Lord’s Goodness and Mercy

Lord’s Goodness and Mercy (Nahum 1:7)

Nahum 1:7, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

President Calvin Coolidge was awakened one morning in his hotel room to find a burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm very precious to him. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and learned he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet declared it to be a loan. He also advised the young man to leave the way he had come to avoid the Secret Service! Although this young man never earned nor deserved mercy, Coolidge showed this young man mercy rather than justice. Surprisingly, the loan was paid back.

True Biblical mercy never tolerates sin for one moment, but it shows compassion to the sinner. Mercy helps people overcome sin; it never comforts them in their sin. God declares and demonstrates His goodness to His children. Nahum described the mercy and goodness of God. He is good! He is a refuge for help in the day of trouble. Furthermore, God knows those who trust in Him. He knows His own. The Lord knoweth them that are his (II Timothy 2:19). He has promised to bless those who trust in Him (Psalms 2:12; 34:78; 40:4; 84:12). Those promises remain to this day.

The mercy of the Lord is great, and I am grateful for its abundance. It is something that we do not deserve, but we are very grateful for. Without the mercy of God, we would be without, and our life would have no meaning. It is very humbling to think of the great compassion and mercy God shows to His fallen creation. Only the heart of a divine Saviour can love us at the level we receive.

i. The Lord’s Patience: No one is more patient with us than God is (Romans 15:5). If God can be patient with imperfect man, then surely we can be patient with one another.

ii. The Lord’s Purpose: God has a plan for every life. With God, it is not one mistake and you are out. Due to mankind’s rules, a lack of forgiveness, and ignorance of the Scriptures, many Christians have been hindered from being used of God after they have stumbled (I Timothy 1:16).

While speeding one late night, a driver saw the flashing lights of a state trooper in his rearview mirror. As the driver pulled over and rolled down the window, he tried to come up with an excuse for being in such a hurry. But as the trooper approached the car, he said nothing. Instead, he shined his flashlight in the driver’s face, then on his exhausted pregnant wife, then on his snoozing 18-month-old in his car seat, then on his three other children who were also asleep, and lastly on the two dogs in the very back of the car. Returning the beam of light to his face, the trooper spoke and said, "Son, you can't afford a ticket. Slow it down." He returned to his car and drove away. Sometimes mercy triumphs over law. So it is for sinners who call out to Jesus.

Prayer, Father in Heaven, use me as a sanctified vessel, to pour out mercy and love without measure on other people. Father, we live in a world where there are so many hurting people. Help me to stretch out a willing arm of comfort when I see other people hurting or in pain. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to bless and help all those whom I come in contact. In Jesus name, Amen!

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