Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Mercy

     In Mark chapter 10 the man named Blind Bartimaeus called Jesus "thou Son of David".  He then pleaded for mercy -- "have mercy on me".  "Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me." 
    Reading in the book of II Samuel, I recognized the profound presence of mercy in the life of King David.  
David recieved a great measure of mercy shown to him.  He also showed an incredible measure of mercy to others.  Chapter after chapter reveals the tide of mercy as it came to him in the form of forgiveness by God, and a generous tide of mercy as it flowed from him in his forgiveness to others. 
    How God forgave him of his transgression with Bathsheba and the awful crime of the loss of Uriah's life is incomprehensible.  This transgression was unimaginable.  Yet Mercy came.  Forgiveness came.
    How, again and again, David spared the life of Saul, who sought to destroy David's.  Mercy flowed out.  How he showed mercy to Saul's son.  How he showed forgiveness to men who cursed him and threw stones and dust at him.  How he forgave men who plotted against him. How he wept for the loss of the life of his son who, without reservation, attempted to destroy his own father and take the kingdom for his own. Mercy flowed from him.
    Yes, Bartimaeus knew what he was saying when he called on Jesus, the Son of David, and cried for mercy.  He knew that this descendant of David would know what mercy was all about.  He cried for mercy, asked for his eyesight, and received that for which he asked.