Preschool
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6
Prayer for Mercy
Memory Verses
Primary
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6
Junior
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6
Background Scripture: Nehemiah 1
Lesson Scripture: Nehemiah 1
Introduction
Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of God. Paul wrote that God is “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). God’s mercy is expressed in his pity, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness.
God is love; it is not something He acquired or put on but something He is. Mercy, grace, and justice are in perfect harmony with his love and together comprise the greatness of God.
It is through eyes of mercy that He views us. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Ps. 103:13-14). Likewise, Jesus is our faithful High Priest who knows our feelings and the weakness of our flesh because He was tempted like we are. Isaiah prophesied, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench” (Isa. 42:3). No repentant sinner who comes to God confessing his sin need ever fear that God’s mercy will not be extended to him.
Key Verse
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy (Rom. 9:16).
Lesson Scripture
Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,
5 And said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.
Studying the Lesson
Perhaps the book of Nehemiah and its importance is too often overlooked. Although coming before Esther in the Bible, chronologically it is the last historical book of the Old Testament. It could well be called the memoirs of Nehemiah as much of it is written in the first person.
Approximately 140 years before our lesson starts, Nebuchadnezzar, because of broken pledges and violated treaties, plundered and burned both the temple and palace at Jerusalem. After razing the city, most of the surviving inhabitants were displaced to Babylon. Many of the most talented ones such as Daniel and his three friends had been carried to Babylon earlier. God’s people had ceased to exist as a nation.
Seventy years later according to prophecy, the Persian king Cyrus granted permission for a return to Jerusalem. Only a remnant of approximately fifty thousand responded.
Now another seventy years had passed, and only a temple had been rebuilt. The people were in a deplorable state, raided and harassed by their enemies. They lived in a state of poverty and disgrace.
Nehemiah held one of the most trusted and influential positions in the Persian court, but despite living in splendor, Nehemiah’s heart was in Jerusalem with his suffering people. Upon meeting envoys from Jerusalem, which included his brother, he learned of the sad state of Jerusalem. His reaction to the news he received is evidence of a great faith in God, reliance on prayer, and a good and tender heart.
Nehemiah is best remembered for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. His tireless selflessness and courage motivated the people to have a will to work. Under his leadership the work was organized, which provided a plan of security from their enemies and accomplished rebuilding the wall in fifty-two days.
Nehemiah, along with Ezra, understood the essential need of devotion to God, worship, and obedience to his law. This would bring them the continued favor and blessing of God. The spiritual revival found in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah began with Nehemiah’s intercessory prayer of mercy for himself and his people.
Practical Truths for Today
Justice and mercy are not necessarily opposite, because without justice there is no need for mercy. The justice of the law is irrevocable; “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:20). But God accepts our prayer for mercy because Jesus took our place. The judgment that God’s law imposes on us fell on Him. God is not willing that anyone should be lost but desires to show mercy to all who will acknowledge the truth of their condition.
A prayer for mercy is the result of a penitent heart that realizes its sinfulness and the eternal punishment that awaits. This cry for mercy and the rescinding of punishment for wrong is obtained by faith through the merits of Jesus Christ at Calvary. “Justice now revokes the sentence, Mercy calls you, break your chains.” 1
A prayer for mercy begins with a recognition of our helpless, hopeless state. In Jesus’s parable found in Luke 18, the Pharisee brought his own works to the altar of prayer. The publican brought nothing but his sins, the acknowledgment that he was a sinner, and a plea for mercy. Jesus bore record that this prayer was heard. The Pharisee, standing on his own righteousness, departed unjustified.
The mercy and forgiveness for sin that we receive in salvation is personal, and in this experience, we come to realize what mercy means. To continue in the mercy of God we must also be merciful. We should often make intercessory prayer requests for God’s mercy. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Who can know the impact of this prayer?
Another prayer for mercy is that of a brother praying for his brother. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death” (1 John 5:16). This prayer is often needed in our relationships in the congregation. The effects of our temperament, mannerisms, and words are not always apparent to us, and we can unintentionally offend others. In the daily stresses of life when we are disappointed in one another, let us remember that we are to “have fervent charity among [ourselves]: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). This prayer for God’s mercy on one another’s failings is part of the cord of love that binds us together.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught the new standard that now rules in his kingdom. He taught us to love and have mercy for those who use us wrongfully and to pray for them who mistreat or persecute us. As Jesus was dying, ridiculed and in great pain, he asked his Father to be merciful saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen, the first Christian martyr, followed Christ’s example as he was being stoned, praying, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60). The grace in a Christian’s life to pray for mercy upon those who intentionally sin against him is only possible through the power of God’s Spirit.
Questions
- What is the difference between being merciful and permissive?
- If God allows misfortune to come our way because of wrong decisions we have made, does that mean He is withholding his mercy?
- What are ways to teach the principles of mercy in our homes?
- 1 James Montgomery (1771-1854), “Angels, from the Realms of Glory,” Christian Hymnal
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).