Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a fascinating study of the conflict between justice and mercy, especially as seen by frequent confrontations between two characters: the embittered Valjean, whose life is redeemed by a beautiful act of mercy; and Javert, a principled but legalistic police officer obsessed with the pursuit of law and order. When the ex-convict Valjean tries to establish himself in the town of Digne, all doors are closed to him, until he finds shelter with the kindly bishop of Digne, Monsieur Myriel. Valjean repays the favour by stealing the bishop’s silverware! Caught red-handed by the police he only finds reprieve because Myriel says the silverware was his gift.
Yesterday, we considered the gracious nature of God’s rescue. Mercy and grace are commonly used interchangeably. They are undeniably related, one may say two sides of God’s “coin” of salvation, but actually have important differences. God’s rescue flows from both of these complimentary aspects of his nature: with grace he grants the unearned blessings of salvation; in mercy he withholds the punishment our sin justly deserves.
Humans struggle to jointly apply mercy and justice (see the tragic and conflicted end to Javert’s life, which I leave to you to look up). In fact, only at the cross do we see the perfect application of both: the penalty for sin applied, but executed upon God himself; He is both just and justifier!
Something to Apply:
Is mercy a trait that marks your life? Ask the Lord to reveal to you two things: the depth of his mercy to you; and the ways in which you are reluctant to extend mercy to others. The best way to grow in mercy toward others is to recognize God’s limitless mercy toward yourself.
Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved”
Recommended resource:Timothy Keller. The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy