Have Mercy Lord…

– Fred Hammond, “If my people.”

MERCY – forbearance, in other words, a refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due

While on the phone with the prayer team for my sorority chapter, our current Chaplain who is a prayerful believer, let us know in this time of sickness and virus she was led to focus our prayer with the members the next day on mercy.

Mercy…have mercy on us Lord!

My mind immediately went to Psalm 51. I was taught years ago that David, a man after God’s heart, gave us not only the state of mind we individually should approach God for mercy, but also a progression and pattern of prayer to seek God’s mercy.

In Psalm 51 David sought mercy from God because he recognized he had done wrong. He knew he needed atonement for his sin. He acknowledged God for who He is and His ability to make things correct to repair their relationship. He cried out and sang out sincerely for forgiveness and mercy.

Read David’s prayer as if it were yours…

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” Psalms‬ ‭51:1-19‬ ‭KJV

Then after meditating on that particular Psalm, I began to think about the fact that not only individuals need mercy – at this point the whole world needs it! I was then led to 2 Chronicles to read about Solomon, David’s son…

You see, due to David’s sin, he was not able to build God’s temple as a leader. His son Solomon was able to finish a task his Father was not. When completed, Solomon prayed. (1 Kings 8:22-61) God answered his prayer and gave this assurance in Chronicles.

Corporately let us read in 2 Chronicles…

“And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:12-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s a prayerful time for the world. We are in need of mercy from God. He has blessed us with guidance that although written many years ago that we should heed today.

Let us pray…

We humble ourselves Lord. We recognize who you are. We know we’ve gone against Your Will and Way. Help us to have a mind which causes our actions to do better. Forgive us please individually and collectively. We ask that you Have mercy and heal us and heal our land.

Amen.