COMPASSIONS ROSS SMITH 22092014
You may recall that sometime ago I was impressed with the expression of the Psalmist when he said:-
Psalm 145:2 Every day [WITH ITS NEW REASONS] will I bless You [affectionately and gratefully praise You]; yes, I will praise Your name forever and ever.
It was to my dismay that I would confront each day and find it difficult to identify the “NEW REASONS” on a daily basis, I had plenty to thank the Lord for but they seemed to me to be “recurring reasons”, not new reasons.
But with some enlightenment I now understand why the Psalmist was so effusive, for he obviously understood the intentions of Lamentations 3:21 – 23, it suddenly dawned on me that poor old Jeremiah, the weeping Prophet, had clearly identified an area of my daily life that gave me adequate, no, prolific reasons for me to “bless and gratefully praise.
Lamentations 3:21-23 But this I RECALL (or worth remembering) and therefore have I hope and expectation: It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] COMPASSIONS fail not. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. SELAH
The key word I would like to explore today is “COMPASSIONS”, so that we begin to appreciate the extent of God’s love for us, and conversely, how we reflect that characteristic to those roundabout us.
My preamble on the explanation of “COMPASSIONS” may seem rather protracted but it is an attribute that we need not only to be acquainted with but also equipped with. As a consequence I need to differentiate between those sensations or emotions which are often described as “compassion” but do not contain any energy to meet with the circumstance, so that we understand how richly we are blessed and how highly we are regarded by the Lord, and can begin to evidence the virtue.
From H7355; COMPASSION (in the plural); by extension the womb (as cherishing the foetus); by implication a maiden: – bowels, compassion, damsel, tender love, (great, tender) mercy, pity, womb.
From G1656; MERCY (as in James 3:17…. Full of mercy) Of uncertain affinity; compassion (human or divine, especially active) : – (+ tender) mercy.
When we feel “compassion” is it really compassion or some other sensation, such as commiseration, sympathy, empathy, pity, regret. God’s compassion is different to ours because we may “feel compassionate” but do not do anything about it so consequently, it is not compassion but some other sensation. In contrast, God’s compassions “they fail not”, whereas our compassion often lacks legs.
Do we realise the potency of the virtue of “COMPASSION” or how frequently it is referred to in the Word. The first thing we should note is that “COMPASSION” is not “CHARITY”, although there is a place for charity in our compassion. Nor is it just “empathy” because sometimes we have been there and done that and so think we understand the individual’s situation. Nor is it pity, pity often implies a feeling of sorrow that inclines one to help or maybe show mercy: But we need to explore the word “compassion” a little more closely because I think we sometimes “feel sorry” or sympathise with somebody but lack “COMPASSION”.
WE GIVE CHARITY BECAUSE WE CAN, WE SHOW COMPASSION BECAUSE WE WANT TO.
We must also avoid the misconception that “COMPASSION” is in any way judicial, even though this social norm may experience some degree of “mercy” depending upon the circumstances and the judiciary. The opposite of this can be found in the behaviour of those Islamic terrorists who seem to be totally devoid of any sense of morals or ethics, they are merciless and unfeeling. Refer to 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “fierce men”.
COMPASSION and MERCY are basically synonymous and involve behavioural mechanisms different to those areas of sympathy, empathy, pity, and is different again to “FORGIVENESS”, but we must not overlook forgiveness.
“FORGIVENESS” involves a change of “feeling” towards the transgressor. “MERCY” or “COMPASSION” involves an “ACT” towards the transgressor, to relieve the transgressor of some or all of what would be their just deserts, or penalties.
Only a victim of a wrongdoing is in a position to “forgive” the wrongdoer. Conversely only a decision maker with authority to impose on the wrongdoer the consequences of their misdemeanor, is in a position to be merciful. “FORGIVENESS” is neither necessary nor sufficient for mercy.
“FORGIVENESS” has an extensive remedial effect on our relationship to the Lord, for if we don’t forgive then we are not forgiven. But then He takes it further, He shows mercy, or eliminates the consequences, otherwise we would be consumed.
Matthew 6:15 BUT IF YOU do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER forgive you your trespasses.
Whilst on that thought, some folk are already “consumed” by their unforgiveness, jealousy, obstinacy, et cetera et cetera, they can’t get past it, it is their passion, and it is destructive. COMPASSION from Latin, means “co-suffering”, the COM part means “with” whilst the passion part comes from “patient” or the one who suffers.
Malachi3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Isaiah 33:2 O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited [expectantly] (or “I recall” as per Lamentations)) for You. Be the arm [of Your servants–their strength and defence] EVERY MORNING, our salvation in the time of trouble.
The intention of Lamentations 3:22 is that every morning we start with a clean slate. Not only are we forgiven as far as the Lord is concerned, but our previous misdemeanors have been for gotten and we commence the day with fresh opportunity to exalt the Lord, to demonstrate our commitment, to fulfil his purpose, to grow in Grace, to exhibit wisdom, to produce fruit, and develop a life of such contrast as to “expose reprove and convict”. We must REPENT of our failures to REVEL in our forgiveness.
Psalm 86:5 For You, O Lord, are good, and ready TO FORGIVE [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and YOU ARE ABUNDANT IN MERCY AND LOVING-KINDNESS (or “compassion”, same thing) to all those who call upon You.
Notice this verse in the Psalms covers all bases, firstly that the Lord is always ready to forgive, completely and totally, but then goes further to provide us with “MERCY”, if we call on Him.
Several things from these few verses:-
- His compassions are “New every morning”
- His compassions they fail not
- He does not change
- We are not consumed
- We need to have Him in mind at all times.
Let us briefly explore these benefits: –
1. One thing that I was greatly comforted in was the thought that even though “they are new every morning”, THEY LAST ALL DAY!!! It is important to note however that today’s mercies/compassions are for today and not for tomorrow, hopefully by tomorrow the Lord’s task will not be so onerous due to the fact that I have come to understand how favoured I am, and have taken steps to comply with my understanding of the requirement. (Viz … Get wisdom)
2. Secondly, they are PLURAL, not just singular, they are “COMPASSIONS”. Why do they need to be plural? Obviously because my indiscretions are plural, and so Father has covered all bases to present me with a fresh start. I need to be able to afford the same degree of accommodation when I feel violated
3. How grateful I am that He does not change, for everything round about me is in a state of flux, reliability in any dimension is a rare commodity, but here we have unflinching commitment. Even in Old Testament He was regarded as changeless.
Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
4. Note the repetition in Malachi, (A) He is changeless, (B) we are not consumed. We can be consumed either by a self deserved calamity or alternatively by a self serving ambition/passion.
5. It is necessary as Jeremiah stated “But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation”, it is necessary for us to follow the recommendations of Scripture such as” in all my ways acknowledge him” and similarly in Psalm 16:8 “I have set the Lord continually before me”. It is this awareness of both His character and His compassion that will develop “Christ likeness” in our nature.
2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father (He is the procreator) of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God (He is the maintainer) [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),
Mercy springs from Grace and is pardoning, purifying and supporting. Mercy is an extension of Grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Grace is sufficient.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY!
How succinctly has Matthew summed up this whole principle in one short verse, spelling out how envious our position is, regardless of what is taking place roundabout us, and secondly inciting us to be merciful or compassionate view to God’s benevolence towards us.
It may be worth reverting to second Peter 1:5 – 7 whereby exercising our faith develops virtue, and one virtue worth developing is “COMPASSION”.
Ross Smith 