“Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: unite my heart to fear Thy name.” Psalm 86:11
When David wrote Psalm 86, he did so as a prayer to God. Most certainly he chose his words carefully, trusting the Spirit of God to guide him, for in this psalm he not only reveals a true understanding of his absolute need, but also, the fact that only God can meet that need. The true man of faith is that one, who resembles the Publican in the days of Christ who stands beating his breast, and crying to God, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” This man also was one who came face to face with his unfathomable, desperate need before the Holy God in the midst of a world of ungodliness, and yet, by the grace of God, he has come to understand that the eternal God, Maker of heaven and earth, and sole redeemer of lost men, is a merciful God. With the realization of his terrible need comes the conviction of the certainty of finding God, and this because of his mercy. What is mercy, and why is it the sole’s certain way of coming to God, finding Him, and mostly, being individually met by Him?
If we take the Old Testament meaning of mercy, and this in its various forms and applications, we discover that it is revealed as the “…compassion to one in need or helpless distress, or in debt and without claim to favorable treatment.” Where the word “grace” would apply to man in his guilt, “mercy” would speak of his miserable condition. Both terms address the absolute lostness, helplessness, and hopelessness of man because of his sinful state, and the impending judgment of that sin. Both terms also reveal God’s remedy for man’s lost condition, first in giving sinful man access to the only fountain where he can drink and live, and secondly, providing man the capacity to drink, receiving not only perfect cleansing from sin, but the righteousness of a perfect Life, that of Christ. From death to life, from hopelessness to full assurance of faith, the mercy and grace of God are the essential elements of God’s character, which give man the desire and will to come to Christ for cleansing and life.
As to the importance of mercy, it is revealed in the Tabernacle of old, particularly on the Ark of the Covenant. The grace of God is immediately revealed in that the God of creation and redemption, has chosen to make the Ark of the Covenant, revealing His grace, providing for man the knowledge of the way to come to him that is certain. More specifically concerning the actual meeting of God and man in God’s way, we find on top of the Ark of the Covenant what is called the “mercy seat.” With regard to the mercy seat which was put “above upon the Ark,” God told Moses, “And THERE I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat.” (Exodus 25:22) The certainty of these words of God, and His certain promise to meet the sinner is revealed by the Ark of the Covenant itself, which was His absolute commitment to sinful man who would come to Him, seeking Him for salvation, and for every need of heart, spirit, and soul.
In the book of Hebrews, we find another confirmation of the essential importance of the mercy of God with regard to the sinner, and in particular the believer. The author writes: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16) It is here that God gives the believer access to Himself on the basis of His mercy and grace, not only to come, but to receive from Him all that is needed to glorify God. When David prayed in Psalm 86 that God would teach him His way, he would also pray, “unite” my heart to fear Thy name. God’s mercy and grace will provide.
Dear Father, Show forth Thy mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.