The definition of mercy is to show compassion and forgiveness to someone when it is in our power to punish or harm them. We often hear of people who cry out for mercy when they are in court and about to be sentenced. They desire mercy from the judge. There are others who might owe a large amount of money, and they beg for mercy from their creditors. They desire mercy for time to pay their debt, or for a reduction of their debt. When someone is attacked by a mugger, it is natural that they might plead for mercy that they not be harmed. In the Bible, the definition of mercy is God withholding the just punishment from someone that they rightly deserve.
Psalm 86, one of many psalms written by King David, mentions the word mercy or a form of the word five times. David was someone who knew God’s mercy. Though he was a strong believer and follower of Yahweh, like all of us he occasionally fell into sin, sometimes into deep sin. Though these sins would deserve just punishment from the Lord, he received God’s mercy when he confessed and repented.
Showing mercy is just one of the many characteristics of Yahweh. David takes note that God is also a good God, and one who is always ready to forgive (vs. 5). He recalls that Yahweh is a great God, and one who does wondrous or marvelous things (vs. 10). He is gracious or kind, and long-suffering (vs. 15). He is patient and puts up with our failings, not condemning and destroying us after just one slip-up. Yet He is also a God of truth.
It is Yahweh’s mercifulness that David praises in this psalm, and it is something that he continually prays for from the Lord. He knows that without God’s mercy, he will be defeated, both literally from his enemies, and also spiritually. As David opens this psalm, he prays that the Lord will hear him (vs 1). Though he was the king, David was humble in God’s sight, declaring that before Him, he was poor and needy. Without God’s mercy, David knew he was lost. Without His mercy, without Him holding back the just punishment that our sins deserve, we are each of us lost, as well.
David came to the Lord in prayer often, every day, and all throughout the day (vs. 3). He didn’t just wait for a specific time when he might have gone to the tabernacle with a sacrifice. He came to God in prayer all throughout the day. We don’t have to wait until Sunday to come to Jesus in prayer, nor wait till it’s mealtime or bedtime. We can, and should, pray to Him throughout our day. David also knew that when he prayed to the Lord God, that he could trust that He would hear and answer him. In the day of his troubles, David could trust that the Lord would hear and answer his cries, because God is merciful.
The proud, the arrogant, and the insolent act independent from God, rebelling against Him and His people (vs. 14). They do not feel that they need His mercy mainly because they do not believe that they have done any wrong. Since they feel that they have never done anything wrong that deserves God’s just punishment, then they do not feel they will ever need His mercy. The world views God as cruel and irrelevant. However, His children know that it is just the opposite (vs. 15).
Troubles will come. David knew that for sure (vs. 7). When they do, we need to remember to call upon God. He will answer. He assures us that He hears us, and will provide for our needs when we seek Him. We should not look for other ways, such as our own strength and ability, or ways other than prayer to solve our problems. Call upon God with full assurance that He will help us.
Many of us know in our heads that God is good and merciful, but we don’t know it completely in our hearts. When bad things happen, we need to remember that no matter what happens, God is a God of mercy and grace. If we really believe that God is good, then we will never doubt it, no matter what happens in our life. Remember the truth that David gives us in the middle of our psalm - For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
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