“The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” (Psalm 145:8 ESV)
Caricatures are usually intended to be humorous. The artist’s pen comically exaggerates our features to produce elephant ears or hedge-sized eyebrows that make us chuckle. While the use of caricature in this way is harmless and entertaining, it is important to recognize that the comedy of caricature comes from inaccuracy. It is taking something true of us, like large ears or bushy eyebrows, and blowing it out of proportion in a way that draws the lighthearted ridicule of friends.
When it comes to God, however, caricature is not only irreverent but eternally hazardous. God is not made up of parts with which we can play Mr. Potato Head to rearrange or manipulate as we please. He is wholly self-consistent, and each of his perfections is exercised with infallible wisdom.
We are surrounded, however, by the caricaturing of God in our culture—and even among believers. For example, many refer to the “God of the Old Testament,” describing him as harsh, violent, vindictive, merciless, and bloodthirsty. While it is true that we clearly see the justice of God dispensed against the ungodly, particularly in Old Testament accounts like Joshua’s conquest of Canaan, such justice is neither wanton nor ubiquitous.
As we come to David’s words from Psalm 145, which echo other passages throughout the Old Testament, most notably Exodus 34:6, we see a far different description of God than we get from most cultural sources. Unlike his caricature, God is “gracious and merciful.” He gives us innumerable blessings we do not deserve (grace) and withholds the just wrath our sins deserve (mercy). From eternity past, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit decreed that Christ would come to be the substitutionary atonement for all who believe. Yes, God’s justice requires his wrath to be meted out on sin, but the glorious truth is that Christ bore that wrath for the elect, so that, rather than remaining as “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3), we are now made “alive together with Christ” by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:5).
Not only that, but out of the supreme grace of the atonement we also receive “assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end” (Westminster Shorter Catechism 36). You can see why Paul, when considering the mercy of God, exclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33).
The God we serve—and the God we preach to the nations—is a just God, and we must proclaim his justice. Yet, we cannot caricature that justice as all-consuming and merciless rage. He is rich in mercy and grace. He is “abounding in steadfast love” and “delights in steadfast love” (Micah 7:18). He will not, and cannot, break his covenant, and he will always remain faithful. We need not approach God as Esther approached King Ahasuerus, plagued by uncertainty and fear because of his capricious temper. We can approach God boldly, knowing that he is a gracious and merciful God, who accepts the perfect atoning sacrifice of his son as our substitute.
These are words we need to hear every day. The gospel reminds us that we need mercy because of our sin and that we have mercy from God in Christ. The gospel we preach must never be the caricatured “gospel” of a vindictive Old Testament God nor of a passive, inclusive, come-as-you-are New Testament God who does not hate sin and sinners (Psalm 11:5).
To “preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23) is to preach both the justice and mercy of God. That is the gospel that saves sinners. We serve a gracious, merciful God who has himself bridged the gap of enmity caused by sin so that we may “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We praise you for being a gracious and merciful God. We cannot fathom the depths of love that sent the Son to pay the price for our sins and to be raised for our justification. May your name be made great among the nations so that the fame of your grace, mercy, and love may abound.
In your Son’s name, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for missionaries engaged in flood relief in Brazil. Pray that as they demonstrate mercy to those affected, the mercy of the Lord toward sinners would be communicated above all else.
- Pray for missionaries involved in well drilling in Togo. Pray that as they meet the physical needs of the Togolese, many would encounter Christ as the living water and be saved.
- Pray for missionaries who struggle with the devil’s temptations of self-condemnation to look to the merciful gift of Christ, who cleanses us from all sin.
