Room For Mercy?

If it weren’t for the mercy of God, where would we be? However, as much as we appreciate God’s mercy, how often has man been negligent in extending it to others? As we look through the Scriptures there are many examples where more mercy seems to have been associated with God’s commands than what we see associated with the rules and regulations established by man. We even have laws and rules today which are sometimes held to very rigidly without the exercise of common sense. One example of such is the grade school child who was suspended for having brought an action figure to school that held a very small toy gun. The school had a zero gun tolerance policy. Then there was the girl who was suspended for having brought scissors to school which she had purchased as one of the items on her school supply list. Someone apparently viewed them as a possible weapon. And I’m sure we could each come up with other examples where good rules were in place, but common sense was not exercised in their enforcement.

The Pharisees had come up with many regulations surrounding the keeping of the Sabbath and were quick to accuse Jesus and His disciples for any violation of “their” rules. On one occasion the Pharisees observed Jesus’
disciples picking grain as they walked through a field. The disciples were hungry and the law allowed for such as long as it was only for eating on the spot. (note Deuteronomy 23:24-25) What the Pharisees saw as “unlawful” was that this picking was being done on a Sabbath. ( Matthew 12:1-2)

Note part of Jesus’ response to their accusation.
“(3) He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: (4) how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it WAS NOT LAWFUL for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?” ( Matthew 12:3-4)

David was held in high honor among the Jews. There was no way they were going to be critical of David. However, Jesus noted how at a desperate time David and his men ate what was only authorized for the priests. ( 1 Samuel 21:1-7) It appears that in this case PRESERVATION OF LIFE was more important than the regulation. It was a one time thing. David and his men did not make it a continuing practice. Yet here were the Pharisees (based on their own regulations of what constituted work on the Sabbath) being quick to judge the disciples for picking a few heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Jesus went on to quote from Hosea 6:6 the words “I DESIRE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE.”

Certainly it is possible to take a good concept to the extreme and make it dangerously wrong. We need to be careful we are not lax regarding what God has commanded. His commands are to be taken seriously. On the other hand we also must realize it is possible to sacrifice or refrain from a number of things and still not be right with God. Could we be guilty of being rigid in situations when compassion and mercy are what is most needed? All God’s commands are good. His principles can be easily applied to all aspects of our life. But in the process of upholding them let us not forget the value of LIFE and the impact we can have on others toward the salvation of their souls. According to God’s Word we can discern between what is right and wrong. However, there are some situations where it is best to leave the final judgment up to God. The encouragement we have from Him is that mercy triumphs over judgment. ( James 2:13) Praise God for the mercy He has extended and will extend to us!

Have a great day SHARING THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Mercy