Mercy’s Lament
“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not,” Isaiah 30:15
Rejection cuts deep. Spurned love leaves an ache in the soul. Such is God’s grief for independent and wayward man. He has paid the price for our sin; removed the shame of our failure, yet we would sooner do it our way than lean on Him. We want to prove our worth rather than receive His love.
Days from the cross, Jesus wept over Jerusalem. His tears were not for Himself. They were for the ones who failed to recognise the hour of their visitation (Luke 19:41-44). The city that stoned the prophets was about to receive the Son. Their welcome would turn to rejection. Their shouts of hallelujah would become a demand for death. Yet mercy stayed true and paid for the sins of those who did not care. Mercy revealed love when the crowd expressed hate. Mercy tasted death so it could release life. Mercy triumphed over judgment and provided forgiveness through the blood of the Son.
God delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). He judges because He is just, but He forgives because He is kind. He atones because He cares. He takes pleasure in mercy because He is love. His mercy is revealed in loving-kindness and unfailing love. It is strong and it is sure. Mercy cannot be exhausted, and it will not fail.
“But you would not,” is mercy’s lament. How often has He longed to gather us as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but we were not willing (Matthew 23:37). We seek our own way and labour in our own strength. We walk aloof, striving to validate our worth. We struggle and perform, that we might appear competent and strong.
Mercy, though new every morning (Lamentations 3:22,23), must be received. It is in returning that mercy is revealed. To return is to turn again. It is to turn back when we made the wrong choice and went our own way. It is to look back at what we lost sight of. It is to refocus on His love in the midst of our failure. Such actions are humbling and at times painful. We would rather remain distant inflicting the pain we believe we deserve. We look down rather than look up. We feel the intensity of His love but cower beneath the weight of our shame. Yet it is in returning that we receive the mercy our hearts desperately long for. It is in rest that we are saved from ourselves and from our sin.
In returning and rest, we are saved and in quietness and confidence, we find strength. Salvation is in Him. So is strength. We can look for the strength to live for God in our own devotion and dedication, but it will not last. Strength comes from Him. It comes from His perfect obedience and His Spirit dwelling within us (Ephesians 3:16).
The price has been paid, so that we can live close, even in the midst of imperfection and sin. We can look at our weakness and hide in our shame, or we can turn to the One who has paid for it all. Mercy has been freely given. Now it is our choice to receive. The One who rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17), does not want to lament our choice.
