God Delights in Mercy

Micah 7:18-19  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. ¹⁹ He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

The Lord God Almighty delights in showing mercy.  Religion has taught that God is looking for a reason to punish.  But that is not true.  God is looking for a reason to show mercy.

As an example I think of Ahab, who was a very wicked king of Israel.  (1 Kings 16:30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.1 Kings 21:25  But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.)

One day Elijah, the prophet, was sent to give a message to Ahab concerning judgment that was coming upon his family because of the wickedness that he had engaged in and that which he was about to do.  Ahab responded by repenting before the Lord.  Repentance attracts God’s mercy. Immediately God brought Ahab’s repentance to the attention of Elijah and pushed back the judgment until the day of the sons of Ahab.  My guess is that had his sons also repented it would have been pushed back again, because God delights in mercy. 

1 Kings 21:27-29 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. ²⁸ And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ²⁹ Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

Knowing that God delights in mercy is a comfort to me.