Devotional: You O Lord are a God Who is full of Mercy

You O Lord are a God Who is full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15) 

This is a wonderful Bible verse because of its rich history and because it tells us the wonderful attributes of the God we serve.

The History

When Moses was on Mount Sinai, God told him, The Lord, the Lord God is merciful, gracious, long-suffering and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7)

Later, when the Israelites were told about the giants living in their Promised Land, they spoke against God asking why He had brought them to the wilderness to die from war. They rebelled against Him and said they would choose a leader and return to Egypt.(Numbers 14:3-4)

Consequently, God was very annoyed with them and He told Moses He would strike them with pestilence and disinherit them. (Numbers 14:12)

However, Moses prayed asking God to forgive the Israelites by saying, "I pray let the power of my God be great just as You have spoken saying, 'The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy forgiving the sins and transgressions. (Numbers 14:17-19)

As a result of Moses' intercession, God forgave the Israelites and He did not destroy them but He said they would not see the Promised Land. 

Later the writer of Psalm 86 also included these same verses in his Psalm to remind us once again of these great attributes of God.

The Attributes

These Bible verses show us that God is:
* compassionate
* merciful 
* gracious
* long-suffering
* good 
* truthful
* forgiving  

Therefore when you are praying for yourself asking God to forgive you or interceding for other people, use these same powerful Bible verses.

Prayer

Heavenly Father I ask You in the name of Jesus to forgive me of my sins (name the sins) because You O Lord are a God Who is full of mercy and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth and You forgive sins. Amen