Mercy and justice are in equitous
balance within the heart and character of God. They do not exclude one
another and are synchronous within the actions and attitude of God.
We discredit the character and nature
of God if we view Him solely as a compassionate grandfatherly figure who
constantly showers us with hugs and good gifts with never a stern or harsh
word. He is completely good but simultaneously intolerant and ruthless with sin,
evil and wickedness. He does not turn a blind eye to disobedience and
cruelty and is not constrained by our incomplete conceptions of “love”, “mercy”, and “grace”.
God did not overlook the sin of Adam (Genesis 3:17-19), Cain (Genesis 4:11-13),
Saul (1 Samuel 15:26), or David (2 Samuel 12:8-10), and He cannot, by His very
nature, overlook sin now.
Some conclude that love cancels
out law, but Scripture clearly shows us otherwise.
"Love and
faithfulness meet together; righteousness
and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness
springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed
give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness
goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. (Psalms 85:10 NIV).
Divine mercy (which encompasses
the concepts of love and peace) embraces truth, which is another name for
justice (law) or righteousness. In God
and within His Kingdom they are not separated.
James tells us,
“Speak
and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because
judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy
triumphs over judgment.”
(James 2: 12,13 NIV).
Mercy does triumph over judgment
but never over justice because mercy and justice are one in God. Clearly, judgment
for sin still exists and in fact judgment without any mercy in heart and action
is equally wrong.
The
justice and mercy of God are not in contradiction but in balance.
“Righteousness and justice are
the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before Your face”
(Psalm 89:14).
If we conclude that God will never exercise justice or wrath upon sin, disobedience
and wickedness, we have a distorted view of God.
Sin can and should not be tolerated, for sin always separates us from the
heart of God. Isaiah 59 paints a clear picture of the relationship between sin, confession, redemption and justice. (read Isaiah 59 here)
Sin sabotages God’s eternal justice and there is but one remedy: repentance. Acknowledging our sins and calling out to God
for mercy will put into effect His justice and peace.
God has mercifully provided a way for us to escape this wrath
and separation: Christ’s blood has purchased atonement and cleansing, allowing
us to stand before God on Judgment Day and be counted as justified. (Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 13:20, Titus
3:7; Hebrews 10:19).
God’s
Word is abundantly clear that judgment must be meted out to the disobedient and
unrepentant, yet the supreme goal of God’s
judgment is to bring restoration to the lost by bringing them into
fellowship with Himself. This is how
justice (righteousness) and mercy (love/peace) “kiss” one another – through the
reconciliation that Jesus makes possible by His death on the cross in our
place.
Mercy and justice are perfectly balanced in the character and conduct of God. In our mercy let us walk in His steps, not forsaking the justice of God. In our quest for justice let us follow His ways by embracing the merciful heart of God.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God
Micah 6:8 NIV
