Blessed are the Merciful

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Good Morning, My Name is Junior, I’m the Assistant Pastor of Discipleship here at Harvest. Welcome to Harvest! I am happy to have to opportunity to speak to you from God’s word. If you need a bible or a sermon bulletin, you can indicate by raising your hand and our Ushers would get one into your hands.

Let Us Pray

This morning we are back in our series through the book of 1 Samuel called “Authentic: Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart”. We have been seeing some destructive character flaws in Saul’s life from the forfeiture of his kingship by disobeying God and now his murderous pursuit of David. We have also seen some characteristics worthy of emulation by David since he came on the scene.

David’s work ethic, his zeal, his faith in God, his trust in God, all comes together to help us see the type of person God wants us to be. Today we will look at another God-given trait of David and see how we can apply some of the principles to his life. That trait is his expression of mercy.

His

Our world is continuously heading on a downward spiral. Morality globally is in a free-fall, things that were once outlawed are now acceptable;

Now biblically defined, Mercy is A quality of compassion, it is especially expressed in God’s forgiveness of human sin. In his mercy, God shields sinners from what they deserve.

When we prepare a sermon it isn’t that we are asking you to do something that God hasn’t first required of us. We as preachers are always to preach to ourselves first.

Illustration: An opportunity for mercy. 4 Mins

I had not started studying this text yet on Monday. So believe me when I say this sermon is for me as well.

Mercy is A quality of compassion, it is especially expressed in God’s forgiveness of human sin. In his mercy, God shields sinners from what they deserve.

As we go through this passage today, look for how God expresses mercy directly and indirectly through David.

First point on your outline:

1. Wherever Evil exists mercy is needed. .

1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?”

2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon.

In chapter 24 we saw that David spared Saul’s life, instead of thanking God for his mercy expressed through David, Saul is back on the Warpath to pursue and kill David once again. Proving what we already know to be true. He’s an evil man; more and more we see him descending down a dark path, and sadly he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, look, he’s pursuing an innocent man to take his life. A person does not get more evil than that!

David is now presented with some options here: he could retaliate and kill Saul before he takes his life, but he could also use this opportunity to show the mercy of God to Saul.

It’s no different for us, in every situation, we have an opportunity to choose to retaliate or extend mercy. To seek justice and vengeance or to forgive.

Sooner or later we are going to have an opportunity to choose”

What do you do when your spouse says or does something unkind?

How about when your kids does something worth a beating?

When your siblings wrong you terribly, what do you do?

Another trait stands out in this passage, and this one has to do with mercy or being merciful.

What about your coworkers, your neighbors?

We often think that the wrongs we experience are out of place, something that should never happen. And in some sense you are right. But God is in the business of changing people, and it’s often while experiencing wrong that God continues to make us right.

Another trait stands out in this passage, and this one has to do with mercy or being merciful.

It’s in the midst of experiencing wrong that Joseph’s character was formed.

It is while Moses in wilderness

But on the other hand David “the merciful” pursues peace. And we will come to see that he does not even require justice which would be well within his right to require.

Read

Ask yourself this question:

While we will never condone any evil act, the fact remains and especially for Christians that when evil shows its ugly head, it’s an opportunity for mercy to be shown. Now I know we don’t often think of it this way, but it’s the reality.

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The bible tells us in that if we sin, Jesus Christ in His mercy becomes our defense attorney.

that My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, ywe have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

An advocate is someone who

You see that? The same person that we are sinning against now becomes our lawyer, our advocate.

Do you think that someone can offend you more than they have offended Jesus? And if he chooses to pardon their wrong who are to hold it against them? are you more just than Jesus?

Mercy is a necessary requirement in the presence of evil;

- God extended mercy to the serpent, Adam, and eve in the garden when they sinned.

What situation have you found yourself into where you’ve been wronged? What godly character would need to be expressed to resolve the matter? E.g. Car accident

What

- God extended mercy to Cain by allowing him to live in light of him killing his brother.

Until the return of Christ evil will exist. And until the return of Christ we must grow in being merciful.

God’s people are expected to walk in his footsteps:

Because “Wherever evil exists mercy is needed”.

When we think about mercy the first person that comes to mind is God.

I can tell from my own experience and countless interaction with others that we are aware of our sins; we hide it, ignore dealing with it, we rationalize it, entertain it, play with it. So it’s not that we need another lesson on sin! But we definitely need a lesson on how our sin affects God.

Let Us Pray

In order for us to get a sense of what mercy is, we need to get a sense of why mercy is needed.

Another trait stands out in this passage, and this one has to do with mercy, or being merciful.

You see, God is holy, which means he is separate from everything. There is nothing that is comparable to God.

Point Number 2

2. Mercy should be shown in the context of wisdom. .

But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,

4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.

5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him.

Take a look at this right; If expressing mercy just meant “hey, I won’t kill him although he deserve it”. That would have been one sided. But David knew that he had to demonstrate to Saul that he was actually receiving mercy. So what does he do? He gathers evidence of where Saul is by sending Spies, and he also took Saul’s spear from his head, that Saul would know for certain this man could have killed me, but he didn’t.

So you Take a look at this right; If expressing mercy just meant “hey, I won’t kill him although he deserve it”. But David knew that he had to demonstrate to Saul that he was actually receiving mercy. So what does he do? He gathers evidence of where Saul is by sending Spies, and he also takes something that Saul would know for certain this man could have killed me, but he didn’t.

It’s not enough just to forgive offenses, we must be clear about what we are forgiving, and with those with whom we are expressing mercy. So that they cannot explain away the forgiveness recieved.

I’m certain if David did not take these things, that arrogant Saul might have denied that David could have killed him.

It must be clear to our offenders that what they did or is doing is wrong, and explain with force what they deserve, but also show mercy without reservation. These are the actions that characterizes a merciful person.

He shows mercy in a way that is undeniable. You might say, Pas Jr isn’t that the same as bragging? It’s not the same as bragging, bragging has at it’s center the goal of demeaning whoever it is to prop up our ego.

But this is different! This person must know what they deserved and how the price they owed has been cancelled.

Mercy must be shown in the context of wisdom.

Also, we see that:

3. Mercy is motivated by a fear of God. .

8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.”

9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”

10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.

11 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”

12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

Notice David’s response to Abishai’s vengeful request: Verse 10 “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.” in essence David must have wholeheartedly memorized

Deuteronomy 32:35 ESV

Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

deut 32

David’s reverence for God prompted this heartfelt response, he feared God, he reverenced God. When a person fears God, he’s primarily concerned about what God thinks in any situation; be it relationships, politics, business, it does not matter! A person who fears the Lord lives to please him in every area of his life. And this includes extending mercy to others.

4. Showing mercy does not rule out the need for responsibility. .

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them.

14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.

16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”

Abner should have been more responsible, as commander of the army, he should have had someone on night watch! Although David did not want to hurt anyone. The fact remains that the King could have been killed and none of the 6000 soldiers could have saved him. And David, although a merciful man, could not advise that this incompetence be overlooked.

Sometimes we tend to think that when we forgive someone that it means they don’t need to take responsibility for their actions, this principle here in scripture points to the contrary. There are always consequences to our actions, always.

Illustration: Being forgiven of a wrong at my workplace, but also fired. 3 mins

I was shown mercy, but I had to be fired from that work place. And I take full responsibility for my actions.

5. Showing mercy will always cost you personally. .

17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”

18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?

19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

It’s no secret that David could have ended this cat and mouse pursuit between him and Saul a long time ago by killing Saul and taking his place on the throne. But David is bent on pleasing God by showing mercy to Saul. And it costs him dearly;

Sleeping out in caves, away from his loved ones, the frustration of not knowing why he was being hunted. It costed him something, and believe it or not it will cost you. And with God’s help that should be a price you’re ready to pay.

6. Mercy given will result in mercy received. .

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”

22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it.

23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.”

25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

What David says here in verse 24 is something that you should never forget. “As your life was precious in my sight today, so may my life be precious in the Lord’s, and he will deliver me out of all tribulation.”

Matthew 5:7 ESV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Matt

Not too long from now we would find that David like all of us would be in need of God’s mercy, when he sins against Bathsheba, Uriah, and ultimately, God.

We should always be quick to show mercy to others because we will need mercy shown to us.

Objections to showing mercy:

1. It’s a heinous act.

You may say this person raped and murdered so and so. Does that person deserve mercy? And I will say with a capital No! That person does not deserve mercy, as a matter of fact no one does.

2. They keep doing it over and over again.

Pastor Junior, my spouse have been doing this thing over and over again! Should I show mercy to him/her? I give a resounding yes! Remember showing mercy does not mean you stay in an abusive relationship and do nothing. But take biblically wise steps to pursue the health of your relationship. But forgive wrongs, show mercy.

3. I just can’t!

Many times we find ourselves unable to perform an act without understanding why, or not wanting to be clear in our accountability surrounding the reason. What this helps us to understand is that we have not given much thought to the present situation you’re involved in, or it’s something so painful that we avoid dealing with it all together. It can’t be that we just can’t! There must be adequate effort given to ensure that godly actions are followed. And this most of the time means showing mercy.