God’s Pattern & God’s Mercy

Numbers 28; Psalm 72; Isaiah 19–20; 2 Peter 1

Symbolism is interesting even though it can be highly subjective. The words are often abstract and can mean different things to different people. Even so, the story of God delivering His people from bondage in Egypt, an actual event, also illustrates God delivering His people from a life of bondage to sin.

Sometime I can see some OT prophecies with an actual fulfilment as well as a future spiritual fulfilment. Images and activities that happened long before Christ came point to His coming to fulfill God’s promise for a Messiah, a Savior from the bondage of sin. While I’ve not studied prophecy very much, sometimes I’m startled by it. Today’s reading in Isaiah surprised me, not the references to Egypt, but the predictions concerning Assyria.

This passage indicates that those released from the bondage of sin will be feared by those who remain in that place, yet even there the Lord God will establish people who are delivered and saved. I read this with the symbolism in mind. It said that the Egyptians would be fearful of God’s people yet eventually “swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts.” This happened many centuries later and even though Christian has declined there, it did happen.

The more startling reference added that “In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria will come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:16–25)

Reference to Assyria is surprising so I did a little digging and found out that Assyria was eventually defeated and historically responded to the Christian gospel. In fact, my search says that Assyrian people still live in northern Iraq, Iran, Syria, Palestine (specially Jerusalem) Jordan, Australia, and the US. They speak Aramaic language and “most of them are Christians.” How interesting!

Another passage startled me too, this one with practical implications. I tend to separate justice and mercy thinking that justice is God giving to us what we deserve (His wrath on sin) and mercy is the opposite — withholding from sinners the punishment that is deserved. I’ve often wondered why God is merciful to some and not to others. Could this passage be a clue to that question?

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! (Psalm 72:1–4)

God does not separate judgment and mercy like I tend to do. Instead these words describe making judgments righteously as God does. He is holy and hates sin yet merciful and loves sinners. In the example given by the psalmist, He makes a distinction between those who oppress and needy people. Both are sinners and yet justice is offered to the poor. In the heart of God they are not to be judged concerning their sin.

On the other hand, their oppressors, who are also sinful but they do not experience mercy. Could it be that these people were also needy but instead of crying out to God or simply suffering in their need, they struck out in heartless ways to meet that need? Could it be that they were trying to gain by hurting others? And this is the reason for God’s anger against them? Does He reach out to those who ‘need’ Him and turn away from those determined to ‘do it myself’?

In the NT, Jesus said I am to “judge by right judgment” a judgment is based on the heart rather than appearances . . . “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24) But since I cannot know another person’s heart, I need to rely on wisdom from the Holy Spirit to make such decisions. In the case of oppressors of the poor, it seems obvious, but maybe not in other situations.

APPLY: I realize from what the psalmist says that I must be wary of making judgment calls based on “all are sinners” because it could interfere with being compassionate toward the downtrodden. Instead, I must let the idea of right judgment affect my thoughts and actions. It is not as simple as wrath vs. mercy but must include a deeper understanding of what is going on in human hearts, an understanding that comes through listening to the Spirit of God. Also, it has been said that if I’m not sure whether to rebuke or show mercy, it is better to err on the side of mercy.