God’s Mercy

“So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.  But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.  You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands.  They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.  For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples.  But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God” (Nehemiah 9:27-31).

Our merciful God is a God who warns us.  Even though we commit sins, His warnings are meant to lead us to repentance and obedience to His commandments.  Those who heed the warning may experience "great reward," as described by the psalmist in Psalms 19:7-13.  However, like the Israelites, we often stiffen our necks and refuse to heed the Lord's warnings.  In those times, God may use the rod of love to discipline us.  He faithfully blesses us when we obey His commandments, but He also faithfully disciplines us when we persist in disobedience.  The reason we may find His faithful discipline unfamiliar is that it doesn't appear joyful but rather sorrowful at the time (Heb. 12:11).  It is only in the moment of discipline that we cry out to the Lord.  At that point, God hears our crying prayers, showers us with great mercy, and rescues us.  Despite obtaining peace, we often return to sin.  Nevertheless, God continues to forgive and deliver us because He is a God of great mercy.