The LORD is MERCIFUL
Know the God of the Bible for who He really Is and who He says He is not what the world or religion might tell you.
Who is the LORD? Do you ever ask yourself that question? In the Bible, "LORD" in all capitals shows Yahweh, God's proper name.
I want to introduce you to Him the way He introduces Himself in the Scriptures, and I think you will love it.
Yahweh is basically the way He introduced Himself to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:13-15. Moses asked God His name, and God replied, "I AM THAT I AM!" Basically saying, I am always, eternal, self-existent, independent, and unchanging. That is what "I am" would mean.
Yahweh is the name He used when He created the world or when He sustains life. Clearly, "I am" does not need us, but He wants us.
Jesus took the "I am" further when He, as God in the flesh, said I am the light of life, the door of the sheep, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way, the truth and the life, and the true vine.
But a beautiful passage in Exodus 34:5–7 lets us hear God tell Moses His name.
And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Exodus 34:5–7
The LORD is merciful.
Consider with me what God said about Himself. He said that He is merciful or compassionate. He genuinely cares about us and holds a tender attitude of concern for us.
This reminds me of how Jesus illustrated His mercy and compassion in Luke 15:20. The young son has rebelled against his father, insulting him, demanding money that was not his to demand, and then wasting it in ways that he knew his father would not approve yet when he returns home ready to beg for help and say he is an unworthy and a horrible person the merciful father full of compassion doesn't listen to his son and his prepared speech. Rather, the father runs to the son and loves all over him, kissing him and accepting him back into full fellowship with the family.
A party is literally thrown. New clothes, baths, food, music, hugs, and kisses because the father is so happy to see his son. The father gave no conditions, discipline, or cooling-off period. He was just glad to have his son home.
He did not make the boy do anything. The father didn't even listen to him read his prepared speech. He just loved on him because that is how he is. He will never abandon or destroy His covenant people.
He loves tenderly. He is very fond of us. The Hebrew word expresses that he would fondle, caress, and hold us as a mother does her child.
The Lord is merciful. In Isaiah 49:15, He made it clear that even if a mother could forget her children, God could never forget His.
In mercy, he feels sympathy and shows compassion. He protects and preserves his people like a mother or father. Instead of punishment, he shows us favor. He is good and kind.
We will cover much more in the verse in the coming articles.