God bless you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ who showed mercy to those who cried out for it (Mark 10:46-52).
Genesis 19 records the deliverance of Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s a very noteworthy account for it contains the first occurrence of “mercy” in the scriptures. Lot hesitated to act on the angels’ instruction to get out of town. His reluctance to act prompted the angels to grab Lot and his family by the hand and lead them out of the city. This was described in verse 16 as “the Lord being merciful unto him.” As the angels returned to the city to finish their mission Lot objected to their guidance pleading:
Genesis 19:19:
Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die.
Lot recognized the mercy of the Lord to get them out of the city. However, he was afraid to follow their further direction to flee to the mountain for fear that some evil would come upon him and he should die. This rather presumptuous plea of Lot showed that Lot was still not persuaded that these angels knew what was best for him.
Lot was a just man who was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. When Peter describes this account in his second epistle (II Peter 2:6-9) he closes it saying, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.” Even though Lot may have been carnal in attitude and greedy in motivation, the Lord still showed grace in His dealings with Lot and even magnified mercy unto him!
This first reference to mercy lays the foundation for mercy throughout Scripture. It’s no wonder that God’s mercy is most often described superlatively. David sings of the multitude of God’s mercy (Psalms 5:7). He also notes it is both infinite and eternal. Could it be more “magnified”?
Psalms 103:11 & 17:
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. . . .
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him. . .
Because it is so great and abundant Paul refers to God’s mercy in the plural (Romans 12:1 & II Corinthians 1:3). Paul also describes God as “rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4) and Peter declares that “his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope” (I Peter 1:3). To Titus Paul writes, “according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). In the same verse he clarifies that it was “not by works of righteousness which we have done.”
There was such mercy extended to David that God’s dealings with him were known and described as “the sure mercies of David” (Acts 13:34). Because these mercies were extended unto us, we like David can boldly assert, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalms 23:6).
Let’s enjoy the withholding of merited judgment and escape the consequences of our mistakes by calling on the name of the Lord and pleading for His magnified mercy. Have a great day because you are God’s best and certainly God blessed. Remember His mercies endure forever.