Daily Devotion Psa 119.64

February 23, 2006

Psa 119:64 KJV The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Anyone who would say that the world is “full” of the mercy of God is in denial of reality. Since its very beginnings, murders, divisions, wars, theft and oppression has marked its societies.  Men, women and children have had to fend for themselves in order to escape the cruelty of man’s inhumanity to man, as well as the ravages of poverty and diseases.  To this very day, at all levels of society, in every country and in every religion, man has not yet learned to govern itself in a society without crime, fear and oppression.  

Where is God’s mercy in all this?

If we look for God’s mercy in the works and societies of man we will not find it.  But the realm of the creation of God is full of examples of His abundant mercies.  Many of the street people I minister to have dogs. I sometimes see these dogs yelled at and even hit by their drunken angry masters.  In spite of so much mistreatment, the dog stays ever so faithful to its master, to provide him with the love and companionship he so badly needs.  This is such an example of God’s mercy to man, creating for him an animal who is the epitome of loyalty.  I have traveled so many countries, and I have seen both the godly and the ungodly farmer benefit of the fruits of the earth, the warmth of the sun, and the blessing of the rain.  I see everyday the businessman in cities getting paid in order to feed his family even though he may even consider himself an atheist.  An atheist might be excused for not thanking God for His wonderful blessings; but what is worse, is when God’s children benefit of their benevolent Father’s blessings, and yet they do not even thank Him because they accredit them to their own efforts.  

Let us pray today to be able to see God’s mercy around us and learn to find it in the simple fact that He does not deal with us according to our sins, but according to His abundant mercies.

MERCY:  Undeserved forgiveness.

Psa 103:8-12 KJV  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  (9)  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.  (10)  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  (11)  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  (12)  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.