cry mercy

ελεήμων , adjective: “to being concerned about people in their need.” [1] From ελεος, which means “kindness or concern expressed for someone in need, mercy, compassion, pity, clemency”[2]

This word is used many times to describe the attitudes of God in the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures. One specific usage is seen when God passes by in His glory, that no man can see—rather he heard it! “Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”[3] The glory of God contains mercy (compassion)!

“He has made His wonders to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and compassionate.” (Psalm 111:4, NASB)

Philo of Alexandria uses this word of God as it relates to things so small and trivial as a garment, “Do ye affirm that the Creator and ruler of the world calls himself merciful with respect to so trivial a matter, as that of a garment not being restored to the borrower by the lender?"[4] What is that classic song? "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."

Of Christ Himself we read, “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17, NASB)

Generally, God has given us great mercy (Lk 1:50; Ps 97:3); rules in mercy (Gal 6:16); surrounds with mercy, (Ps 31:10); greets with mercy (1 Ti 1:2; 2 Ti 1:2; 2J 3 Jd 2). Specifically, God “showed great kindness”(Lk 1:58, 2 Ti 1:16) and expects mercy to be found (Ps 140:5). In Christ, God shows mercy to humans (Ro 15:9; Tit 3:5) , making “rich in mercy”( Eph 2:4) “according to his great mercy (1 Pt 1:3, Ps 50:3; 24:7). Man is to “receive mercy” (Hb 4:16), “show kindness to someone” (Lk 1:72, 78), being “vessels of mercy” (Ro 9:23) “because of the mercy shown to you” (11:31) as Christ extends toward humans (Jd 21).[5]

What does it mean, then to show mercy, “to be concerned about people in their need?”
One must delight in what God delights (Hos 6:6) and be full of wisdom for mercy (Js 3:17) and be ready to show it (Gen 24:44, 49). Let mercy judge action (Js 2:13). One must show compassion, do good to someone in their circumstance (Judg 1:24; 8:35) Lk 10:37.

We are to be patterned after God:
“The merciful man does himself good, but the cruel man does himself harm.” (Prov. 11:17, NASB)

“Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? (Prov. 20:6, NASB)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Mt 5:7, NASB)

The ungodly understand mercy. When Antipater lamented the disorder and possibility of losing the government due to his his betrothal to the daughter of Aristobulus, his distress was compounded by the feeling of betrayal toward Jews who rescued, showed mercy to children made orphans by his father’s irresponsible rule.[6]

As Moses gave his last words to the people, Josephus records his words to include this directive: “for it is proper for you who have had the experience of the afflictions in Egypt, and of those in the wilderness, to make provision for those that are in the like circumstances; and while you have now obtained plenty yourselves, through the mercy and providence of God, to distribute of the same plenty, by the like sympathy, to such as stand in need of it.”[7]

God desires we learn what this means (Mt. 9:13; 12:7) and not be like the Pharisees who have forgotten (Mt. 23:23). Mercy is just one part of all God has done that made our salvation possible (Titus 3:5) and we can expect to find mercy from God when it is most needed, even on our approach to God (Heb. 4:16).

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Cry Mercy by David Crowder

I will wait, I will wait for your peace
I will wait, I will wait and you comfort me

I lift my head, I lift my heart my soul
I lift my hands, I give myself, my life, my all

And I cry mercy
A cry of freedom to be heard
And I Cry Mercy
A cry of freedom from this world

©1998 Inot MusicAll rights reserved. International copyright secured.

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[1]Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. "Based on Walter Bauer's Griechisch-deutsches Wr̲terbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments und der frhüchristlichen [sic] Literatur, sixth edition, ed. Kurt Aland and Barbara Aland, with Viktor Reichmann and on previous English editions by W.F. Arndt, F.W. Gingrich, and F.W. Danker.". 3rd ed., Page 316. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
[2]Ibid.
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update, Ex 34:6. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[4]Philo, of Alexandria, and Charles Duke Yonge. The Works of Philo : Complete and Unabridged. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1993.
[5]Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. "Based on Walter Bauer's Griechisch-deutsches Wr̲terbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments und der frhüchristlichen [sic] Literatur, sixth edition, ed. Kurt Aland and Barbara Aland, with Viktor Reichmann and on previous English editions by W.F. Arndt, F.W. Gingrich, and F.W. Danker.". 3rd ed., Page 316. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
[6]Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. The Works of Josephus : Complete and Unabridged. Includes index., Wars 1.560. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1987.
[7]Josephus, Flavius, and William Whiston. The Works of Josephus : Complete and Unabridged. Includes index., Ant 4.239. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1996, c1987.