by Jerry Senn
“For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, ‘if you return again’” (2 Chron 30:9b).
Over and over in our Bible, the Lord our God is described as a God of mercy. In fact, there are almost as many references in the Bible to God’s mercy as there are to His love.
Mercy and love are two separate attributes, though sometimes they are confused or used interchangeably. The Bible says, “God shows his love (mercy) for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). In 2 Chron 30:9b says, “The Lord is … gracious and merciful.” Love describes a way that God feels and acts toward us; mercy describes a way that God reacts to our sinful condition.
Webster can be of some help in getting a grip on the difference between the words “love” and “mercy.” The dictionary defines love as “an affection based on admiration or benevolence.” It also says love is “warm attraction.” On the other hand, mercy is described as “a compassion or forbearance shown to an offender.”
The Scriptures call “mercy” a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.” Love, then, is that feeling God has toward those he has created. Mercy, on the other hand, is an attitude God has toward us who are not worthy of His pardon.
The Lord our God is not only all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, and loving, but He is also a God of mercy. Mercy, then, in another strong attribute of the God we serve and love.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor does he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities”
(Psalm 103:8-10).
Some thoughts are from (John Bisagno, “God Is”).