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Applying both concepts can be difficult. This is what you call ethics. If you take an ethics class whether applied to government regulation or the medical field or charity, the ethic is where the seeming contradiction of Truth – the immoveable reality, intersects Mercy – benevolence shown to the individual who has offended. At that crossroads you have a moral principle that is applied to determine the road to take.
Similar ethical questions people wrestle with are long term/short term decisions, individual/community decisions, and honesty/loyalty decisions.
- Mercy: That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders.
- Truth: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.
A king in God’s kingdom, a judge, is expected to make these kinds of decisions, and so Solomon has given the proverb. He’ll later say, Mercy and truth preserve the king (Proverbs 20:28).
Let them not forsake thee
- There is a natural tendency to lose these companions
- Mercy and truth are dispositions that will leave unless you take hold of them.
- When applying them to others, mercy and truth appear fleeting and difficult because there is so much opposition to them in the world and in you.
- Mercy and truth are companions although they don’t seem like it
- Some people pick up truth or what they think is the truth and become merciless in applying it to others. It may be something from the Bible. When I was called to preach it was all about the truth, but no mercy. I would pick arguments just to prove people wrong. It was so dumb.
- Some young adults come under the spell of some policy during their education. They feel like they’ve found the truth and become aggravatingly contentious about their newfound idea.
- James and John asked the LORD about calling down fire to burn up people who were preaching Jesus, just not the way they were.
- It’s not anything spiritual to try to shock people, or to beat people over the head with things you just learned last week.
- On the other hand, some folks are so desperate to show mercy they abandon truth altogether. Usually this is about reputation.
Keep them close
- Put them on your neck and hide them in your heart.
- One is open for all to see and the other is private between you and the LORD.
- Write it on the tables of your heart is a spiritual thing.
- Mercy and truth are constant reminders of how the LORD has treated you.
- Ephesians 4:15 speaking the truth in love… If you’re trying to tell the truth to shock people, you’ve missed it. If you’re trying to show mercy so someone doesn’t think you’re mean, you’ve missed it.
- Galatians 6:1
- Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged…
- Person of Christ – Now watch the wisdom of God in Jesus Christ. These two seemingly opposing dispositions – mercy and truth – meet in Christ. His substitutionary death satisfies the truth that the wages of sin is death and at the same time distributes mercy to sinners.
Benefits of favor and understanding
- Why bother keeping mercy and truth? Two answers are right here in the verses; favor with man and with God.
- People want to be treated right. And the LORD wants you to treat people right, not forgetting how He’s treated you.
- Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Jesus’ “sermon on the mount” is full of proverbs. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. (Proverbs 11:17)
- This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. (2 Timothy 1:15-17)
