Justice and Mercy
It can cause all sorts of trouble when people get the wrong end of the stick
and words such as ‘justice’ and ‘mercy’, are prime examples.
They are used in the Bible used to describe God;
in our culture they are what we want when
we are victims of an injustice or when we have done wrong.
Of course, language is an ever-changing tool but
if we are to be just and merciful ourselves then
we must try to understand these attributes of God as presented in Scripture.
Mercy (hesed), loving-kindness (KJV) is God’s tender forbearance of frail humanity.
Justice is about right relationship between God and humans,
humans with each other, all brought about by God’s grace.
Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
Mothers’ Union members, pray to be just and merciful as God is just and merciful.
This may mean changing your approach –
less asking and more listening, less about me and more about others.
‘Draw us through the narrowest of gates to the wide open space of the promise.
’ Psalm 106 Out of the Silence … Into the Silence by Jim Cotter.
Cairns Publications, Harlech, 2006. P. 315 Used with permission.