TEXT:ROMANS 9:15-16
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy"
GOD'S MERCY SEAT
The mercy seat of God was prominent in the ark of testimony in the old testament and God met and communed with Moses from above the mercy seat. The blood of sacrifices was always sprinkled upon the mercy seat. Thus, God's mercy always prevailed over judgement in his dealings with the Israelites (Exodus 25:17-22, Lev 16:14). The mercy seat of God is still available today.
GOD'S THRONE ESTABLISHED IN MERCY
The throne of Christ is established in mercy (Isa 16:5). Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT says: "This high priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." The mercy of God is eternal.
MEPHIBOSHETH - TOUCHED BY GOD'S MERCY.
The story of Mephibosheth is a compelling story draped in mercy. He was a son of Jonathan, a prince of the stock of King Saul. God showed him extraordinary mercy.
Firstly, he was spared when all the other male children (princes) were being slaughtered at the time King David took the throne; although he became lame at 5 yrs old. (2 Sam 4:4).
By mercy, God saved his life.
Secondly, the mercy of God located Mephibosheth in the forgotten and hopeless village of Lodebar, where he was hiding as a pauper in penury and restored him to feast at David's table, inspite of his lame condition. All the property and servants of Saul were given to him (2 Sam 9:1-13).
Thirdly, the mercy of God delivered him from the conspiracy of his chief servant Ziba. Instead of death, his life was spared, and still retained half of Saul's heritage (2 Sam 19:24 - 30).
Finally, when David gave the remnant of the household of Saul to the Gibeonites to appease them, the life of Mephibosheth was spared again. The others were hanged but the mercy of God protected him (2 Sam 21: 1-7).
GOD DOES NOT IGNORE THE CRY FOR MERCY
God always answers the cry for mercy. The Spirit of his mercy is searching for those who cry out from a genuine heart for mercy. The 10 lepers, Bartimaeus, the Father of the epileptic boy, the mother of the demon possessed damsel and the repentant sinner at the temple all cried for God's mercy and the the mercy of God reached them.
NO MERCY IN HELL
The only time that God did not respond to the cry for mercy was when the rich man did so in hell. Luke 16:24 tells us: "And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame". Alas the cry of the rich man was too late. Death has fixed a great gulf between the dead and God's mercy. There is no mercy in the grave. Cry to God for mercy now, for there is no mercy in the grave where all souls go.
PRAYER FOR MERCY
Father, please have MERCY upon my soul. Show me your mercy today in Jesus name.
