“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you.” (Leviticus 23:22, NIV)
If there is mercy to be found in the game of golf, we might define it with one of a golfer’s favorite words: gimme.
The gimme doesn’t belong in serious tournament stroke play, of course, but it is a staple of the once-a-week crowd. It speeds play, yes, but its more beloved purpose is to relieve the casual player of some unnecessary jitters. And in this way, giving a friend a putt can be a real show of mercy.
The idea of mercy is oddly controversial, both in and out of the church. Think of a child, an aging adult, or an acquaintance with a handicap, and we all think, There’s a candidate for mercy. There are also those down on their luck, and for them a touch of mercy serves as a warm light against the darkening backdrop of life.
But generally speaking, we also reserve a place in our minds for those who deserve no mercy. They are opponents, enemies, and inconsiderate drivers. When someone speeds past us on the right then cuts us off to get back into our lane, the first thought to snap across your brain–admit it–is not, I need to render mercy to such a soul! Rather, we start crying out for justice: “Where is that state trooper now?!”
Because of this dichotomy, many people see two different gods in Scripture: “the god of mercy” and “the god of justice.” And frequently, that delineation is drawn between the testaments. The God of the Old Testament–he’s the just one, demanding that laws be abided by, like steps in assembling DIY furniture. One slip, and it could all come crashing down. Meanwhile, the God of the New Testament, as revealed in Jesus, speaks of mercy and comes as the gentle Lamb.
But as with all aspects of biblical righteousness, mercy is unveiled in the Old Testament and continued in the New. It was God in the Old Testament who established the gleaning laws for the poor and the alien. It was God in the Old Testament who directed his people to pity the wayward animals of even their enemies (Exodus 23:4-5). King David even chose the punishment of God in the Old Testament, knowing that the mercy of YHWH prevailed over the harshness of men (2 Samuel 24:14). Jesus took up the mercy of this God, his Father, and showed us how important it remains.
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Jeff Hopper
November 7, 2014
Copyright 2014 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
OTHER DEVOTIONS IN THIS SERIES
Threads of Righteousness 1
Threads of Righteousness 2
Threads of Righteousness 3
Threads of Righteousness 4
Threads of Righteousness 5
Threads of Righteousness 6: God alone
Threads of Righteousness 7: Only God?
Threads of Righteousness 8: Humble Selves
Threads of Righteousness 9: Humble Acts
Threads of Righteousness 11: Acting Justly
Threads of Righteousness 12: Generosity
Threads of Righteousness 13: Faithfulness
Threads of Righteousness 14: Purity
Threads of Righteousness 15: God of Love
Threads of Righteousness 16: God’s Loving Plan
Threads of Righteousness 17: Acting in Love
Threads of Righteousness 18: Spirit of God
Threads of Righteousness 19: Spirit-led Living