He Delighted in Mercy %

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (Micah 7:18, KJV)

It’s one thing to show mercy. It’s another thing to enjoy showing mercy. That’s one of the ways God is different from us—He is full of goodness, compassion, and mercy. When you understand this part of who God is, it can change the way you live your Christian life every day.

Let’s first look at how God is different from us when it comes to mercy. In Micah 7:18, mercy is shown through forgiveness—letting go of the sins people have done. Have you ever been hurt badly by someone? Maybe someone close to you broke your trust. It’s hard to forgive. Often, we hold on to the pain and anger. And even when we do forgive, it doesn’t always feel good. We might do it out of duty, not joy. But God is not like that.

When the Bible says God “delights” in mercy, it means He enjoys showing it. He doesn’t forgive us with a bad attitude. He doesn’t help us or care for us while feeling upset about our mistakes. He actually finds joy in doing it—even when we don’t deserve it.

The word “mercy” here comes from the Hebrew word chesed. It means loyal love or kindness. But in this verse, it goes deeper. It means loyal and loving kindness shown even when someone has done wrong and deserves judgment. The people sinned, but God forgave them and did not punish them like they deserved.

God is both just and merciful. But the Bible never shows Him enjoying judgment. Instead, again and again, we see what really brings Him joy—showing mercy, grace, and kindness to people.

The hardest part of this verse is believing what God says about Himself. Many of us have been taught to think God is quick to punish and slow to forgive. That He wants us to suffer for our sins. But that’s not the full picture. Yes, God is just. But what gives Him the most joy is showing mercy and grace. We must learn to understand His mercy and how to come to Him when we need it most.

Meditate

Think about what it means that God enjoys being merciful to you. Is that how you’ve pictured Him when you mess up?

Act on the Word

When you sin, don’t run from God—run to Him. Remember Micah 7:18. God doesn’t just forgive; He’s happy to do it. Let this truth shape the way you pray, repent, and forgive others. Show mercy like your Father does.