Mercy

Intro:

Over these past few weeks, we’ve been looking at The Attributes of God, in hopes that we will be able to get to know and understand our Heavenly Father a little bit better.

Last week we looked at God’s Attribute of Justice… and at the end of that sermon, I made the point that “God’s Justice Fulfills His Mercy”… Meaning that…

In God, there is no tension between justice and mercy. He is infinitely both… And He doesn't compromise one to show the other.

A mother once came to Napoleon pleading for her son, who had committed a series of crimes. "Sir," she said, "I am asking you to have mercy and pardon my son." Napoleon replied, "Ma'am, your son has been found guilty of many crimes. Justice demands that he be punished." The mother answered, "Yes, I know he deserves justice. But I am not asking for justice. I am asking for mercy. If you give him what he deserves, that will be justice. But mercy is giving him what he doesn’t deserve."

Napoleon paused and said, "You're right. To give him mercy would be to give him what he does not deserve. I will show him mercy."

That’s the essence of mercy. Justice is getting what you deserve. Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

And we all want mercy when it’s us in the wrong, don't we? But how many times do we cry out for justice when someone wrongs us... or someone we love?

Thank God that He is a just God, yes, but also that He is a merciful God. Because if He gave us exactly what we deserve… none of us would be here today…

We are going to be talking about God’s Mercy today, which is seen throughout the entirety of Scripture… But I want to focus on Psalm 103…

(Read vv.8-22)

Meat:

The first point that I want to make about

God’s Mercy...

is the fact that it…

1. Never Fails

The Psalmist (David), uses this passage of Scripture to describe the unchanging, unwavering nature of God's mercy. This is not a mercy that flickers or fluctuates depending on how He feels about us that day.

As it is with all of His Attributes, His mercy is rooted in who He is. It is part of His eternal character. And that means it never fails.

Look at vv. 17&18

Psalm 103:17–18 “17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, 18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.”

God’s Mercy is…

1.1 Not Emotionally Controlled

God’s mercy is not the result of a mood swing or a moment of soft-heartedness. He doesn’t hand it out because He’s in a good mood today, and He doesn’t withhold it because He’s had enough.

God is not emotionally controlled like we are. His mercy isn’t dependent on how well you behaved this week or how sincere you sounded in your last prayer.

That’s because His mercy flows from His unchanging nature—not from an emotional reaction.

V.8 very plainly states that “The Lord is merciful…” Not feels merciful. Not might be merciful. He is!. It’s a fixed part of who He is. It doesn't fluctuate with our failures.

I’m not sure if you know this or not… but people can be unpredictable… kind of wishy washy… . One day they’ll forgive you, the next they won’t return your call.… One day they’ll show compassion, the next they’ll hold a grudge…

But thankfully… God is not like us. He is not swayed by impulse. He doesn’t need time to cool off. His mercy doesn’t depend on the emotional climate of the moment—it rests on the eternal foundation of His character.

James 1:17 says that with God, “there is no variation or shadow of turning.” That includes His mercy. His love, His compassion, His grace—none of it is fragile. None of it is reactive. God’s mercy is steady, settled, and sure.

That’s why you can come to Him on your worst day just as boldly as you can on your best day. He’s not emotionally unstable. He doesn’t blow hot and cold. His mercy is firm, consistent, and unshakable.

Which means that… God’s Mercy Never Fails…

1.2 Even When We Do

The latter half of v.8 says that God is “...Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy”

That means God doesn’t fly off the handle. He doesn’t have a short fuse. He’s not looking for an excuse to punish us or strike us down.

Now, I know for some folks, that statement might be hard to believe.

Because if we’re honest, many of us have grown up with a distorted view of God. Maybe you were raised in a harsh religious environment, or maybe life’s pain has shaped how you see God. But some people see Him more like a cosmic policeman, just waiting for you to mess up so He can pull you over and write a spiritual ticket. Others see Him like an angry father—distant, disappointed, and constantly ready to lash out.

Some of you may have lived your whole life with a version of God who’s always mad at you.

You think if something bad happens, it must be God getting even.

If you slip up, even once, you feel like God is done with you.

You try to be perfect—not because you love Him—but because you’re afraid of Him.

Beloved… you have to know… that is not the God of the Bible.

That’s a false god created by pain, fear, and religion. That’s not the God revealed in Jesus Christ.

We would do well to remember the words of A.W. Tozer ... “To think incorrectly about God is the most damaging thing we can do to our souls.”

One of the greatest lies that Satan gets people to believe, is that… “God is quick to judge but slow to forgive.”

But what does Scripture (God’s Very Word)… what does it say… “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy”

That doesn’t sound like a short-fused tyrant to me…

Now don’t misunderstand—God does get angry. Sin is serious to Him. But His first instinct is not wrath—it’s mercy. His heart leans toward grace. He waits. He warns. He gives time to repent.

Think of the countless times in Scripture when Israel turned their backs on Him—and yet, God waited.

Think of how long He was patient with Pharaoh.

Think of your own life… How many times has He been patient with you?

He delays His anger in order to show His mercy.

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, 18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.”

God’s Mercy Never Fails…

The second point on your outline we’ve kind of touched on already…

God’s Mercy…

2. Defined

And what we have in the next few verses of our passage is one of the best definitions of God’s Mercy in all of Scripture.

Starting with the common definition… God’s Mercy…

2.1 Withholds What We Deserve

Lets be 100% honest right now… if God gave us what we deserved, none of us would be breathing…

David says in v.10 …

Psalm 103:10 “He (God) has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.”

Let’s not rush past this: God is holding back the full weight of the judgment we actually deserve.

We talk about God’s mercy like it’s a soft thing—like it’s warm and cozy. But we have to understand: mercy is a shield between us and destruction.

If God gave us exactly what our sins deserve right now, here’s what Scripture says would happen…

Romans 1:18 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

If mercy were removed, God’s wrath would be fully revealed… If you want a description of what a partial glimpse of God’s Wrath looks like, just read Genesis 19, and see the destruction of the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Scripture is clear that the judgment of God includes eternal separation from Him…

Meaning that if God were not withholding what we deserve, then our immediate destination would be the gates of Hell.

In speaking of those who reject God’s Mercy…

2 Thessalonians 1:9 NKJV

9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord…

Hell is not just fire—it’s finality. It's the full expression of God’s justice against sin with no mercy present.

Imagine a massive dam, holding back billions of gallons of water. Behind it is unimaginable pressure—enough to sweep away entire towns in seconds. If that dam broke, nothing would be spared.

Now picture your sin and mine stacked up behind the dam of God’s mercy. The weight is real. The judgment is real. But for now—only because of mercy—that dam holds.

But here’s the twist: at the cross, that dam broke—but not onto us… It broke onto Jesus.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The punishment for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:6 NKJV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

The Cross doesn’t make light of sin — it proves just how deadly sin really is.

But it also shows us just how far God was willing to go to extend mercy without compromising His justice.

God in His mercy, continues to withhold what we deserve, to give us every opportunity to repent of our sins and accept the free gift of salvation provided to us through Jesus’ work on the cross… …

David continues with his definition and points out that God’s Mercy is…

2.2 Immeasurable

David doesn’t just say that God is merciful; he shows us the scale.

Look at v.11…

Psalm 103:11 “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;”

Try to measure that. The heavens are not just above us—they’re infinitely above us. You can’t touch them. You can’t reach them. You can’t even fully comprehend how far they stretch.

That’s how big God’s mercy is. You can’t out-sin the mercy of God, if you come to Him with repentance.

His Mercy is not small. It’s not scarce… It’s abounding. So many people live like they have to earn mercy, like God is stingy with it. But David says His mercy is high, wide, and deep.

There is more mercy in God than there is sin in you.

And David doesn’t stop there… God’s Mercy means…

2.3 Complete Removal of Sin

v.12…

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Now notice, he didn’t say “north from south.” That would be measurable—you can go north until you hit the North Pole, and then you start going south.

But east from west is different—you can go east forever and never reach west. The point is that David is making is that… the distance is infinite.

And that’s how far God removes your sin from you. - Not just out of sight. - Not just out of mind. - But out of reach.

We live in a world where everything is tracked.

Your internet history,

Your credit report,

Your criminal background,

Even your old social media posts.

But God doesn’t operate that way. - He doesn’t keep a sin file on you. - He doesn’t hold onto the old receipts.

Jeremiah 31:34 NKJV

... I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

This doesn’t mean God has divine amnesia. It means He chooses not to bring it up again, not to treat you according to your past, and not to relate to you as the person you once were.

Romans 8:1 NASB95

1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

He’s not waiting for you to mess up again so He can say, “See? I knew you hadn’t really changed.” That’s how people act—not God.

David makes this very clear by pointing out that God’s Mercy…

3. Is Overflowing With Compassion

Psalm 103:13 “As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.”

I believe the NASB gets the better picture…

Psalm 103:13 NASB95

13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

That’s a powerful image. But I know for some people, it’s also a painful one.

Because the word “father” doesn’t always bring warm thoughts. For some, “father” brings up:

Distance instead of closeness,

Anger instead of gentleness,

Disappointment instead of delight,

Abuse instead of affection.

And when that’s your experience, it can be hard—really hard—to imagine God as a merciful Father. You might even think, “If God is like a father, then I’m not sure I want Him.”

And I understand that. That’s real. That pain is valid.

But you need to understand that… God is not a reflection of your earthly father—He’s the perfect example of what a father is supposed to be.

When David says God's mercy is like a compassionate father —he doesn't mean your earthly father, with all his baggage. - He means the Father you've always needed. - The one whose love never fails. - The one whose mercy never runs out.

3.1 He Understands Our Weakness

Psalm 103:14 “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

That means God isn’t surprised when we fall short. He understands our human weakness—our limitations, our struggles, our fatigue, and our flaws.

He doesn’t look at us with unrealistic expectations. He knows we are not made of steel; we are made of dust. He knows that we are vulnerable to temptation, prone to discouragement, and often inconsistent.

But rather than casting us aside, He moves toward us with mercy and compassion.

Again, don’t misunderstand me… God never excuses sin—He’s holy. He’s just. He cannot and will not ignore wrongdoing.

But at the very same time, He never forgets who we are and what we’re dealing with.

He sees the whole story:

He knows the trauma you’ve carried.

He knows the temptations you face.

He knows the generational brokenness you inherited.

He knows the weakness of your frame—the tiredness, the anxiety, the struggle.

And because of that, He doesn’t deal with you according to what you deserve… He deals with you according to who He is—a merciful and compassionate Father.

The last point that I want to make this morning is that… God’s Mercy…

4. Inspires Worship

When you truly begin to understand God’s mercy—what it is and what it’s done for you—worship becomes the only fitting response.

Mercy isn’t just a theological concept; it’s personal. It’s the reason you’re forgiven, the reason you’re still standing, the reason your past no longer defines you.

Psalm 103:19–22 “19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!”

David says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” because every part of him has been touched by mercy. Worship isn’t forced when you’ve been rescued—it flows from a heart that knows it’s been spared.

Even the angels worship God constantly—they see His mercy, they know His holiness, and they cry, “Holy, holy, holy.” But they’ve never needed forgiveness. They’ve never fallen and been lifted.

That means as much as they praise Him, they can’t worship Him like we can. Only the redeemed can sing from experience. Only those who’ve been shown mercy can praise Him for grace they didn’t deserve.

That’s why our worship has a depth the angels will never understand… it’s not just admiration;… Our worship is an act of gratitude.

Closing:

So what do we do with all of this?

You may be here today with a scar on your soul. Maybe the result of your own sin. Maybe the result of someone else’s sin against you. Either way, it’s left you in misery.

You know what you feel — guilt, shame, depression, anger, bitterness. But let me tell you today: God’s mercy can address that misery.

Remember the story of the prodigal son?? He wasted his life, lost everything, ended up feeding pigs. But when he "came to himself," he remembered the mercy in his father’s house.

He came home ready to be a slave, but before he could finish his apology, the father ran to him, kissed him, and threw a party.

That’s mercy. Mercy says: You don’t deserve restoration, but I’m giving it anyway.

Some of us are living in the pigpen of our souls. But our Father is watching, waiting, ready to run to us. We don’t have to stay stuck in guilt. We don’t have to stay broken.

And here’s the good news: God doesn’t just want to forgive you… He wants to satisfy you.

We didn’t read it today, but Verse 5 of Psalm 103, says, "He satisfies your years with good things."

He doesn’t say gratifies… Gratification is quick relief… But satisfaction is deep contentment… That’s what mercy leads to — soul satisfaction.

You see, God is not looking to just patch you up… He doesn’t just want to put a band-aid on your life… He wants to renew you… And that renewal starts with confession.

If the sin is yours, own it… and turn away from it…

If the sin was done against you… release it.

That’s the power of mercy. It doesn’t excuse the offense, but it frees the soul. You forgive not because they deserve it, but because God deserves your trust.

And if you're wondering, "How can I be sure God will show me mercy?" Just look at the cross. Jesus took the judgment you and I could never bear… and paid the price we could never afford.

His mercy is available to anyone who will humble themselves before Him and surrender their life to Him

“Years I spend in vanity and pride Caring not my Lord was crucified Knowing not it was for me He died On Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free Pardon there was multiplied to me There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary”

Prayer: