DIVINE "MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT" FOR KING DAVID! -- James 2:13
King David as we remember, was indeed a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22) David's spirit was committed to do the will of Jehovah God. As a servant of God, he was used by Jehovah to perform mighty acts for the sake of God's chosen people--Israel. As 1 Samuel 13:14 reads, "Jehovah will certainly find for himself a man agreeable to his heart; and Jehovah will commission him as a leader over his people."However, during King David's later years, just when he reached the zenith of his power, he suffered a great fall before His God. After conquering the nations around him, David failed in conquering himself. David became involved in serious violations of the Mosaic Law. He committed adultery with Bath-sheba another man's wife. (2 Samuel 11:4) Then he made plans to have Bath-sheba's husband Uriah murdered. (2 Samuel 11:14) David's involvement with Bath-sheba and his successful plot of having Uriah struck down was kept in secrecy for the time being.
Fortunately for David, Jehovah was watching over the entire matter and soon had it uncovered. Under the Mosaic Law, human judges would have handed David the death penalty on the charges of adultery and murder. (Leviticus 20:10, 24:17)
After the child was born, Jehovah sent Nathan the prophet to David. (2 Samuel 12:1, 12:12) Upon hearing an illustrated story dealing with a rich man and a poor man, David became angry and wanted the rich man who had done such a thing be put to death. (2 Samuel 12:5) Upon surprise, David learns that the rich man "doing the wrong" is himself. (Leviticus 20:10, 24:17) However, the prophet told David that Jehovah has taken his sin away. Therefore, the King was not put to death-but why? Well, the reason has to do with how the Israelites-Jehovah's covenant people--measure up to Jehovah's quality of Divine Mercy.
David was a merciful man by nature who patiently endured long-suffering by the hands of envious King Saul who hunted him like a dog. In mortal danger, David was forced to hide in the wilderness. He hid in caves, and even on foreign ground because of Saul's evil hate towards him. (1 Samuel 23:14)
Indeed, David was merciful towards Israel's first King, Saul and his house. David tolerated the house of Saul even though he was the divinely designated successor to the throne, as announced, by Samuel at his sacrifice in Bethlehem. (1 Samuel 16:4-13) David also kept a passive submission to Saul's cruel hate. (1 Samuel 18:11, 19:15, 20:31) And David refused to kill Saul for his persecutions even when David had him in his power. (1 Samuel 24:4-7, 26:8-10)
After Saul's tragic death, David showed sincere remorse. David made an order that the men of Judah be taught a lament concerning Saul and his son. 2 Samuel 1:23 mentions that Saul and his son Jonathan was loved in life and in death Saul and his son was not parted. In Verse 24, David speaks of the time of weeping for Saul.
Another example of David's mercy was with his dealings with Shimei a Benjamite from the house of Saul. While David and his men was fleeing from his treacherous son, Absalom, Shimei pelted David and his officials with stones and cursed David shouting, "Get out, get, out, you bloodguilty man and good-for-nothing man!"-2 Samuel 16:7 At once, one of David's men, Abishai the son Zeruiah, swiftly wanted to have Shimei killed. But David refused to retaliate and told Abishai to let him alone. Then David said, "Perhaps Jehovah will see with his eye, and Jehovah will actually restore to me goodness instead of his malediction this day."-2 Samuel 16:12
King David also had a deeply repentant heart attitude. When Jehovah sent a prophet by the name of Nathan to David, He bravely confronted David about his sins. Upon the accusation, David did not try to defend himself nor did he resort to recriminations. Instead, the Prophet Nathan's rebuke sincerely moved his conscience. David humbly confessed that he had sinned against Jehovah. David openly confessed,
"I have sinned against Jehovah." -- 2 Samuel 12:13
His expressions in one of the psalms that he wrote about confessions tells about the relief that David felt and his will to serve God faithfully. As Psalms 32:1-2 reads, "Happy is the one whose revolt is pardoned, whose sin is covered. Happy is the man to whose account Jehovah does not put error, And in whose spirit there is no deceit."
Amazingly, imitating Jehovah God's mercy can indeed, actually exult (or rejoices at success) triumphantly (in victory) over rightful judgment against transgression. In other words, we can mitigate sin on our parts, by displaying the divine quality of "mercy" in practice in our lives. Thus, it becomes just as James 2:13 tells us,
- "For one that does not practice mercy will have his judgment without mercy. Mercy exults triumphantly over judgment." -- New World Translation
In the Insight On The Scriptures Vol.2 page 375 the word mercy is defined as, "An expression of kind consideration or pity that brings relief to those who are disadvantaged; tender compassion; also at times, a lightening of judgment or punishment."
An informative quote from the Insight On The Scriptures Vol.2 page 378 helps summarize Jehovah's mercy onto his dealings with his covenant people-Israel--which reads, " When brought into judgment by God, those who have been merciful-showing pity or compassion, and giving active aid to those in need-will, in turn, be shown mercy by God, and thus their mercy will in effect triumph over any adverse judgment that might otherwise be leveled against them. As the proverb states: "He that is showing favor to the lowly one is lending to Jehovah, and his treatment He will repay to him." (Pr 19:17)
The above information, as coming from the Watchtower Society, similarly does show us that God had indeed blessed the Jehovah's witnesses organization, with some wisdom and insight in the past. So, it became just like Jesus showed in his day, that the Pharisees, leaders of God's Name People of that time, did have some things they taught correctly too. Paul noted this fact also. (Matthew 23:3; Acts 15:14; Romans 2:18-20) Therefore, we can see another example of the wisdom that God had originally granted the Watchtower Society, (like a certain wicked angel who had been originally been granted "wisdom" too, before going bad) during a very Special time period of 70 years of Instruction or Discipline from His Own Person -- exactly from the Fall of 1931 to the Fall of 2001. (See Ezekiel 28:14-17 where wicked "angel" is described by way of a paradigm.)
Thus King David, when in great need of mercy for himself because of great sin on his part, actually was found "rich toward God," as we all should be. Yes, King David was found "rich toward God," when he had to face "judgment" for his sins that he willfully committed. David was "rich toward God," as we all should be, when one day, we all have to stand before the "Judgment seat" of God. (Luke 12:21; Romans 14:10)
Therefore, by understanding King David experiences on how he viewed and acted with "mercy" (thus imitating God, Ephesians 5:1) to those around him and how he had a truly repentant heart attitude when accosted about his sins, we should be able to understand why Jehovah decided to display Divine "Mercy" towards David when he committed sins that were so bad that they were lawfully punishable by death. And, we also should be able to acknowledge that if we ourselves shall show acts of mercy towards others, when we are in a position to do so, then we in turn-when brought into judgment by God--may be shown mercy by Jehovah God the only [true] God. (Please examine closely Matthew 18:23-35.)
Indeed, it becomes exactly like King David once stated:
"The true God is for us a God of saving acts; And to Jehovah the Sovereign Lord belong the ways out from death." (Psalms 68:20)
Agape,
Patrick
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Review Questions For The Article: "Divine Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment"
1. How did Jehovah view King David in harmony with 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22?
2. Later in King David’s life, he became guilty of what serious sins that could have resulted in his being put to death according to Leviticus 20:10 and 24:17?
3. According to 2 Samuel 12:13, what did Jehovah choose to do regarding David?
4. What outstanding quality had David exhibited during his lifetime such that Jehovah could justly spare his life?
5. How did David show mercy when he dealt with Saul?
6. How did David show that he bore no grudge against Saul after he and his son, Jonathan, were killed in battle?
7. What other quality did David possess that was of value to him before Jehovah when he was faced with His judgments?
8. What important fact does the Bible writer James put before us as recorded at James 2:13?
9. How is mercy defined in the publication Insight On The Scriptures, Volume 2, page 375 and what explanation does this publication offer on how ‘mercy triumphs over judgment’ for God’s people?
10. Since David can be said to have been ‘rich toward God’ enabling him to be shown mercy by God when his judgment should have been an adverse one, what can we do to assure ourselves of being shown mercy when we face the ‘Judgment seat’ of God? What does Psalms 68:20 assure us of?
To get the answers for the review questions CLICK HERE.
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