Foundations Week 18, Day 4

Scripture Read: Psalms 103; 119:1 - 48
Title: God is a Merciful God
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."  Psalm 103:8

(E) Explain:  The Psalms for today's reading focus on the goodness of God and focuses on many of his attributes.  We serve a God who is righteous and seeks justice for the oppressed.  He is merciful, which means he is forgiving.  Lord only knows how grateful I am for His endless mercy.  He is gracious.  God is a giving God and He lavishes amazing gifts upon us day after day.  He is slow to anger, which means He is patient.  He is abounding in steadfast love, which means he is a God who loves His children regardless of how often we mess up.  

(A) Application:  The one attribute stands out in Psalm 103 is God's mercy.  Mercy is defined as kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly.  The definition I remember best is when we don't get what we deserve.  There are multiple times in the New and Old Testament where we see God’s mercy in action.  Time and time again God declares his judgment on a nation, city, or individual and when a righteous individual makes a plea for God’s mercy He always complies.  When mercy is shown it usually does not change God’s act of judgment.  He often shows mercy in judgment.  For example God will always spare the righteous from HIS judgment and continue judgment against the wicked.  Judgment may not always be immediate but it will happen in God’s perfect timing.  We see this displayed in the book of Revelation where the letter’s focus is on God’s judgment against the wicked and in the ushering in of his Kingdom   

(R) Respond: We are blessed to be called children of God, because our Father is  a great, mighty and merciful God.