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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2.13). When it comes to the final judgment, a skin-of-the-teeth victory will be good enough, but that does not seem to be descriptive of what will actually occur. Rather, James says that mercy triumphs over judgment. Today, we will begin a detailed study of this expression.
First, we will note the “character” of this expression. In literary terms, it might be classified along with other expressions that are known as personifications. This simply means that there are words or phrases in the expression that are spoken of as though they are living things or beings when actually they are not. Mercy is spoken of as being alive and so is judgment. In reality, these two things are only future concepts that exist in the minds of living, moral creatures. “Mercy triumphs over judgment…” in the same way that “…Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.” (Proverbs 1.20). The depth of the personification is different, but the classification from a literary standpoint is the same.
Secondly, we will begin to analyze the expression and what it literally means (since it is a figure of speech). While the figure here is brief and easily memorized in a few short minutes, the depth of the saying is on the verge of being incomprehensible to the mortal mind. It is not incomprehensible from the standpoint of being unable to understand theoretically; it is on the verge of being incomprehensible from the standpoint of application. What I mean by this might best be illustrated by looking at another word that I find in the scriptures and how its theoretical and practical usages parallel the phrases at which we are currently looking. For instance, take the word redemption. It is a word rich in imagery. I can understand from the imagery, what it conveys and how it can be used to refer to the process by which God has purchased my soul back from its sure destination; I can grasp the theoretical side of the word. However, the application is so very different. God redeemed ME! It is no longer an abstract concept to be studied; it is a reality that is to be enjoyed, exulted in, advertised, relished, shared, praised, etc., etc. The theory is beautiful, but its application is beyond description!
Mercy triumphing over judgment is like that. I can see the word picture vividly. I see a struggle between two concepts. I see judgment looming, ready to devour the entirety of the human race because of one simple fact, namely, we are all guilty! That is an inescapable reality. On the other hand, I see judgment’s opponent, Mercy! Mercy is a quality I have known only in its pieces and parts; she has been too large and too wonderful to comprehend in her fullness. Yet, there she stands in her soft and delicate raiment, ready to take on the enemy that has terrified all of humanity. Mercy looks weak; she has no strength whereof to boast other than the fact that she is Godlike! Yet, there she is set to go head-to-head against man’s most dreaded foe!
The incomprehensible thing is that she will win; but, not only will she win, she will triumph over (literally glory over or boast over) judgment. The fight isn’t even close! Mercy has no competition in judgment whatsoever! Earthy and earthly minds simply cannot grasp the wonder involved here. God’s ways are so far beyond our finding out through human means that they also become too wonderful to view even when He lifts the veil and shows them to us in plain view!
How does mercy win so handily? What does it mean in my everyday life? How can I be assured that she will fight on my behalf in judgment? These questions remain to be answered! (continued).
Questions:
1. Why are some things easy to grasp in theory, but difficult to grasp in application/reality?
2. What does “triumph” mean?
3. How must a human being (apart from mercy) view the prospects of judgment before Holy God?
4. Why, from a human perspective, might mercy be seen as weak and vulnerable?
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