BRIC House Gathering

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 MERCY
e attributes of benevolence are those permanent qualities
which belong to its very nature. Benevolence is not blind, but
intelligent, choice. It is the choice of the highest well-being of
moral agents. It seeks this end by means suited to the nature of
moral agents. Hence wisdom, justice, mercy, truth, holiness,
and many other attributes, as we shall see, are essential
elements, or attributes, of benevolence.
—Charles G. Finney, Lectures on Systematic eology

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Mercy
DEFINED: Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning
sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of
men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Gen. 19:19; Ex.
20:6; 34:6, 7; Ps. 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together.
Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matt. 5:7; 18:33-35).1

General scriptures concerning (2 Samuel 22:26; Psalm 18:25; 37:25, 26; 85:10;
Proverbs 3:3, 4; 11:17; 12:10; 14:21, 22, 31; 20:28; 21:21; Hosea 4:1; 12:6; Micah
6:8; Matthew 5:7; 23:23; Luke 6:36; Romans 12:8; Colossians 3:12, 13; James
2:13)
INSTANCES OF
•e prison keeper, to Joseph (Genesis 39:21-23)
•Joshua to Rahab (Joshua 6:25)
•e Israelites to the man of Beth-el (Judges 1:23-26)
•David to Saul (1 Samuel 24:10-13, 17)2

1 “Mercy,” Easton’s Bible Dictionary, n.p.

2 Orville J. Nave, Nave's Topical Bible (Accordance electronic ed. Altamonte Springs: OakTree Software, 1996), n.p.

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Scriptures
2Sam. 22:26    “With the merciful you show yourself merciful;
with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

Psa. 18:25    With the merciful you show yourself merciful;

with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;

Psa. 37:25    I have been young, and now am old,

yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
26 He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing.

Psa. 85:10    Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Prov. 3:3    Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

Prov. 11:17 A man who is kind benefits himself,

but a cruel man hurts himself.

Prov. 12:10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Prov. 14:21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,

but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
ose who devise good meetsteadfast love and faithfulness.

Prov. 14:31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,

but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

Prov. 20:28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,

and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

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Prov. 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Hos. 4:1    Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel,

for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
ere is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;

Hos. 12:6 “So you, by the help of your God, return,

hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”

Mic. 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Matt. 5:7   “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matt. 23:23   “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint
and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice
and mercy and faithfulness. ese you ought to have done, without neglecting the
others.

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Rom. 12:8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in
generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with
cheerfulness.

Col. 3:12   Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate
hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another
and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has
forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.
Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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Discuss
1. How much mercy have you received?

2. How much mercy do you give?

3. Is being merciful weak?

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