11. After being shown such great mercy by God, should we be merciful in the same way to others? Matthew 5:7; Micah 6:8. Consider Matthew 6:12.
NOTE: ‘God is Himself the source of all mercy. His name is “merciful and gracious.” Exodus 34:6. He does not treat us according to our deserts. He does not ask if we are worthy of His love, but He pours upon us the riches of His love, to make us worthy. He is not vindictive. He seeks not to punish, but to redeem. Even the severity which He manifests through His providences is manifested for the salvation of the wayward. He yearns with intense desire to relieve the woes of men and to apply His balm to their wounds. It is true that God “will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7), but He would take away the guilt. The merciful are “partakers of the divine nature,” and in them the compassionate love of God finds expression. All whose hearts are in sympathy with the heart of Infinite Love will seek to reclaim and not to condemn. Christ dwelling in the soul is a spring that never runs dry. Where He abides, there will be an overflowing of beneficence.’ Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, page 22.
12. Why will God’s mercy not be needed in the new earth? Daniel 7:27.
NOTE: ‘Out of the darkness of human oppression and misrule shall come a purer era when the Desire of all nations shall appear, and “He that ruleth over men shall be just, ruling in the fear of the Lord, and He shall be as the shining of a morning without clouds” - as a sun that shall ne’er descend from its meridian brightness to scenes of darkness and gloom. And in that morning the upright shall have their dominion and their glory. For the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be “given to the people of the saints of the Most High whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” The upright, long lost with the troubled tumult of an unrighteous world, shall there find their congenial element in that “new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Here the sorrows that have swelled His bosom shall subside, and the rivers of water that run down His eyes “because they keep not the law” shall be forever dried up. The voice of the oppressor shall be heard no more, and the weary captives and bondmen shall be forever free.’ Uriah Smith: Review & Herald, August 21, 1856.
LESSON INSIGHT: Consider the following scriptures: 2 Corinthians 1:3, ‘Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;’ Psalm 46, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge;’ Psalm 66:20; ‘Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me;’ Isaiah 55:7; ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon;’ Psalm 59:16; ‘But I will sing of Thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning: for Thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble;’ 1 Kings 8:23; ‘And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like Thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with Thy servants that walk before Thee with all their heart.’