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God's Mercy in the Old Testament and Its Implications

God's mercy is a foundational attribute of His character, frequently highlighted throughout the Old Testament [1]. This divine quality is often described using terms like "loving-kindness" and "tender mercies" [7, 17]. The Hebrew word hesed, often translated as loving-kindness or steadfast love, conveys a sense of loyal, covenantal affection and mercy [12]. Biblical names like Hanniel ("grace or mercy of God") and Jerahmeel ("the mercy, or the beloved, of God") further reflect the ancient understanding of God's merciful nature [3, 8].

The Old Testament consistently portrays God as "merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" [15, Exodus 34:6]. This description, given to Moses, emphasizes that God's mercy is not merely an occasional act but an inherent part of His being [15]. It is a mercy that is "great," "rich," "manifold," "plenteous," and "abundant" [1]. The Psalms frequently declare that God's kindness (mercy) is "from age even unto age on those fearing Him" and "to the age" [2, 4, 6]. This suggests an enduring and everlasting quality to His mercy [1, 12].

God's mercy is also depicted as "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23) and "over all his works" (Psalm 145:9), indicating its pervasive and constant presence [1]. Matthew Henry notes that the history of God's dealings with His people, from ancient times, reveals a "constant series of mercies" [13]. This mercy is not merely passive but actively demonstrated in His willingness to forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin, even while not leaving the guilty entirely unpunished [5].

The concept of God's mercy in the Old Testament also carries significant implications for the New Testament. The "mercy promised to our fathers" in the Old Testament finds its ultimate fulfillment in the salvation offered through Christ [14]. The atoning sacrifice of Christ opens a way for the exercise of mercy towards humanity, aligning with the demands of truth and righteousness [10]. As Psalm 85:10 states, "Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other" [9]. This connection underscores that God's mercy is not arbitrary but is exercised in harmony with His other divine attributes, particularly His justice and righteousness [10, 15]. The gospel itself is described as good tidings that exhibit the grace and mercy of God [11, 16].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Mercy of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6,7; Ps 62:12; Ne 9:17; Jon 4:2,10,11; 2Co 1:3. Described as Great. -- Nu 14:18; Isa 54:7. Rich. -- Eph 2:4. Manifold. -- Ne 9:27; La 3:32. Plenteous. -- Ps 86:5,15; 103:8. Abundant. -- 1Pe 1:3. Sure. -- Isa 55:3; Mic 7:20. Everlasting. -- 1Ch 16:34; Ps 89:28; 106:1; 107:1; 136:1-26. Tender. -- Ps 25:6; 103:4; Lu 1:78. New every morning. -- La 3:23. High as heaven. -- Ps 36:5; 103:11. Filling the earth. -- Ps 119:64. Over all his works. -- Ps 145:9. Is his delight -- Mic 7:18. Manifested In the sending of Christ. ”
  2. Psalms “Psalms 103:17 (YLT) — And the kindness of Jehovah <FI>Is<Fi> from age even unto age on those fearing Him, And His righteousness to sons' sons,”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hanniel — grace or mercy of God”
  4. Psalms “Psalms 136:14 (YLT) — And caused Israel to pass through its midst, For to the age <FI>is<Fi> His kindness,”
  5. Exodus “Exodus 34:7 (LITV) — keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and not leaving entirely unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on sons, and on sons of sons, to the third and to the fourth generation.”
  6. Psalms “Psalms 136:11 (YLT) — And bringing forth Israel from their midst, For to the age <FI>is<Fi> His kindness.”
  7. Psalms “Yahweh, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. -- Psalms 25:6”
  8. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jerahmeel — the mercy, or the beloved, of God”
  9. Psalms “Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. -- Psalms 85:10”
  10. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mercy — 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).”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
  12. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  13. Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 32:7: Moses, having in general represented God to them as their great benefactor, whom they were bound in gratitude to observe and obey, in these verses gives particular instances of God's kindness to them and concern for them. 1. Some instances were ancient, and for proof of them he appeals to the records (Deu 32:7): Remember the days of old; that is, "Keep in remembrance the history of those days, and of the wonderful providences of God concerning the old world, and concerning your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; you will find a constant series of mercies at”
  14. Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 1:72: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers,.... By "mercy" is meant salvation by Christ, which springs from the mercy of God; the promise of which was an instance of mercy to the Jewish fathers under the Old Testament, and also the performance of it; for they were saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus, even as we: his blood was shed for the remission of sins that were past, and for the redemption of transgressions under the first Testament: and to remember his holy covenant; which was made between him, and his Son from all eternity; and was, at various times, dispens”
  15. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 34:6: 34:6 compassion and mercy (see 20:5-6; 33:19 and study notes): The Creator who was revealing himself to the Israelites, and through them to the world, is a God of grace. Neither his justice nor his sovereignty are underlined here, as true as those attributes are. If God were merely just, the Old Testament would have ended at this point, or it would have picked up and started again with an entirely new family. This did not happen because God, in his unique character, is slow to anger and full of unfailing love and faithfulness. These qualities were the basis for hi”
  16. Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 15:9: that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy--A number of quotations from the Old Testament here follow, to show that God's plan of mercy embraced, from the first, the Gentiles along with the Jews. as it is written-- (Psa 18:49). I will confess to--that is, glorify thee among the Gentiles.”
  17. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:6: Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses,.... Not the providential mercy and kindness of God, in the care of him in his mother's womb, at the time of his birth, in his nurture and education, and in the preservation of him to the present time; but the special mercy, grace, and love of God in Christ: the sense of the petition is the same with that of Psa 106:4; which are expressed in the plural number, because of the largeness and abundance of it, and because of the various acts and instances of it; the Lord is rich and plenteous in mercy, abundant”
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