1182) There was a game that kids used to play with their hands. You and your opponent would lace your fingers and palms with each other and you would try to bend backward the hands of the other person. The game ends when one player yells, “mercy” when they’d had enough of the pain.

The mercy that is referred to in this game is not really an accurate “picture” of what it truly is.

Mercy is not getting a punishment you deserve. You did it. You deserve to be punished or penalized. You are not given the punishment or penalty.

Daniel reminds us we can come to God with our requests not because of our righteousness (you know, those filthy rags?) but because of His mercy.

It’s a gift, not an obligation.   Daniel 9:18