Remember Mercy

“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2

The prophet Habakkuk had prophesied to the people about the coming judgment. God was angry with His people, and He was going to allow their enemies to destroy them. Habakkuk was not alone in bringing this message of destruction. The Lord had sent many prophets to try to turn the hearts of His people back to him. Even though the theme of his message was not new, Habakkuk’s heart trembled when he considered what God’s words meant for his people and his homeland. Habakkuk understood that God’s wrath was to be poured out, but the prayer of his heart was that God would be merciful in His anger. Habakkuk was asking that the Lord would stop short of what the people deserved. God is merciful, and His people have always needed His mercy. Jeremiah said, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22). When we pray, we encourage God’s mercy. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus said that showing mercy helps us to receive the mercy. “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). The most important time to think about showing mercy is when we are angry. Habakkuk’s prayer gives us a guiding principle to remember when we get upset with someone. “In wrath remember mercy.”