the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
His grace continues forever (Psalms 136:1).
The Lord is a God of both mercy and justice. He is like a king who had several empty goblets and said, "'If I pour hot water into them they will burst; if cold [water] they will contract [and snap].' He [the king] mixed hot and cold water [together] and poured it into them [the goblets], and so they remained [unbroken]. Even so, said the Holy One, blessed be He: 'If I create the world on the basis of mercy alone, its sins will be great; on the basis of judgment alone, the world cannot exist. Hence, I will create it on the basis of judgment and of mercy, and may it then stand!'" (Genesis Rabbah 12:15)
God must exercise judgment to sustain the moral universe he created, but he delights in showing mercy. When Moshe (Moses) asks the Lord to show him his glory, the Lord responds, "I will cause all my goodness to pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce the name of ADONAI" (Exodus 33:18-19). The Lord then appears and proclaims what the rabbis came to call the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Only then does he mention the attribute of justice.
God must exercise judgment, but he delights in showing mercy. He demonstrated this priority once for all by sending the Messiah, his own Son, to take the righteous judgment of God upon himself, and to provide mercy for all who would receive it.
...seek to practice justice in my actions, and I will delight to show mercy to those around me.
RR
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.
