“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.'” (Exodus 34:6-7 NIV)
Last year when we had visiting pastors in for special meetings, I heard something I’ve spiritually “chewed on.” She compared relationships to two images of God. Specifically, she said that in their marriage she leaned toward the “justice” side and he leaned toward “mercy.” Both justice and mercy are parts of God’s character and I would venture to say that, because we are created in God’s image, each of us manifests God’s justice and mercy within us, though probably in different measures. I certainly know that there are times I can be wonderfully gracious and merciful, but other times I am hard-as-stone against something. Perhaps you can identify yourself in this, too.
Sometimes believers think that because we live in the New Covenant of life after Christ’s death and resurrection, we can just throw out all Old Covenant/Old Testament teachings. In that line of thought, if we are living in the New Covenant, then the justice of God in the Old Testament is replaced by the mercy of God in the New Testament. But God never changes. (Hebrews 13:8) The God of the Old Testament IS the God of the New Testament, and his mercy and grace are seen throughout the Bible.
I probably don’t have to remind you that God’s mercy and grace were shown when Abraham didn’t have to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22), and when Moses convinced God not to destroy the idolatrous Israelites (Exodus 32:11-14), and when Esther’s God-guided cunning saved the Jews from annihilation (Esther). I probably don’t have to remind you that it is because of God’s justice toward humanity’s sin that Jesus had to come to redeem God’s people – us. As one writer put it, “The cross is neither a mere display of affection nor an improvement program. The cross shows God unleashing grace in Christ as God upholds justice through Christ (Rom. 5:12–21).” *
This brings me to three thoughts.
One, there is a time for mercy. God is gracious, compassionate, and rich in love. When we have an opportunity to show someone(s) the love, grace, and mercy of God, we should do so. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8 NIV). When we walk humbly with God we can act justly and love mercy.
Two, there is a time for justice. God is slow to anger – but he will act. 2 Peter 3:9 (AMP) tells us that, “The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Even so, God will not leave the guilty unpunished. God says, “I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” (Isaiah 13:11 NIV). God will put an end to the evil in this world, even if (to us) this act of justice seems very delayed.
Three, we must be wise and discerning in how we deal with others. Sometimes justice is needed, and sometimes mercy. Sometimes a mix of each, but measured out carefully. Responding with justice when mercy is needed is no better than responding with mercy when justice is needed. In either situation, discernment – knowing the heart and mind of God and being led by Holy Spirit – is what IS needed. (Have you ever had to train, guide, and discipline a child through a challenging episode?) God will help us when we ask him for wisdom and discernment.
God,
Thank you for your constancy and for your faithfulness to us. Thank you that by your mercy you show justice for sin and evil, and that by your mercy you offer us salvation through Jesus Christ so we can escape the reality of your judgment for our sins. Holy Spirit, give us spirits, hearts, and minds to discern your wisdom and direction for the choices we make and the actions we take, and then give us courage to be the people you call us to be. Help us know you more and more, deeper and deeper, so we can do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)
“So often we hear that “God is love,” which has been turned into a one-sided slogan. This article brings us back to the full-orbed truth: God is both infinitely merciful and infinitely just. Because of His simplicity—He cannot be divided up into various parts with various passions—He is a God of both infinite mercy and infinite justice. The Lord is not only “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,” but He is also the One “who will by no means clear the guilty” (Ex. 34:6–7).” (by Daniel R. Hyde in “Why Must God’s Justice be Satisfied,” Tabletalk Magazine, https://tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/why-must-gods-justice-be-satisfied/)
*https://covenantlifetampa.org/2017/06/psalm-7-gods-holy-anger-is-our-only-hope-against-injustice/