He Delights In Mercy

turn your Bibles to Psalm 130. Psalm 130. Psalm 130. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with this there is forgiveness, or with you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins." The title of today's sermon is He Delights in Mercy. which is in Micah and we'll get there a little bit later but stay in song for now.

So this actually came to me through a song and it's certainly not a Christian song it's a band I listen to on a regular basis and some of their lyrics I don't I actually don't know who they what their drive is behind these songs. I don't know what they believe. I have no idea. But some of these songs, especially this one, had lyrics that if it wasn't written with a gospel perspective, it sure could have been.

It basically is a picture of an individual hiding their face in shame, discovering their true motives in life, discovering who they really are, calling themselves unholy, have I pushed you too far? And then the chorus is simply, I beg for mercy. And that hit me.

That is a place, that is the only place salvation can come from. We are brought to a position, all of God's people are brought to a point where they realize there is nothing to offer. There is nothing I can give. There is nothing I can do. I am simply and completely reliant on the mercy of God. There is nothing left for me to do than ask for mercy.

And I started thinking about, like, how do we, what are worldly situations where we find ourselves in that situation? In a position where we have nothing left but to ask for mercy. And I thought of a few, and I think this is good just to give us perspective. I want to imagine yourself in some of these situations where there's absolutely no way out. And this is in a worldly view, worldly perspective, something that could happen here. Imagine standing before a judge in a courtroom.

All of the evidence has been laid out, including every possible witness that saw you do what you did. There's video evidence. There is no defense to make at this point. You are guilty in every way, and it is clear to everyone involved. What's left? What's left for you to do in that situation? You ask the judge for mercy. Because you're guilty. And everybody knows it. Including the judge.

Imagine being a prisoner of war. The war itself is over. The battle's done. And you've been forgotten. All your weapons are taken away and your life and your future completely rests in the hands of someone else. You have no hope. What can you do in that situation? But beg for mercy. Imagine carrying a debt, a financial debt that is so large that it would take you 10 lifetimes to ever pay it off. What do you ask for? You ask for mercy. Imagine a child, imagine your own child if you've had some, coming to you who's been caught red-handed in something that they shouldn't have been doing, and they know it.

They have no excuses left, the evidence is undeniable, and there is nothing left to say except, I'm sorry, Dad. Why? Because when every other option disappears, mercy becomes our only hope. The problem is that most people do not realize that every other option has, in fact, disappeared.

That is our condition before a holy God. We think we have options. We think we're pretty good. We think our good deeds probably outweigh our bad deeds. We think God grades on a curve. We think that we can somehow, through any of these avenues I just mentioned, somehow we can stand before a holy God on our own. Deep in our hearts, we wanna believe that, even believers. The rest of the world embraces it. We think we can somehow stand before a holy God on our own, but scripture repeatedly tells us a completely different conclusion, and we read it earlier here in Psalm 130.

We cannot stand. Our only hope is mercy. And that alone is a scary message. But it is not the gospel. The beautiful gospel tells us that we have one, our only hope is mercy. And he tells us that God delights in mercy. This is why it's the good news. The one thing we need is the one thing he delights in giving.

So let's turn back to Psalm 130. The psalmist, speaking from a very dark place, says, Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, please hear my voice and be attentive to my cry for mercy. The psalmist then asks a question, that basically cuts through every illusion that we have in putting any stock in ourselves, says, if you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? This is a rhetorical question. We know the answer.

No one. No one could stand. He doesn't ask who besides the spiritual leaders that are so obviously above everyone else who could stand. He doesn't say besides the Pharisees who could stand. He's generic question, who out of everyone could stand if you kept a record of our sin? And the answer again is obvious, no one.

Not the church members, not the consistent church goers, not an atheist, not a pastor. Not the missionary, not Moses, not Aaron, not Samuel, not David, not Peter, not Paul. None of them can stand. If God marked every sinful thought Every selfish motive, every careless word, every hidden act, every moment of pride, and every failure to love him. Who could stand? No one. This is where human pride crumbles. Non-existent.

Because we spend, it's different because we spend our lives comparing ourselves to each other. That's a huge portion of our day-to-day life is looking at others and comparing ourselves whether that's Thinking we're better than them or wanting what they have or wondering what they think of us. It's like all we are consumed with. But often it's comparative sins. I'm better than that person. I'm a sinner, but I haven't done what that person did. I try harder than most.

But the difference is, as we compare ourselves to other sinners, God compares us to His holiness. How do you stand when compared to the perfect holiness of God? How do you think you look? Against His holiness, no one stands. Psalm 130 brings the end of self-righteousness. It brings us to a place where all of our defenses fall apart. Who could stand? No one.

If you turn to Daniel, Daniel chapter 9, and I'll read verse I'll just end up reading verse 18, but the majority of Daniel 9 is confessing the sins of Israel. He acknowledges their rebellion. He acknowledges their guilt and acknowledges that God has justice to carry out. And then he says three remarkable words, or these were remarkable words in Daniel 9, 18.

He says, we do not make requests of you because we are righteous. but because of your great mercy. Daniel lists the shortcomings of God's people and then says, we come to you asking for mercy, not because of who we are, not because of what we've done, but because you are simply merciful. He doesn't present a defense. He doesn't build a case. He's not reminding God of Israel's accomplishments. He's actually doing the opposite. He's reminding them of how terrible they are. He's not bargaining. He's not negotiating. Instead, he comes to them and says, we are not asking because we deserve anything. We are not asking because we have earned anything.

We are asking because you are merciful. Our human nature always wants to negotiate. We want to offer something. We want to offer a deal to God. We want to remind Him that our intentions are at least good. We want to point out our church attendance, or our giving, or our service, or some sort of morality. But Daniel understands when he writes this, if salvation depends on righteousness, we have none to offer. So his only hope was to ask for mercy. And our only hope is to ask for mercy.

Before we go any further, Help us make sure we understand three important words that we talk about on a regular basis. Justice, mercy, and grace. Very important words. Words that are paramount in the gospel. But they're all very different. And they have different meanings.

Justice is getting exactly what you deserve. We're familiar with that one. We use that one on a regular basis. If a criminal commits a crime and receives the appropriate sentence or punishment, that is justice. God is perfectly just. Every sin deserves and will receive justice. Every act of rebellion deserves and will receive accountability. If God gave us strict justice and held firm to us owing our debts and us paying them, then Psalm 130 would be right on.

No one can stand. But then mercy. Mercy is not receiving the judgment you deserve. The guilty person deserves punishment, but receives compassion. The debtor deserves collection, but receives forgiveness. The prisoner deserves execution, but receives a pardon. The sinner deserves judgment, but receives mercy. Mercy says you will not receive the punishment that you deserve.

And then there's grace. Grace goes even further. Grace is not simply you will not receive the punishment you deserve. Grace is not unmerited forgiveness. It is not unmerited mercy. It is unmerited favor. God, instead of giving us what we deserve, doesn't just clear our name. He makes you one of his. Grace is receiving blessings you do not deserve.

Mercy removes your debt. Grace deposits blessings in your account. Mercy releases the prisoner. Grace adopts the prisoner into the family. Mercy keeps us from judgment. keeps us from being judged by the holy God. Mercy brings us into his presence. Safely. The gospel contains both mercy and grace. God does not merely spare his people. He loves his people. He adopts his people. He calls his people his children. You are mine. You are not just relieved of guilt. You now belong to me. I am your father. Jesus tells us a story in Luke 18 that we've talked about many, many times.

Two men go to the temple to pray, a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee presents himself and his resume. This is how much I give on a regular basis. This is how often I pray. He doesn't just boast in being better than other people, he thanks God for making him better than other people. He talks about his fasting. He talks about how much better he is than others. And the tax collector does something completely different. Jesus says, but the tax collector stood at a distance.

He would not even look up to heaven. He wouldn't even come close. Beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. No excuses, because He has none. No comparisons, because He would lose any comparison. No bargaining, because He has nothing to offer, just a cry for mercy.

Why? Because Psalm 130 is real. Who can stand? No one in this tax collector knows that. He feels that. Because Daniel 9 is real. He has nothing to offer. His only hope is mercy. And now comes the question. If our only hope is to cry for mercy to God, how does God receive a prayer like that? Because if that's our only hope, how he responds to it is very important. It all hinges on that. And then we go to Micah.

In Micah 7.18 it says, Who is a God like you? who pardons sin and forgives transgression of the remnant of his inheritance. You do not stay angry, but delight in mercy. He delights in mercy. He doesn't merely show mercy. He doesn't begrudgingly grant mercy. He doesn't roll his eyes and think, Okay, fine. He delights in it.

A judge may show mercy, a king may grant mercy, a parent may even extend mercy, but Micah says God takes pleasure in showing mercy. Think about that, the tax collector is not begging a reluctant God. Daniel is not appealing to a reluctant God. The psalmist is not hoping in a reluctant God. They are all crying out to a God who delights in mercy and they all receive it.

The very thing God's people need, the one thing God's people need is the very thing that God loves to give. This is such good news for us. We talk about the gospel and the good news. This is the greatest news anyone can ever hear. We need mercy from God and he delights to give it. The very thing God's people need is the very thing God loves to give.

Now how? How can he show mercy and be just? How can we be so incredibly guilty and sinful From the core of our being all the way back to Adam's first sin, everything about us is crooked and tainted and broken. How can someone like that be justifiably shown mercy?

The answer is the cross. It's not complicated. It's a clear, simple gospel. The cross, because of the cross, justice was not ignored. It was carried out. It was satisfied. The penalty for the sin of God's people was paid. The wrath of God owed to you was carried out. but it was carried out on Christ.

Jesus received the justice that we deserved so that we could receive the unending mercy and grace that we cry for that we do not deserve. We truly traded places. He took our position and everything we deserved. And in turn, we took his and got everything he deserved. Your judgment was carried out, but it was carried out on Christ.

Jesus received the justice we deserved, and beyond mercy, we received the unsearchable grace of God. Mercy says you are forgiven, grace says you are adopted. Mercy says you will not be condemned, grace says you are my child. Such is the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. You are not only forgiven, but you are welcomed and loved. You're not only wiped clean, but you have a place prepared. Mercy says you are spared, but because of Christ, grace says you are mine.

So what are you trusting in, in these situations? Are you trusting in your own morality? Are you trusting in your church attendance or your good intentions? Are you weighing your good and bad, your service, your effort, or are you hoping on God's mercy through Jesus Christ? Or another way to ask that, Because we can spend time up here thinking about how great we are, and we can also get stuck down here thinking about how awful we are.

What are you doubting? Are you doubting? What are you worried about? What are you concerned won't be enough? Your morality, again? Your ability to stay faithful? Your ability to overcome sin? If those are the things you're doubting, that's understandable.

Because they will create nothing but doubt. Because you will fail at all of them. Which is why Christ says, look to me. Don't look at yourself. That will only create doubt. Your morality will fail. Your effort will fail. Your consistency will fail. Your strength will fail. Your righteousness doesn't exist. You have none. But none of these things are what you're supposed to have your hope in. Your righteousness doesn't exist.

The Bible has already settled that question. It said if you, Lord, should mark iniquities, should count sins, who could stand? No one. So if you're doubting yourself, you're not discovering something new. The scripture's been telling us this. You cannot stand. So stop trying. Stop focusing on that. Don't look to yourself. You will only be disappointed.

But if you're doubting the mercy of God, which we tend to do, we'll doubt anything. But think about this, if you're doubting the mercy of God, then you're doubting the very thing that scripture tells us is certain. You may doubt your strength, you may doubt your faithfulness and your righteousness, but do not doubt his mercy through Jesus Christ. Because Micah doesn't say that he tolerates mercy. It does not say that he occasionally grants mercy. It says he delights in mercy. The tax collector cried for mercy. Daniel appealed for mercy. The psalmist hoped for mercy.

And none of them were disappointed. Because the sinner's confidence never rests in himself. It rests in the character of God. If God says he delights in mercy, it is true. So go to him and ask him for mercy. He delights in giving it. And if you believe in Christ, There is no reason God will not show you mercy and grace because your sins are already gone. Everything that you owed has been paid.

So come with empty hands, come without excuses, come without defense, come without confidence in yourself, come without worries that you've gone too far. For our God is a God who pardons iniquity, passes over transgression, and delights in mercy. And that is a hope that will never fail, because what does it rest on? The blood of Christ.

When a person stops trying to stand on their own righteousness and stops defending themselves, stops bargaining, stops hiding their face from God out of shame, we've all been there, and simply cries for mercy, God has brought them to the very place that he delights in.

That is why the simple prayer of this tax collector is perfect. There's no beautiful psalm, no soliloquy, no extensive description of how good he is or how sinful he is. None of that. Just simply, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. And the greatest comfort a sinner can hear is that he delights in mercy. You don't have to fear coming to God to ask him for mercy. You don't have to feel uncomfortable. You don't have to think you're not worthy. Stop thinking about yourself entirely.

Christ has made a perfect way for the most sinful to approach God with confidence and ask for mercy and to receive it. Every time. Because Christ gave his own blood, his own life, and guaranteed that forgiveness and that mercy and that grace for every single one of God's people. Go to him. God, show me mercy as sinner, and he will delight to give it.

Our Father, we thank you so much for loving us, for loving us in a way that is active and powerful, that you don't leave us to ourselves. You actively save. You draw us in, you show us our needs, and you make us cry for mercy, and you delight in showing it. We thank you that you leave none of it to us. That is the only way that this would work. And we thank you, Lord, that you've made it a way that we can't mess up. We thank you for loving us and for showing it again in so many beautiful ways. We thank you for your word and your gospel. And we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. Now you can take out your chorus books and we'll turn to number 19. My heart and voice I raise, number 19 in the chorus books and we'll stand together as we sing.

He Delights In Mercy

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He Delights In Mercy

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