GOD'S WONDROUS MERCY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 25, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 46.

GOD'S WONDROUS MERCY.

THERE is no attribute of God more frequently or emphatically set forth in the Scriptures than that of mercy or loving-kindness,—the quality of treating offenders better than they deserve. When the Lord revealed himself to Moses, and proclaimed his name, the first expression that he used revealed his mercy: "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." Ex. 34:6. Again we read, "The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression." Num. 14:18.

The Psalmist declares, "But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Ps. 86:15. God is infinite, and he is therefore infinite in mercy. This the Psalmist thus expresses (103:11): "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him." And the result of its exercise is just as great toward those who will accept it; for "as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Verse 12.

And, further, this wonderful mercy of God is not a matter of impulse; his goodness is not "like the morning cloud" or "the early dew;" it is eternal. "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" (Ps. 103:17); while again and again we are told that "his mercy endureth forever."

Neither is this mercy exercised toward the righteous alone; "for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45); "he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." Acts 17:25. Says the prophet Isaiah (55:7, 8): "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." And then in the greatness of the exercise of that mercy the Lord shows that it is utterly beyond our comprehension. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Verse 9.

And thus it is that God is merciful and good to the wicked in order that his goodness may lead to repentance (Rom. 2:4), that men "should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:27). This goodness of his merciful Providence has ever been in exercise; but he has done more than this; "for God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8. "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son." This was the measure of God's love, God's mercy, to the race. God not only says that he is merciful, but he has shown it in so emphatic a way that the very greatness of the proof is used by Satan to deceive man into believing that God is not merciful at all. But here are the proofs, every day, every hour of our lives; here is the proof in God's word; here is the proof in a living Saviour, who gave himself, who gives himself, who pleads continually his own blood before the throne.

Then why will not men come and partake of the fullness of that mercy as manifested in the putting away of sin. God will have mercy, mighty, helpful mercy to all who will come. His word is, "He will have mercy." Not only that, but "he delighteth in mercy." Micah 7:18. "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." Ps. 147:11. It, therefore, is not pleasing to God for man to despair of God's mercy. He has "no pleasure" in the soul that draws back to perdition. Heb. 10:38.

Then, sinner, come; there is mercy, unbounded mercy, for thee. Do not ungratefully slight that mercy longer. Do not believe Satan when he says that your sins are so great, or so often repeated, that God will not have mercy, for God gave his Son, Christ gave himself, to save sinners. 1 Tim. 1:15. Jesus declares, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The greater the sinner you are, therefore, the greater your claim on God's mercy; for he came to save you. Come then boldly to the throne of grace, that you may obtain mercy. Do not delay. Yield to that wondrous love, that your sins may be washed away. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!"