DCLM Daily Manna 10th September 2020 [Thursday] – God of Mercy
Topic: “God of Mercy” By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi
DCLM Daily Manna Key Verse: Ezekiel 20:16-17 (NIV)
“16 because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness.”
DCLM Daily Manna Text: 2 Kings 15:27-38 (NIV)
10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.
12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.
13 “ ‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness.
14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
15 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands—
16 because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.
17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness.
18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.
19 I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”
21 “ ‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.
22 But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries,
24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols.
25 So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;
26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.’
DCLM DAILY MANNA FOR TODAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2020 – GOD OF MERCY
A mother once approached the French military chief, Napoleon, seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. “But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.” “But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied. “Sir”, the woman cried, “mercy is all I ask for”. “Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.
Today’s passage calls to remembrance the awesome power of God and His mercy demonstrated over and over in the lives of His people, the Israelites. While in the wilderness on their way to Canaan, God gave them the Ten Commandments and other statutes.
But the children of Israel rebelled against God, walked not in the statutes and despised His judgments on several occasions. They polluted the Sabbaths and their eyes went after the idols of the land.
Their rebellious acts courted God’s wrath and on several occasions, He would decide to pour out His fury on them in the wilderness and utterly consume them. But His mercies always prevailed over judgment.
This was for the sake of His glory, to prevent the heathen from thinking that He was unable to successfully take them to the Promised Land. Although a lot of them perished in the wilderness, God still spared a remnant that entered the Promised Land.
God hates rebellion. It is the surest path to destruction and to making Him one’s enemy. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. However, those who fail to repent but harden their heart in rebellion will have God’s wrath and fury poured on them. He delights in mercy; let us avail ourselves of His mercy and live.
DCLM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The mill of God’s judgment grinds slowly but surely.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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