The One Who Loves Much Is Forgiven Much
He has shown you, o man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? — Micah 6:8
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9
Author
Dr. Roberto Miranda
Summary: Our wrong decisions can bring us serious trouble, but God shows mercy when we repent and cry out to him. He looks at the disposition of our hearts, not for a perfection none of us can attain. This does not mean he spares us every consequence: even painful experiences can strengthen us if we seek his face. Jehoshaphat was spared death, though he received a stern rebuke for helping the wicked; God also acknowledged that he had removed the images of Asherah and set his heart on seeking him. Ahab, who persisted in evil, died under the judgment already pronounced against him. If we love God and seek his glory, we find mercy when we fall. Let us live by doing justice, loving mercy, and humbling ourselves before him.
Although our bad decisions—whether caused by sin, ignorance, or weakness—get us into serious trouble, God always has mercy on us if we repent and cry out to Him, especially if our mistakes occur in the context of a life that seeks His glory and submits to His will.
God looks at a person’s heart, not their perfection. If God treated us solely according to our actions, none of us could expect anything from Him! That is why the psalmist asks rhetorically in Psalm 130:3: “Lord, if You should mark iniquities, who, O Lord, could stand?” In His infinite mercy, God looks into the depths of the heart. He treats us not strictly according to our actions, but according to our intentions. At times, however, God will not spare us entirely from the negative consequences of our wrong decisions; but if we seek His face and repent, He will use even the negative and sinful things in our lives to bless and strengthen us.
In the first campaign against Ramoth-gilead, although God saved Jehoshaphat from certain death, on his way home he was confronted by the prophet Jehu, who admonished him with stern words: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the presence of the Lord. Nevertheless, good things have been found in you, for you have removed the images of Asherah from the land and have set your heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:2–3). Significantly, even amid the correction, the prophetic word brings encouragement and comfort to Jehoshaphat’s heart: God does not ignore his efforts to tear down the worship of false gods in Judah, nor does He overlook his heart’s sincere desire to seek God.
That humble and generous attitude on the part of the king of Judah led God to have mercy on him again and again and to lessen the negative consequences of his disobedient actions. Ahab, a wicked man hardened in evil, was not so fortunate. In that same campaign in which Jehoshaphat nearly lost his life, the king of Israel lost his despite all the precautions he had taken, when an enemy soldier shot an arrow at random (2 Chronicles 18:33). Jehoshaphat had reserves of mercy with God that cushioned the consequences of his wrong decisions. Ahab had no such benefit. On the contrary, God’s judgment had already been pronounced against him. The stray arrow that pierced him “between the joints and the breastplate” and took his life represented God’s punishment for murdering Naboth to seize his vineyard years earlier (see 1 Kings 21).
For the person who loves God and cares about His glory, there are immense reserves of mercy on the day of error or a fall. For the indifferent or rebellious person, there is only bare judgment, with no cushion of any kind. In His relationship with us, God is incredibly humble and asks very little. The prophet Micah expresses it in memorable words: “O man, He has told you what is good, and what does the Lord ask of you? Only to do justice, to love mercy, and to humble yourself before your God” (Micah 6:8).