Mercy, what a wonderful and joy producing word! When we know we’ve done wrong we can be filled with dread at being found out and the consequences that come. Those who commit crimes try to cover their tracks so as not to be found out. Many go on the run, changing addresses and even countries. They may have a certain sense of satisfaction in having committed their crime, especially if it was well planned and they got away with it, but there must be a deep seated fear of being traced, arrested and brought to justice. Imagine their utter joy and amazement if the judge, knowing full well their history and all the details of their crimes extended mercy to them! But not just mercy! Imagine that the judge also adopted the person as their child, brought them into his home and made it his life’s purpose to teach the person how to live as a good and upright citizen. Not only that, but imagine that if anyone came knocking on the judges door wanting compensation for other crimes that person committed that have only come to light, the judges pays it all. Wouldn’t that criminal be filled with unspeakable joy? Wouldn’t he want to stay with the judge forever, knowing that he is safe from all retribution? Wouldn’t he defend the judge against any enemy who would try to slander the judge or do evil against him?

That’s what you get when you cry out for God’s mercy! We so misunderstand sin. We think of sin as being some terrible thing like murder, bank robbery, rape or abuse of any kind. We miss the point that we are born sinners before we’ve had the chance to do good or evil. We are born separated from God. The original sin of Adam was to choose for himself what was good, rather than trusting that God alone knows what’s right and wrong. So we do our own thing, trying to ignore our God given conscience, rationalising and defending ourselves and our actions.

But when we begin to understand sin and the separation it brings, and cry out for His mercy, He hears us. He becomes our wrap around shield against the accusations of the enemy, and He helps us to live as He intended we should. No wonder our hearts are filled with joy (even in the midst of grief, depression, illness etc) and we want to burst out with songs of thanksgiving!

God offers us mercy and forgiveness and His strength to live for His glory. We are forever safe in His presence. We love Him, because He first loved us