PODCAST
Justice vs. Mercy
May 4th, 2015
Judges 10:6-16
Some say that justice is getting what you deserve, and mercy is not getting what you deserve. But there’s more to it than that. “Mercy” is showing compassion toward someone you have the power to punish or harm.
Over the centuries, the Israelites repeatedly turned away from the Lord to worship other gods, and He repeatedly punished them. Why? To bring about their repentance, submission, then forgiveness. In Judges 10 we learn God allowed other peoples to oppress the Israelites. They repented (“we have sinned”). They submitted (“do with us whatever you think best”). He forgave them (“He could bear Israel’s misery no longer”).
This is a picture of the salvation God offers us through Jesus Christ. When we confess our sins (repentance), and take Jesus as our Lord (submission), He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (salvation). In order to receive God’s mercy instead of His justice, we must repent. The Israelites showed that their repentance was real, by getting rid of the foreign gods and idols and returning to the Lord. We must do the same.
Author: Maureen McClain
