Which other scriptures emphasize God's "loving devotion" and "abundant mercy"? A Familiar Cry for Grace David’s plea in Psalm 51:1 captures two radiant facets of God’s heart: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.” The rest of Scripture echoes these same themes of steadfast love and overflowing mercy. Scriptures Highlighting God’s Loving Devotion • Exodus 34:6 – “Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.’” • Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” • Psalm 36:7 – “How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!” • Psalm 86:15 – “But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.” • Psalm 103:8, 11 – “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion… For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.” • Psalm 136 (repeated refrain) – “His loving devotion endures forever.” • Jeremiah 31:3 – “‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.’” • Lamentations 3:22–23 – “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” • Hosea 2:19 – “I will betroth you to Me forever… in loving devotion and compassion.” • Micah 7:18 – “He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion.” Scriptures Revealing God’s Abundant Mercy • Lamentations 3:32 – “Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion.” • Nehemiah 9:17 – “…But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion; You did not abandon them.” • Isaiah 55:7 – “Let the wicked man forsake his own way… and He will freely pardon.” • Micah 7:19 – “He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot.” • Jonah 4:2 – “…for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, One who relents from sending disaster.” • Luke 1:78 – “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high.” • Ephesians 2:4–5 – “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses.” • Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy.” • 1 Peter 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Bringing the Two Themes Together • Both “loving devotion” and “abundant mercy” spring from the same well of God’s covenant faithfulness. • Old Testament prophets and psalmists celebrate His steadfast love that refuses to let go of His people. • New Testament writers show that the same mercy reaches its apex at the cross and the empty tomb, where sinners are made alive in Christ. • From Genesis to Revelation, the storyline is clear: God’s heart is inclined toward compassion, pursuing rebels, restoring the broken, and keeping His promises without fail. Living in the Light of These Truths • Because His loving devotion endures forever, we can trust Him in every circumstance. • Because His mercy is abundant, we can confess sin quickly, confident He will forgive and cleanse (1 John 1:9). • Because both qualities are limitless, we are called to mirror them—showing steadfast love and mercy to others (Luke 6:36; Ephesians 4:32). |
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