The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. (Psalm 103:8)
As mentioned in the previous devotion, immediately after Israel committed rebellion by worshiping the Golden Calf, Moses appealed to God for mercy. In response to his petition, the Lord relented and forgave the nation of the grievous sin. In that same encounter, Scripture says that “the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). In the verse above, David obviously acknowledged the Creator’s beneficent attributes as he continues to offer thanks to the Lord in this psalm. That said, let’s take a look at the deeper meaning of the attributes of mercy and grace.
The Hebrew word translated as “merciful” is רחום rachum. What I find most interesting about this term is it’s connection to the Hebrew word for womb — רחם racham. As a matter of fact, racham is the root from which rachum is derived, thereby revealing that God’s mercy to us is thematically equivalent to a helpless child who grows protected and nurtured in its mother’s womb. Were it not for His mercy we would be subjected to dangers we cannot even imagine; were it not for His mercy, we would be destitute of the help we need to mature and thrive. This means His mercy is not just for those times when forgiveness is needed; His mercy spares us before we find ourselves in precarious situations.
The Hebrew word rendered as “gracious” is חנון chanun. Jewish commentators present an interesting observation about this word, connecting it to the term חנם chanam which means “free of charge.” When we consider the grace of God, we must admit it is something none of us are entitled to but is a gift bestowed upon us by the Creator because He is good. Perhaps the greatest exhibition of His grace is the fact that He allows us to have a relationship with Him through His Son. That alone proves that He is good, and yet He goes beyond that. Throughout our life, He aids and provides for us though we, as fallen creatures, are unworthy of His consideration. But it is as David said — He is gracious, slow to anger and abounds in mercy — and we should all be very grateful.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Recent Comments