Of Justice and Mercy

“In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.” (Ps 56:10 AV)

We don’t normally talk like this, so the phrasing above is a bit cloudy.  When David says, “In God” and “in the LORD”, what he is saying is respect towards, and for, God or the LORD, he praises His word.  At least that is what our wise teachers tell us.  I have no reason to dispute their understanding so we will go with it.  What is more interesting is the balance David chooses to strike where.  By distinguishing both God and LORD, as John Gill points out, he is pointing out God’s justice and mercy.  The title God would speak to His justice while LORD would speak to His mercy.  Again, not nearly as educated as Bro Gill, but I will not take issue here.  Rather, I will use His insights as the victuals for my soul this morning.

The justice of God and the mercy of God co-exist in infinite measure.  The attributes of God are infinite in measure and scope.  When God chooses to use one over the other, it is not because one is more in quantity or ability than the other.  Rather, when God uses two opposing attributes that He possesses infinitely, He shows the balance of the Godhead.  This is of great comfort to the saint!  He or she can remember when in need of one or the other, God has not run out.  The saint can also take comfort that because God holds both infinitely when He exercises one rather than the other, He does so with purpose and measure.  David speaks of this balance in the midst of several psalms that ask for God’s intervention over his enemies.  What is striking is David’s praise of both justice and mercy.  As if to say he is not wise enough to determine which is best, yet God is.  Therefore, he will trust in the balance of God to mete out or refrain from exercising justice.  He leaves the situation in the hands of our very capable God and goes on serving Him without delay.

The fact that David praises God goes one step further.  This means David not only accepts God’s judgment as far as his enemies go but also meditates on what God did and what He did.  Or, chose not to do what could have been done.  This suggests David gives God the benefit of the doubt seeking the wisdom in God’s actions, or inactions.  He does not second-guess God’s judgment.  He accepts it as all-wise and part of a greater plan.  What David sees in God’s hand on others, we also must consider as God works with us.  As the LORD continues to work toward our practical sanctification, there are times He will show mercy when we think He should correct, and there are other times when He corrects when we think He should show mercy.  We cannot think that every bad thing that happens is because we did wrong, nor can we think that the absence of adversity means we are automatically right with God.  There is a balance.  Seeing that balance and asking for wisdom is the point here.  God is merciful.  He is also just.  His actions are found upon His holy word.  Being a student of that word will help us see the true balance between the two.