Mercy and Grace

As I look back on my older blogs, particularly on the Old Testament, I think I looked for a lot of practical, moral lessons.

I think to some degree that is fine. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that these things are written as examples for us and for our instruction. (I Corinthians 10:1-13)

But as I’ve noted before, Jesus said that all these things in the Old Testament also point to him. (Luke 24:25-27, 44-47).

And so as I look at the life of David, especially as the ancestor of Jesus, I see pictures of our Savior.

Here is David, who committed no sin or crime against Saul, who in no way was rebellious, and yet was persecuted by Saul. (1 Samuel 24:11)

He seemingly had every right to kill Saul, and yet instead he showed mercy. Though Saul committed evil against David, David repaid him with good, and so Saul told him,

Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. (1 Samuel 24:20)

In so many ways, this is a picture of Jesus.

Jesus was sinless, and did no wrong. And yet we wronged him, rebelling against him. But unlike David, who in reality had no right to kill Saul, Jesus had every right to destroy us for our sin. And yet he showed us mercy.

Though we rebelled against him, though we sinned against him, he repaid us with good, taking our punishment on the cross.

And that is the biggest contrast between Jesus and David. David pleaded to God to judge between himself and Saul. And God eventually repaid Saul for his sin.

But when God judged between Jesus and us, he placed the judgment we deserved on Jesus.

As Paul put it,

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And because of what Jesus did, Jesus is king, and all will be established in his hand. For as Paul also said,

For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)