“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” – Micah 7:18, NIV.

On January 20, 2009, Mr Chris Rwakasisi walked out of Luzira Maximum Security Prison a free man.

Shortly afterwards, the President called Rwakasisi for a meeting and later appointed him as his Senior Presidential Advisor. What? No one could believe it.

For 20 years, Rwakasisi, formerly the dreaded Minister of Security in Milton Obote’s Government, was waiting to be hanged, having been sentenced to death for crimes he committed against Museveni while fighting Obote in the bush.

But using his constitutional ‘prerogative of mercy,’ the President chose to pardon his former nemesis Rwakasisi, thus sparing him from the hangman’s noose.

What’s so amazing about mercy?

In the Greek, ‘eleos’ denotes the outward manifestation of pity.   

While Grace describes God’s attitude toward the sinner by passing over the sin, mercy is God’s attitude toward those who are in distress because of their sin. In essence, God’s character dictates that He is more willing to show His mercy than His wrath.

In the Old Testament, God demonstrated His mercy in the symbolism of the Mercy Seat or the ‘Throne of Mercy,’ which represented the seat of God in the midst of His people, before which they would come to obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.  

Consequently, scholars believe that the Mercy of God is the central pillar of Old Testament theology.

“With great mercies will I gather you.… But with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the Lord your Redeemer”

ISAIAH 54:7-8

As a matter of fact, God Himself made the declaration of His character of mercy before Moses:

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” (Exodus 34:6-7).

“With great mercies will I gather you.… But with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the Lord your Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:7-8).

In the original language, the word for ‘mercy’ may be translated as loyal love – God’s covenantal love for His people, which endures forever.

That’s why mercy is regarded as the most significant term in the Hebrew text regarding the character of God.

That’s why David could sing “thy mercy is in the heavens” and that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

What is clear from the Scriptures about mercy is that it can be demonstrated; mercy is shown; mercy is extended; mercy is obtained; mercy is found or received and mercy spares from punishment.

When someone says; “May the Lord have mercy on you or us,” it literally means; “may God avert the consequences of this act from you/us.”

Mercy is such a powerful concept that it is sometimes pluralized as “mercies,” which denotes the kind of mercy that never runs dry.

And like in the case of Rwakasisi, God’s mercy extends grace, forgiveness and pardon even when we are sure that we deserve condemnation and are ready to accept the punishment for what we have done.

Like David told the prophet, “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!”

Today, the Lord who redeemed you from destruction is crowning you with loving kindness and tender mercies!

Indeed, even in the New Testament, God is described as the “Father of Mercies” and thus admonishes us also to “put on tender mercies” as His chosen people (Colossians 3:12).

So before you quickly pass that judgment, before you declare that person guilty, before you mete out punishment, remember that our God is a merciful God.

He has repeatedly shown you and me great mercy and is not about to stop. Amen!

Prayer:

Almighty God; have mercy upon us! Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old.” Amen!