Thy Mercy is More

Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:2

O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years, make it known; in wrath remember mercy.

It is well worth your time to read the whole of Habakkuk chapter three. It is the final chapter in this brief book. The book is unique among the prophets’ writings in that it is written from the perspective of Habakkuk’s personal struggle to understand what was happening in the world around him. It is more like reading Habakkuk’s personal journal than it is reading the message of a prophet to the people.

By chapter three, Habakkuk has resigned himself to the reality of the judgment that was to befall Israel. He has heard what is coming from the hand of God and he is afraid. And so, he prays.

He prays that God would keep alive His work in the midst of the years of judgment. He has hopes that, though desolation will come, so to will salvation. He looks for flowers to spring up among the weeds.

He prays, “In wrath remember mercy.”

I love that line. When we are facing any trial or tribulation in life, that would be a great way to pray. Matthew Henry smartly commented, “We must not say, ‘Remember our merit,’ but, ‘Lord, remember thy mercy.’”

When we pray for mercy, we are praying that we do not receive what we deserve. Habakkuk isn’t saying that they are underserving of the judgment. He is saying that though they deserve judgment, God is merciful. He is appealing to that attribute of God.

Too often, our appeals to God are based on some idea that we don’t deserve the trouble we are enduring when in truth we deserve far worse. As the song says, “Our sins they are many…”

But we can finish that line of the song and have hope.

“Our sins they are many, Thy mercy is more.”