I know how to throw a pity-party for myself, but the last couple of years have turned that a different direction. Many friends have suffered. Some have died and left family in great grief. The daily news is filled with tragic stories and many other sad situations that never make headlines but nonetheless tug at my emotions. I try to find good news yet see brokenness and sorrow each day.
How does God respond to all of this? Some think He should intervene and stop all of it. Others wonder if He even cares or even exists. However, the OT gives much evidence that God has PITY on His people, even when they bring their troubles on themselves. This was true in the days of the judges. Without a judge to lead them, they “turned back” to serve other gods and “did what was right in their own eyes” rather than obey God. However, Judges 2:18 says,
“Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.”
Psalm 72:13 also says, “He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.”
Throughout the OT, the pity of the Lord was normally for those in need, but not just the needy but those who acknowledged their need. If they felt they could handle it themselves and refused to call on Him, He left them to their own devices and to find out for themselves the result of going their own way.
Ezekiel 7:4. “And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
At times, God’s pity was extended because of His love and the covenant He’d made with them. He did it for their sake, and for His own name’s sake even to the extent that He caused their enemies to pity them:
Psalm 106:43–46. “Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.”
Isaiah 63:9. “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”
Joel 2:17–18. “Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, ‘Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, “Where is their God?” ‘ Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.”
While sometimes translated “affection, tenderness, compassion, feel sorry for” or “to have mercy on” the NT tells of Jesus’ response to those who are suffering. For example, when He passed two blind men sitting beside the road, they called out for mercy. The crowd told them to be quiet but Jesus stopped and asked them what they desired. They wanted their sight, and “Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.” (Matthew 20:34)
GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Many in today’s world have little or no pity for others. People, including children, are being slaughtered, some for believing in Jesus and some because they are somehow different from their oppressors. Thoughtlessness abounds, not only on the freeways and in human interactions. These days, Christians should stand out as people of compassion. We need to be like Jesus and show others that God cares about their afflictions. While discernment is also required, without pity humanity is in danger of becoming like rabid animals that care only for what they want and have. Pity is not easy at times and it can be costly. Look at Calvary; pity for us put Jesus there.
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