Points are shared, today, focused upon divine judgment, mercy, and the operations of GOD in support of divine law and sacred utterance. Divine mercy pertains to the awe, glory, grace, preeminence, righteousness, and sovereign prerogative of GOD. One of the many fighters at “Yahoo! Answers UK & Ireland” using the ID “Anonymous” (required profile information not shared) posted the following:
Why is god so mercyless?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (Numbers 14: 17-24, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Harden Not Your Hearts? (09/08/2014); Why Believers Fear (09/09/2014); Grace is Not Against Law (07/23/2014); Cruel and Offensive (07/24/2014); On Christians Executing Judgment (06/06/2014); Stoning in the OT? (06/07/2014); Bible Justice? (01/26/2014); GOD Inhabits Praise (01/27/2014); The "Lake of Mercy" (11/03/2012); Seeking and Being Sought (11/04/2012)
“Anonymous”, as shown in the Scriptures by GOD’s proclamation of his name (i.e., deeds, reputation) to Moses, Christian believers have been taught the issue is not that GOD is merciless, rather that men do not correctly grasp the meaning, need for, and value of mercy as aspects of full divine revelation. Here are some points that have been useful to Christian believers:
(1.) The authority, power, and sovereign majesty of divinity are demonstrated and shown through the beauty, diversity and richness of Creation. The goodness, enduring love, and righteousness of Deity are made known and visible by other sacred operations that include atonement, cleansing, comfort, healing, forbearance, forgiveness, Incarnation, Judgment, rebirth, and sanctification.
(2.) The GOD we serve is “the Father of mercies;” see 2nd Corinthians 1: 3, King James Version (KJV). It is inarguable, immutable and non-negotiable that GOD has declared his functioning, nature and process to be that for a “God of Judgment,” and one who judges. Mercy is a rubric (we say, required defining feature) that establishes the presence of divine grace.
(3.) Mercy is distinct from compassion and pity, for divine mercy appears primarily through formal process and sacred operation (i.e., Judgment), not emotions, sentiment, and social interaction. Thus, just as we might say, No appearing in court, no verdict of “not guilty” or “time served;” we may correctly say, No judgment, no mercy. Beyond punishment, the outcomes of judgment include correction, dismissal of all charges (i.e., “case dismissed”) as well as full restoration.
(4.) Judgment is the assigning weight and value for comparing and contrasting statements offered as having truth (e.g., confession, corroboration, substantiation, testimony, witness); the resolving of conflicts and settling of disputes through applications of divine law; and the acknowledgment and determination of the divine nature within created beings and living creatures along with their fitness as eternal companions to GOD.
(5.) Judgment is a continuous, ongoing process, not a one-time event. The people of GOD receive the mercy to Abraham (see Micah 7: 20, KJV), the sure mercies that were shown to David (see Acts 13: 33-35, KJV), and new mercies every day (see Lamentations 3: 22-24, KJV).
There is much more that could be said, and that must be correctly understood and spiritually taken into account. (For example, (6.) Because of mercy, the harshness of the demand that lawful judgment be exact and precise is softened. Even so, all sacred judgment will convey balance as well as impartiality, thoroughness, truth, and wisdom.) I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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