Mercy & Truth CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
This lesson is on the topic of mercy and truth. People want mercy when the time for mercy comes but many don’t want it with the truth.
These two are linked like the hot and ground wires in a current, like the positive and negative posts on a battery – you have to be truthful with the Lord to get his mercy.
Notice these passages that deal with mercy and truth:
1 Ki 3:6 – “And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.”
Ps 25:10 – “All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.”
We see then that the Lord extends mercy to those who acknowledge his truth – he extends mercy to everyone who receives Jesus Christ [the truth] – Ps 57:3 – “He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.” AND his truth [word] tells you in no uncertain terms that mercy has been extended on the unmerited basis of Jesus’ righteousness given to every sinner that receives him. You can count on his mercy because of his truth as Israel can count on his mercy according to the truth of his words [Ps 98:3] – he did not lie – he cannot lie [Tit 1:2].
Saul admitted sin to David but wasn’t truthful about his disobedience and envy – 1 Sam 26:21 – “Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
Saul did the same thing with Samuel – 1 Sam 15:25 – “Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.” 1 Sam 15:30 – “Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.”
If he had been truthful, he would have asked this forgiveness of the Lord not Samuel – He was only making a show before the people – therefore he was denied mercy, 2 Sam 7:15.
Pharaoh admitted sin and the plague was stayed but he wasn’t truthful in that he never intended for the Jews to go to the wilderness on God’s terms.
Ex 9:27 – “And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.” Ex 9:34 – “And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.”
Therefore he was denied mercy and drowned in the Red Sea – He was simply looking for an expedient way out of immediate trouble.
Ananias & Sapphira wanted mercy but lied to the Lord and died – Acts 5 – you must be straight with the Lord and come to him on the terms of his truth.
If you want mercy that is more than just an expedient solution to your immediate problem [jail house religion] you have to come clean with the Lord – you can’t be like alcoholics that try to live in denial.
God is willing to extend you mercy – be truthful with him and take his truth [Jesus and his words] and his mercy [Heb 4:16].