Elisha Vision – Commentary

Do you know the royal law of Scripture? Did you know there is such a thing? I did not realize how important it is, that it is called “the royal law.” I have been thinking a lot about mercy and judgement which I will share with you today. But first let’s start with this:

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;  James 2:8

This is the context of judgement. We judge others harsher than we judge ourselves. This is wrong. What if you thought of it like this: Judge your neighbor as you judge yourself. We tend to be pretty lenient with ourselves until we are genuinely convicted of our sin by the Holy Spirit. Then we get it!

Judgement Is Mercy – Do you know there are times when judgement is actually merciful? Sometimes judgement saves us from going over edge. It may even be painful. If we are already in the fire of the consequences of our bad choices and sins, it may hurt to be yanked back to safety. It may hurt but we are thankful for the mercy.

And Yehovah said to Satan, “Yehovah rebuke you, Satan! Yehovah who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”  Zechariah 3:2

Many Christians know the promise that mercy triumphs over judgement, but it is not true for everybody. Someone who has no mercy, and shows no mercy will be judged without mercy. Mercy wins only for those who show mercy themselves.

“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”  James 2:13

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet – At a time of great judgement and even the wrath of Yehovah God, Habakkuk prayed a critical request to God. He knew two things. He saw the severity of God’s judgements on the wicked. But, he also knew of the mighty works of God on behalf of Israel over many years. He prayed that Yehovah would revive His mercy shown in the past show it again in the present day!

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

In wrath remember mercy! Rather than jumping on the judgement train, perhaps it would be better to remember mercy and judge our neighbors as we judge ourselves. Thus we will keep the Royal Law: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”

Pray for peace (and mercy) over Jerusalem; and pray for rain.

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists              (Read more)