God Is Mercy and Compassion

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NLT)

The Lord God is the great Ruler over all nations. “Great is the Lord--even beyond the borders of Israel!” (Malachi 1:5, NIV). The Lord God, who is Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is filled with mercy, compassion, and comfort (Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8). In fact, God is characterized by His abundant mercy and comfort (Psalm 86:5; Daniel 9:9; Micah 7:18) because He is the very source of all mercy and comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3; John 16:7). For the Lord God is good, His mercy is everlasting (Psalm 100:5; 1 Chronicles 16:34; 2 Chronicles 5:13). God graciously forgives and shows mercy to all genuine repentant people (Psalm 51:1-4; Isaiah 55:7; Lamentations 3:31-33; Daniel 9:9; Micah 7:19). The true and living God is forever merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness in reaching out to His people in need and distressed (see also Nehemiah 9:17; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2).

Where is another God like You, who pardons the sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with Your people, for You love to be merciful. Once again You will have compassion on us. You will tread our sins beneath Your feet; You will throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will bless us as You promised . . . . You will set Your love upon us, as You promised our father Abraham! Micah 7:18-20 (TLB)

God delights giving His abundant mercy and comfort to people seeking His help (Psalm 145:18-19). In His grace, God gives us what we do not deserve, and in His everlasting mercy He does not give us what we do deserve (2 Samuel 24:14). “Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:22, NIV). Even more, “the Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion” (Psalms 116:5, NIV). God's compassion and mercy is great (Psalm 25:6-7). The Holy Scriptures frequently speaks of the multitude of God's tender mercies (see e.g., Psalm 5:7; Psalm 51:1; Psalm 69:16; Psalm 106:7, 45; Lamentations 3:32). The same God who judges also restores according to unending love (Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 54:7-8). Great is God’s faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23) that sums up God’s unending mercies towards His people (Psalm 25:10; Psalm 26:3).

When we are in trouble and distress, we can draw near to God’s throne so that we might receive His mercy and compassion (Hebrews 4:16; James 5:11). God is faithful to hear and save us when help is needed because God delights to show mercy (Micah 7:18). As we draw near to God and turn from sin, God sends His Holy Spirit to come alongside to provide our support, help, and encouragement (John 14 – 16). He provides comfort and encouragement strength for our inner hearts and encouragement for the outer person (John 14:16–17) so we can face our trials and triumph over them. God is continually faithful to deliver us from all our troubles and hard times as we wholeheartedly trust and depend on Him (Psalm 116:5-6). He promises to wipe away every tear, protect us from our enemies, and prevent us from falling (Psalms 116:8; Jude 24-25).

In our sufferings and pain, we must continually take time to express praise or glory to God. Praise is good medicine for our hurting hearts (2 Corinthians 1:3, Ephesians 1:3, and 1 Peter 1:3). Even the Apostle Paul learned that praise is an important factor in achieving victory over depression, discouragement, and hopelessness (see Acts 16:25-34). As respected biblical scholar Warren W. Wiersbe noted:  “Praise changes things just as much as prayer changes things.” Always remember that God wants our exclusive faith and worship of Him from our whole hearts (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew 22:37).

And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’” Zechariah 7:8-10 (NIV)

Finally, we are to intimate God’s mercy and compassion in our daily conduct toward others. In fact, God requires His people to be just, merciful, and humble to others, especially towards the poor and needy (Micah 6:8; see also Proverbs 21:13; Zechariah 7:9-10). Justice, mercy, and faith are the acts of obedience God requires of all people (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 1:11-15; Jeremiah 22:16; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:24 Micah 6:6-8; James 1:27). Jesus Christ said we are to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36, NIV). God has required throughout the entire Holy Scriptures mercy. God does not delight the external religious but deeds of mercy to others (Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 23:23). God said “I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6, NKJV). In fact, mercy is a mark of discipleship (Matthew 5:7; see also Luke 10:36-37).

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

In the Holy Scriptures, mercy is described as kindness, steadfast love, loving-kindness, loyalty, and faithfulness as they are all part of the same fabric. Mercy always involves helping those who are in need or distress as God has shown mercy to us (see Luke 10:25-37). The apostle Paul emphasized that our comfort from God is not just for our own good, but that we may be able to comfort those which are in any trouble (Philippians 2:1-2; Colossians 3:12). In other words, we are to share God’s comfort with others in troubled times and care for the needs of others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God freely gives us His mercy and compassion in all our troubles “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4, NIV).

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Matthew 23:23 (NLT)

References

King James Version Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988.

KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994.

Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.

NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.

Butler, Trent. Holman Bible Dictionary. Broadman & Holman Pub., 1991.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.

Wiersbe, Warren. With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991.