Lord, Have Mercy
In many hymns, worship songs, liturgies, etc. we find calls for God’s mercy toward us. Usually these calls are in reference to our sinfulness. Thus we call out, “Lord, have mercy” as if this is our prayer to Him regarding our sinful condition. Is this right?
My quick perusal of the New Testament use of the word mercy shows two kinds of use of the word “mercy” for Christians. The first is the wishing of mercy upon others. This can be with sicknesses, or just a general statement. Thus, for believers, God us merciful in the same sense that he is gracious to us. This type of mercy is a temporal mercy – limited to our condition on earth. Thus, it is not in and of itself a strictly spiritual plea. Instead, it is a plea for God’s mercy in a situation where, whether or not he chooses to show mercy toward us in it, our spiritual status before God does not change due to the next category of mercy.
The second is that God has already been merciful to us in the act of our justification. Thus, it is a past mercy that no long needs to be called for. God has shown us his mercy. God already was merciful to us. When we cried out for mercy and grace because of our sin, he gave us his mercy and grace. Thus, for those of us on this side of salvation, God has already shown us this mercy and continues to show us this mercy. It will never change. He has already put us in the state of being shown mercy.
My question is this then: if God has already shown us his mercy when it comes to our sinfulness, is it proper to continue to cry out for that type of mercy? When we say, “Lord, have mercy” are we in a sense crying our for salvation again – for forgiveness again? How can God re-justify us if we have already been justified?
Let me know your thoughts as I continue to try to think this through.
bry
2 comments:
Hi Bryan,
Let me see if I understand your thoughts on this post - Should we as Christians ask God for mercy after we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, should we cry out for mercy after the day we are 'born-again'?
I think it is a good thing to call out to God for mercy. I think this is good because it shows we understand our position before God. We are sinners saved by God's Grace. By crying out to God for mercy, we are saying to God I understand I still sin, and I need more of God's mercy, more of His kindness, more of God in my life. Do you think this makes sense?
Tom,
I just wrote a longer response to you but the browser ate it before it posted! Argh!
I think I can summarize my current thoughts with this: I can understand us singing praise to God for his mercy and acknowledging his on-going mercy for us. That is different, however, than crying out for his mercy because he has already given it to us! We will never lose it, which is another reason to sing his praise! I still don't see why a believer would need to cry out for mercy when he already has and is experiencing it.
bry
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