Pray for Mercy!
Thank you for reading our post. Realizing the condition of our world today with all of the chaos, perversion and evil that is running rampant in our nations, you as a believer will benefit from our teaching today! The world situation, no matter how dire, is not hopeless! You as a believer, will have a part with the Lord in bringing change! Eric
God met with Moses and the Israelites to establish a covenant with them after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. A covenant is a pledge, compact, treaty or agreement. Based on His nature, when God establishes a covenant, His pledge is irrevocable. This covenant made with Moses and the Israelites very explicitly included an extensive code of conduct for them to obey. It was at this time the Israelites were given the Old Testament Law. The giving of the Law began with Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Horeb. God's history with man had shown the Lord that, unlike Himself, man was evil and wouldn't be able to keep his side of the covenant. In fact, as early as Genesis 6:5, God's Word reveals that, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, that that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." In the establishment of this covenant relationship, disobedience led to consequences. Time and time again the Israelites fell away from following the commands of God, until the consequences of their sin led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the nation being taken captive by the Babylonians. (1 Chronicles 9:1b reads, "And Judah was exiled to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness."
Today, whether we are aware of it or not, there are still consequences for disobedience (sin) to God's commands.
Many in the United States as well as other nations who previously followed Christian principles have turned from God to serve their own selfish fleshly ways. Sadly, some who claim to 'be Christians' have followed suit with the world, still believing they are in right relationship with the Lord.
The Word of God reveals in Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness (righteous deeds and righteous acts) exalts (lifts up) a nation, but sin (disobedience to God's commands) is a reproach (disgrace) to any people."
The perversion that is rampant in these nations, who have turned from God, would compare well with Sodom and Gomorrah. 2 Peter 2:6 reads, "if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly."
Due to the spiritual decline of these previously largely Christian nations, we believers, the remnant, need to pay particular attention to two very significant prayers in the Word of God. These prayers given, were for the nations of this world.
Nehemiah and Daniel realized that only through the confession of the sins of the nation and God's mercy, could the nation of Israel be saved and delivered.
Following a disconcerting report of the great trouble and shame the remnant of the Israelites who survived the exile faced, and the utter brokenness of Jerusalem, Nehemiah went to prayer for the nation of Israel.
Nehemiah 1:4-11, "As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."
Please note: in his prayer, Nehemiah worshipped God, reminded God of His covenant with Israel, then confessed the sins of the nation, his sins and the sins of his family. He again reminded the Lord of His promise to Moses then asked that God would grant mercy.
Daniel prayed that God's anger and fury, because of the sin of the nation, would be turned away. (Daniel 9:16-18). In verses 17 and 18, Daniel pleaded for God's mercy for the nation. In verse 18b we read, "we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies."
It is vital that the remnant of believers around the world today, in our nations that have turned away from God to serve the devil and selfish fleshly ways, take note of these Scriptural prayers. Using these prayers as a model, we need to confess the sins of our nations, and ask God for His mercy.
We, as believers, must also repent of our participation in these sins. Instead of standing for righteousness, we have compromised the Word of God. Our apathy and complacency are responsible for the fall of nations. Yes, it is time to plead for mercy from our merciful God.
So, what exactly is mercy? Hanan, the Hebrew word translated 'mercy,' "expresses the free heartfelt inclination of a superior to show favor, compassion, or generosity to one in need. The emphasis lies on unearned mercy, not contractual obligation. Wherever we see that verb used, the recipient stands in dependence; the giver, most frequently the Lord, acts out of His own character. The Greek word, eleeo, translated 'mercy' means to have compassion, tender love, pity on, to bring help and to feel sympathy with the misery of another.” (Thayer's Greek Lexicon).
Interestingly, racham and chanan also translated 'mercy' (meaning showing compassion and being gracious) in the Septuagint is "linked to the covenant love Israel experiences with God and His repeatedly extending His mercy after judgement. God has a steadfast commitment to rescue His people despite their unworthiness." (Bible Hub Topical Lexicon).
In the midst of giving the Ten Commandments as part of the covenant the Lord made with the Israelites, in Exodus 20 verse 6, the Lord spoke these words about Himself, "but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." The mercy God extends to us, is a part of the covenantal relationship we have with Him. God never shirks on fulfilling His promises given to those who share a covenantal relationship with Him.
Let's look at some verses which reveal God's character, especially toward those who need to return to Him after they have turned away:
Joel 2:13 (NKJV), "So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm." "God's grace and compassion are central to His dealings with humanity offering forgiveness and mercy despite human failing. The assurance of God's nature provides the basis for hope and encourages repentance knowing God is willing to forgive and restore." (Bible Hub Study Bible).
Micah 7:18 (NKJV), "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy." His 'delighting in mercy' is a "key attribute of God and highlights His covenantal loyalty and kindness." (Bible Hub Study Bible).
Psalm 103:8 (NKJV), “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy." God is always ready to forgive and restore.
After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, he confessed his sin and earnestly pleaded for God's mercy. Psalm 51: 1-3 (NKJV), "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." As we look at King David's encounter with the Lord after he failed miserably at running away from temptation and sin, we can immediately sense his repentant heart. He recognized his sin, confessed it and acknowledged that he needed divine intervention in the form of God's mercy.
David is not alone in his bent to sin. We all sin and come short of the glory of the Lord. Isaiah 64:6 (NLT) reveals, "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind."
Titus 3:5 reads, "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit," As true believers, we will never be justified by our works. It is only through the blood of Christ that we are 'righteous' or 'justified.' Our salvation is only available to us through God's mercy. Thank you Lord for your unspeakable gifts!
I love the hope producing truth revealed in Lamentations 3:22 and 23, "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
We must recognize our need of mercy, confess our sins, repent (turn away from) of our sins and plead for mercy.
Psalm 86:6 (BSB) reads, "Hear my prayer, O Lord, and attend to my plea for mercy. 7 In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me."
Psalm 130:2, "O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!"
1 John 1:9 reveals, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." A sincere confession of sin cannot just simply be words we speak, it should include a heartfelt recognition of our wrongdoing and a turning away from it. When we offer a sincere confession, our faithful, trustworthy and reliable God forgives, lets go, remits and liberates us from the penalty of that sin. Thank You Lord!
Hebrews 4:16 encourages us, " Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Why do we need to pray for mercy?
Without it, we would have no right relationship with God.
Without it, we would have no salvation, no eternal life and no unmerited favor.
Without it, we would have no forgiveness.
Without it, we would be consumed.
Mercy is compassion that forebears punishment even when justice demands it.
Mercy allows us to experience love, compassion, peace and joy whether we deserve it or not.
God's mercy is rooted in His steadfast love and compassion.
Mercy is part of God's covenant with His people (us).
I trust you have a clearer understanding of the necessity and importance of God's mercy in our lives.
Ephesians 2:1-3 describes the believer's former life and sadly the present life of those who have never come to Christ or have turned away. These verses give us a tragic picture of the world without Christ. Ephesians 2: 1-3 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
However, there is tremendous news!
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises to forgive our sins and heal our land if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways!
Pray!
Call out for mercy for yourself, your family, your church, your nation and the world!
God is waiting for His believers to act so He can heal and respond with His mercy!
Unless noted otherwise all Scripture is taken from the English Standard Version.
NKJV New King James Version
NLT New Living Translation
BSB Berean Standard Bible