TENDER MERCIES

“Through the TENDER MERCY of our God, whereby the dayspring from on high visits us” – Luke 1:78

There are several biblical references to the TENDER MERCIES of God. Here are eight of such:

• “Remember, O LORD, Your TENDER MERCIES and Your lovingkindnesses, for they have been from of old” (Psa.25:6).

•  “Do not withhold Your TENDER MERCIES from me, O LORD; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me” (Psa.40:11).

• “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your TENDER MERCIES blot out my transgressions” (Psa.51:1)

• “Hear me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your TENDER MERCIES” (Psa.69:16).

• “Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your TENDER MERCIES come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low” (Psa.79:8).

• “Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and TENDER MERCIES” (Psa.103:4).

• “Let Your TENDER MERCIES come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight” (Psa.119:77).

• “The LORD is good to all, and His TENDER MERCIES are over all His works (Psa.145:9)

Psalm 51 was inspired following the episode of David’s sin, and the repentance he showed when Nathan confronted him over it (2Sam.11:1-12:23). This psalm models the kind of repentance God desires. It shows how the penitent person throws himself on the MERCY of the Lord (v.1). There was no false piety displayed: David humbly admitted his need for God’s undeserved goodwill toward him. This is the lesson: When we turn from sin, we should cast ourselves on the Mercy of God alone just as the tax collector did in one of Jesus’ parables: “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” (Lk.18:13). Repentance confesses guilt, but does not base hope for forgiveness on self-deeds. David’s petition was based only on God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies.

King David knew the Lord would respond to his sin with either mercy or wrath. He decided to appeal to God’s mercy, imploring Him to “blot out” his transgressions (v. 1). That is, to erase his record of sin and no longer hold it against him. Once a sin is forgiven, the Lord treats it as if it never happened. Moreover, repentance involves a desire to be clean. God can take the vilest sinner and make him the most immaculate saint (v. 2). He alone can remove the guilt of man’s evil (v. 3). Now, in the New Covenant, if you ask the Lord to have mercy on you in Christ and forgive you of your sin, then He washes you clean (1Jh.1:8-9). The Mercies of God stand in sharp contrast to the “tender mercies of the wicked” which are cruel (Pro.12:10). That’s why David preferred to fall into the hand of the Merciful God than into the hand of man: “And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” (2Sam.24:14).

Beloved, join me to pray, in the Name of Jesus:

The Lord will remember His tender mercies towards me.

He will never withhold His tender mercies from preserving me.

I’ll enjoy the multitude of His tender mercies.

His tender mercies shall come speedily to meet me and lift me.

His tender mercies have redeemed me from destruction and guaranteed my life.

He shall crown me with His lovingkindness and tender mercies.

His tender mercies shall tabernacle over all His works in my life.

By His tender mercy, I enjoy the Visitation of the Dayspring from on high!

Now, it’s time to imitate God and be merciful to all those who have wronged you and have sought your forgiveness (Eph.5:1). Are there persons against whom you are harboring a grudge? Ask God to help you cast off that burden and never to bring their sin up again. God has shown you Tender Mercies; go and be an emissary of the same!