Love Mercy
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and WHAT DOES THE LORD
REQUIRE OF YOU but to do justly, TO LOVE MERCY …” (Mic 6:8 NKJV, emphasis mine)
The
story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho is one most of us are familiar with;
many of us can recite the story of the two spies, sent by Joshua into Jericho,
and how Rahab, a prostitute of that city, first concealed them, and then aided
them in their escape. Rahab and her family had heard of the Israelites, knew
of the Elohim of the Israelites, and suspected who would be victorious in the
coming battle. She appealed to the mercy, or kindness (as some translations will
read) of the spies, and to the mercy of their God, that she and her family
would be safe (see Jos 2, especially verses 12-13) during the coming battle. Because of her faith in the Elohim Chayim, the Living God, Rahab’s name is found in the genealogy of our Messiah
Yeshua (Mat 1:5).
The
word in Jos 2:12 translated “kindness” is the same word translated into “mercy”
in our opening verse from Micah. It is
the Hebrew word chêSêd (Strong’s
H2617), and I was amazed to find how rich in meaning this word is! Within this word is found such a strong sense
of commitment, particularly by our Abba Father to His Word, and His promises
within His Word. There is the commitment
that our Creator will keep His Word,
His Covenant, because of His love and His mercy towards us, especially to those
who walk in right relationship with Him.
Elsewhere in the Scriptures, chêSêd
has been translated as kindness, steadfast love, loving-kindness, loyalty,
favor, and faithfulness, but all of these
words include a serious commitment to relationships. Is not our Father’s relationship with us, His
children, THE most incredible example
of mercy?
Elohim
requires us to not only “do justly”, but “to love mercy”. It is very possible to “do justly” from a
wrong attitude, but when doing what is right comes through a heart filled with the mercy of our Elohim,
that is when we are truly “letting our lights so shine before men” (Mat
5:16). Mercy is the color of Messiah
Yeshua’s blood, for it is the color of the atonement (see Ex 34:7; Eph 2:4-6;
Tit 3:5); mercy is the name of our Father’s throne, for it is called the
“Mercy-Seat” (see Ex 25:22; Heb 4:16).
Mercy, just like the blood of Yeshua, must flow out of us for it to be effective.
It can never be hoarded and kept inactive, for when we do so, it
stagnates, and dies…
“For I DESIRED MERCY, and
not sacrifice; and the knowledge of Elohim more than burnt offerings.” (Mat 9:13 HRB, emphasis mine)
“But the mercy of YAHWEH
is from everlasting, even to everlasting, on those who fear Him; yea, His
righteousness is to the sons of sons; to those who keep His covenant, and to those who remember His
commandments, to do them.” (Ps 103:17-18 HRB)
©2021
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