Crowned with Mercy to Declare Mercy

Grace has been defined as getting what we don't deserve and mercy as not getting what we do deserve. But God's mercy goes far beyond just an escape from judgement.

The Bible describes God's mercy as great, plenteous, abundant, tender, manifold and "from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" (1 Kings 3:6, Psalm 86:5, 1 Peter 1:3, James 5:11, Nehemiah 9:27, Psalm 103:17).

The Hebrew and Greek words that have been translated "mercy" are also sometimes translated as "favor," "kindness," "loving-kindness" or "goodness."

God showed great favor, kindness and goodness - mercy - at the cross, when He gave His Son for our redemption. He showed me grace and mercy the day I confessed my sin and confessed Jesus as Lord of my life. He showed me mercy again 20 years ago when this former prodigal came back to Him and repented again. He shows me mercy each and every day.

Jeremiah the prophet also testified of God's mercy in His life.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.-Lamentations 3:22-23

If mercy applied to salvation alone, the prophet would not have been able to tell us of mercies that are "new every morning." David, the man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), cried out to the Lord saying,

Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. -Psalm 40:11

David already had a relationship with God, yet he wanted to experience more and more of God's tender mercies. In Psalm 103, David sings,

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies (v 1-4). 

David incorporates some interesting phrases into many of his psalms, and continues in that pattern here in Psalm 103, saying, God "crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies." 

Mercy, a fundamental part of God's character, so freely bestowed upon those who call upon His Name, is described as a crown to be displayed and worn upon our heads. Like grace, mercy is not something we can earn. Mercy is not based on our merits or on anything we may try to earn God's favor, goodness and kindness. If mercy could be earned, it would not be mercy. It would be a laborer's wages. But God's great, abundant and tender mercy isn't given to us because of our efforts; it is a manifestation of God's great love for us.

So why would mercy be described in God's Word as a crown to be displayed and worn upon our heads?

Matthew Henry expounds on Psalm 103:4 this way:

"He has given thee true honour and great honour, no less than a crown: He crowns thee with his lovingkindness and tender mercies;’ and what greater dignity is a poor soul capable of than to be advanced into the love and favour of God? This honour have all his saints. What is the crown of glory but God’s favour?" (Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary)

"What is the crown of glory but God’s favour?" This crown of glory is God's favor, lovinkindness and goodness to us - His great, plenteous, abundant, tender, manifold and everlasting mercy poured out on us.

David's heart was so blessed by the mercy of God in his life, he wrote a song (psalm), declaring,

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. -Psalm 89:1

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are crowned with mercy - not just at the moment you were saved, not just each time you repent of sin, but God's mercies are new for you every morning.

Something to think about... We have not been crowned with mercy to hoard it for ourselves. David's response was to make known God's faithfulness to all generations. Mercy, like truth, must be told.

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20).  An ambassador carries a message. What is the message we carry? It is the message of God's favor, loving-kindness and goodness - His mercy - freely given to us and freely available to all who will call upon His Name. We have an obligation to declare God's mercy and make His faithfulness known to all generations.

Crowned with mercy to declare mercy.