mercy
Jesus spoke a parable concerning prayer that is also instructive on the subject of mercy. And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Lk.18:9-14). The publican understood it would only be by the compassion of God that he could receive mercy. Jesus said that the publican would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but that he smote himself on his breast and pleaded: God be merciful to me a sinner. The humility of the publican moved the heart of God towards mercy.
Spirit of Humility
The spirit of true humility is divine. The existence of true humility in our life is evidence of the Spirit of Truth working in our heart.
Juxtaposed to the spirit of humility is the spirit of pride; whereas the spirit of humility is divine, the spirit of pride is diabolical. There is a description of Satan in the message to both the prince and the king of Tyrus found in the book of Ezekiel. This message describes how pride overtook Satan: Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: ….. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee (Ezk.28:2-9). The spirit of pride that overtook Satan led him to believe that he was equal to God. Further on in the same chapter the message focuses on certain characteristics that absorbed Satan’s attention. They were characteristics that caused him to feel that he was superior: his wisdom, his beauty, and his strength. Pride destroyed him. Pride withheld Satan from pleading for mercy.
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee… I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee (Ezk.28:12-17). The vision that was given to Ezekiel is the most accurate picture we have of Satan’s beginning and his fall from grace. It is important to remember that God did not make a devil, he made the angel that was described by Ezekiel. Satan became impressed with himself, and pride overtook his heart. He was chief among the angels, but then, being lifted up in his own esteem he began to think that he was god, and that he could sit in the seat of God, resulting in his downfall.
On the other hand we read an explanation of Jesus’ descent from heaven, as explained by Paul in the epistle to the Philippians: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil.2:5-11). Jesus chose the humble way. Jesus, being in form of God, made himself of no reputation and became a servant, and then he humbled himself to the experience of death, even the death of the cross. Peter wrote in his first epistle: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time (I Peter 5:5-6).
The path of humility is hidden from Satan. Humility is something that Satan does not understand, but it is the path that Jesus chose. Jesus humbled himself because of his love for his Father. Because of pride Satan was cast down. Because of humility the Lord was raised up. Satan thought he was equal to God but God said, thou art a man and not god. It was said of Jesus, that it was not robbery to be counted equal with God, but he made himself of no reputation.
Jesus began his sermon on the mount by saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt.5:3). A humble spirit is a requirement to enter in to the kingdom of heaven. Humility touches the heart of God, and it is a defensive bunker from the enemy of our soul.
Conclusion
It is by God’s design that all men will stand before the throne of judgement and justice; however, mercy and truth also go before God’s face. Humility of spirit grants access to mercy. Mercy and Truth are bound together and they lead to repentance and forgiveness. Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Mt.5:7). We must be merciful in order to obtain mercy, therefore we must not forsake mercy.