708) I became acquainted with the word, mercy, from my grandmother. Being the dear Southern Lady, when it was hot out, she’d say, “Mercy! It’s hot!” She placed the accent on the word by heavily using it on the first syllable. I was much older before I knew that mercy is something of great worth and not just a Southern saying.

Mercy can be summarized as not receiving something punitive that you deserve. A pardon given to someone who is guilty is a good example of mercy.

In 1 Samuel 24, David has the perfect opportunity to rid himself and the whole country of a man who has spent much of his life pushing everyone out of his way to greatness. David’s enemy, King Saul, has used about any evil purpose under heaven to kill David. He’s chased, fought, and performed mass killings all so that his competition, David, will not dethrone him. It’s also important to note that Saul does not take into consideration that God is the one who put him on the throne and God can take him off of it.

David has the perfect opportunity to kill Saul but, out of respect for the King’s God-given right to the throne, he spares Saul his life. That is mercy. This choice that David makes takes Saul by surprise and he promises to change his ways. Though Saul gets back to his old tricks, David’s mercy is a lesson we can learn from. Giving mercy away brings mercy our way. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) God implores us to give to others mercy because we have been given so much of it from Him. It does not matter what the receiver of our mercy does with it, as that is out of our control. Giving mercy is powerful.