GOD’S first movement towards man after he had sinned was in mercy. Adam had not only departed from God, but he also sought to hide himself amongst the trees of the Garden of Eden. God called him out of his hiding-place to answer for what he had done, and after telling him of the consequences of his sin, He clothed him and his wife with coats of the skins of animals—a striking foreshadowing of the death of Jesus, by which believing sinners are clothed in divine righteousness (comp. Gen. 3:2121Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21) with. Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)). This was a great mercy for Adam. Underneath the mercy was the truth of substitution, and the Gospel is the testimony that this great work has been affected in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus today every person who obtains mercy is forgiven, and will not have to be judged for his sins, because he has already been judged in the Person of Christ on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)).
Then mercy is also needed by God’s people who are seeking to serve Him, because they are liable to make mistakes in the things of God. If they were held to their mistakes they would be set on one side, and others put to do the work, and the Holy Spirit would not teach or lead them into any more truth.
This testimony to mercy was frequently alluded to, both in the historical and in the prophetic parts of the Old Testament.
After Israel had broken the law by making the golden calf and worshipping it, Moses interceded with God for the people that He should not cut them off in judgment (see Exod. 32:11-1311And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. (Exodus 32:11‑13)); and in answer to his earnest entreaty, God said, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin” (Exod. 34:77Keeping 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 34:7)).
Later on in history, when David was driven from Jerusalem by his wicked son Absalom, Ittai the Gittite remained loyal to David and wished to accompany him in his flight, but David bade him return to his own country, and added, “Mercy and truth be with thee.” Mercy would preserve him from falling into the hands of the enemy, while truth would preserve him from being tempted to follow the false king Absalom.
If we look at prophecy as found in the Psalms, we read, “God shall send forth His mercy and truth” (Ps. 57:3). This will yet be realized when the godly remnant in Israel are sustained in mercy through the three and a half years of the great tribulation, during which they will resist the false pretensions of Antichrist through their knowledge of the truth, (comp. Dan. 12:33And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)).
Again, “For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds” (Ps. 57:10). Mercy and truth will thus be established above every power of evil, so that, nothing can hinder Messiah setting up the millennium.
Again, “O prepare mercy and truth which may preserve him” (Psa. 61:77He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. (Psalm 61:7)). This will be the prayer of the remnant for their Messiah.
Again, “Mercy and truth are met together” (Psa. 85:1010Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalm 85:10)). This will be Israel’s reflection as they learn the true meaning of the death of Jesus and how He had been the substitute for His people.
Again, “Mercy and truth shall go before Thy face” (Psa. 89:1414Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. (Psalm 89:14)). This refers to the kingdom being manifestly set up, and gives the principles of Messiah’s reign.
Thus everything necessary for mercy and truth to be finally established on the earth has been accomplished, and believers of this dispensation are now getting the spiritual good of both mercy and truth, while Israel will come into it when the veil of unbelief is taken away.
A further connection of mercy and truth was made by Solomon, the son of David, when he was king. Perhaps his admonition was immediately given to his son Rehoboam. “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man” (Prov. 3:33Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (Proverbs 3:3)). Rehoboam did not heed this counsel, and lost the largest part of his kingdom. So in the present time, if believers do not heed these things, they lose the largest part of present enjoyment of their spiritual blessings. Rehoboam was king, but over a very small part of the kingdom left to him. So believers have large and various spiritual blessings, but the enjoyment of them depends on holding fast mercy and truth.
G. W. Gy.
God glorified. — “God does what He does because He is what He is; and in doing what He does He displays what He is; and in displaying what He is He glorifies Himself.” W. J.