"They
refused to listen and did not remember the miracles you had done
for them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to take
them back to their slavery in Egypt! But you are a God of forgiveness,
gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and full of unfailing
love and mercy. You did not abandon them.
-- Neh. 9:17 -NLT
In
a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But
with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says
the Lord, your Redeemer.
-- Isaiah 54:8 -NLT
For
the mountains may depart and the hills disappear, but even then
I will remain loyal to you. My covenant of blessing will never
be broken," says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
--Isaiah 54:10
But
what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our
lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchardthings
like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We
develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion
in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates
things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments.
--Galatians 5:22 -Message Bible
HEBREW
SCRIPTURES:
LOVING-KINDNESS
is essential and an distinctive quality of God, and the Hebrew
prophets taught that it should also characterize God's people.
It is part of the Divine requirement in Micah 6:8, "No,
O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this
is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God."
Zech.
7:9 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: Judge fairly and
honestly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.
The want of it in the nation was a cause of Yahwehs controversy
with them, e.g. Hosea 4:1 The Lord has filed a lawsuit against
you, saying: "There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge
of God in your land.
Hosea
12:6 So now, come back to your God! Act on the principles of love
(kindness) and justice, and always live in confident dependence
on your God.