[Songs in the Night - April 12]
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Psalm 103:8
OUR text reminds us that the Lord is merciful and
gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, and we
see this well illustrated in the case of fleshly Israel in
the wilderness experiences, in the history of the Lord's
people of this Gospel age, nominal spiritual Israel, and
also in the cases of the faithful ones.
Can we not all
realize how patient and merciful the Lord has been to
us in our various experiences in life?
Can we not
see how he would have been fully justified in canceling
our covenant long ago, and that only of his mercy and
love have we been permitted to come thus far on the
way toward the heavenly kingdom?
Surely a realization
of these things should make us both humble and
trustful.
Moreover the Lord informs us that he has a
still further requirement, namely, that if we would
appreciate his greatness and mercy through Christ in
our own cases we shall exercise similarly mercy and
forbearance toward others who may transgress against
us.
Indeed, so earnest is the Lord in impressing this
matter upon us that he positively declares that none
of us can maintain relationship with him except as he
shall develop this spirit, this character, in relationship
to his brethren and fellow-servants.
How generous,
how considerate, how moderate, how forgiving, all this
should lead us to be in our dealings with the brethren,
especially with those who have in any measure
wounded or injured us or our interests. Z'07-270 R4056:1 (Hymn 243)