We looked at GODS Divine Mercy as yesterdays subject of interest today we will look at the merciful. But first is there a difference between the two Covenants? For the answer I will again look to my E-Sword program and Pastor Robert Hoekstra's comments on that question. And while I am in E-Sword I will draw from the ESV translation for our subject material.
"Law and Grace, Old Covenant and New Covenant"
"The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant . . . For the Law was given through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ . . . This cup is the New Covenant in My blood." (Deuteronomy 9:11; John 1:17; and Luke 22:20)
"In our meditations upon Law and Grace, we have also been considering (though not yet mentioning) the principal characteristics of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. When the LORD GOD wrote the message of His Law upon stone tablets for Moses, He was prescribing the terms of the Old Covenant. "The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the Covenant." When Jesus came into the world to die on the cross, the LORD through the Son of man establishing a New Covenant. "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood."
These two covenants of Law and Grace present one of the major contrasting themes in the words of GOD. "For the Law was given through Moses, but Grace and Truth came through (the Son of man the man) Jesus Christ..." Understanding the differences between these two covenants is of utmost importance for living the Christian life as GOD intends.
GOD's Law tells us that He desires Holiness to characterize the way we are to live. Only GOD's Grace can provide such righteousness in our lives. GOD's Law tells us that He wants Christlike Love to permeate our attitudes and relationships. Only GOD's Grace can develop such (Divine) Love in us. GOD's Law tells us that He desires the Perfections of the Father to be growing in us. Only GOD's Grace is our sufficiency to carry out such a process of transformation.
The Law of GOD is the what; the Grace of GOD is the how. The Law of GOD reveals sin; the Grace of GOD forgives (Pardons) sin. The Law of GOD indicates man's problem; the Grace of GOD provides GOD's Remedy. The Law of GOD demands performance by man; the Grace of GOD offers us His Provision from GOD.
The Law of GOD is the standard; the Grace of GOD is the Means. The Law of God is the spiritual measuring rod that evaluates lives; the Grace of GOD is the nurturing resource that produces Spiritual Life. The Law of GOD tells us of the Character of GOD; the Grace of GOD Reproduces that character in us. The Law of GOD is the Effect GOD wants to see; the Grace of GOD is the cause that brings forth that effect."
To the Merciful:
Psalm 41:1-4 "Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!"
Psalm 112:7-9 "He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor."
Proverbs 11:16-19 "A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die."
Proverbs 14:29-33 "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him. The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death. Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools."
Isaiah 58:5-11 "Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD Will answer; you shall cry, and He Will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD Will Guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Daniel 4:23-28 "Because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar."
Matthew 5:1-12 "Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, his disciples came to Him. And He opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 6:9-15 "Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Matthew 25:34-40, 41-46 (Jesus is speaking) "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me.'
"Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from ME, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'LORD, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into Eternal Life."
Luke 6:27-36, 37-38 (Jesus is speaking) "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
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